#Insulet Announces Plans for #OmniPod Dash and Horizon #APS

On Wednesday, Insulet held an Investor Day conference. The presentation and webcast are available here.

I focused on the discussion of new products. The next generation PDM and Pod, otherwise known as Dash, are planned for launch in 2017. The PDM will be a locked down Android device. This means it will not have cellular capability. The presenter explained that one of the top requests of users is to be able to use their phone as their medical device, however he FDA is not quite ready for this, therefore it’s a locked down device for now.

There will be a secondary display patient app. This will allow the patient to view all the statistics – IOB, last bolus, etc, on their phone, but they will need the PDM to dose any insulin. The data will push to an Insulet cloud, and there will be a follow app available for caregivers.

Although I did not hear it specifically stated. I am presuming the secondary display and follow apps will be available for both Apple and Android as the current My OmniPod app is.  The current My OmniPod app has helpful tips, videos and the ability to reorder product, but no treatment functionality or display.

It looks like the integrated meter is lost in the Dash based upon the diagram.

The Horizon Artificial Pancreas was also announced. This will be a hybrid closed loop. As stated in the presentation, nighttime will be closed loop, daytime will be hybrid closed loop. This means bolusing is still required.

The timing of launch of the Horizon AP on the slide shows late 2019, however, in the presentation late 2018 was also mentioned.

The executive team at Insulet has completely turned over in the last few years. Plans for the next generation OmniPod have also changed and appear to be a very intentional first step toward the Horizon AP system. Listening to the presentation, I definitely got the sense of excitement and commitment to advance technologically in relevant ways based upon customers needs and wants. I am impressed and encouraged.

Even so, the 2019 launch, or nearly three year wait for a product that will do what the Minimed 670G will do in the spring of 2017 is a bit disappointing, albeit not unexpected. Can those of use who value the tubelessness freedom that OmniPod provides hold off for the mental freedom the hybrid artificial pancreas will give?

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I couldn’t resist throwing in this shot of Caleb in 2006 when he dressed up as Dash, his most favorite super hero at the time. Who would have guessed he might be using an insulin delivery system of the same name one day.