In an interview with PharmaShots, Kevin Cammack, Head of Connected Care, Eli Lilly and Company shares insights on the Lilly alliance with DexCom, Glooko, myDiabby Healthcare, and Roche to provide compatibility between their unique digital management platforms and Lilly's Tempo Pen and Tempo Smart Button.

Shots:

• Eli Lilly collaborates with DexCom, Glooko, myDiabby Healthcare, and Roche to integrate the data and technology into connected insulin pen solutions and provide streamlined care for diabetes patients in markets outside the US
• The 4 companies will provide diabetes management platforms that are well-suited with Lilly's Tempo Pen and Tempo Smart Button to help streamline diabetes management through automated data collection for insulin dose tracking
• Lilly plans to receive a CE mark for the Tempo Smart Button later in 2021 and will launch the Tempo Pen and Tempo Smart Button in various global markets following the approval

Tuba: Discuss your collaboration with leading diabetes technology companies in detail.

Kevin: We're collaborating with leading diabetes technology companies Dexcom, Glooko, myDiabby Healthcare, and Roche  in markets outside of the U.S. to integrate our connected insulin pen solutions with their software to provide automated data collection for insulin dose tracking. The unique management platforms from each company will be compatible with Lilly's Tempo Pen and Tempo Smart Button (currently under development and pending CE mark). When the Tempo Smart Button is attached to the pen and paired with a compatible app, the Bluetooth-enabled Smart Button automatically transfers data to the app.

Tuba: What is unique about this collaboration and what motivates Lilly to ally with big technological parties? Can we expect more collaboration from Lilly in the field of diabetes?

Kevin: This collaboration is unique because it offers compatibility with existing solutions making it easier for people with diabetes using these platforms to benefit from a tool like a connected insulin pen. We believe that Dexcom, Glooko, myDiabby Healthcare, and Roche are important leaders in diabetes software and offer some of the most commonly used platforms in markets outside the U.S., which will allow us to more effectively meet people with diabetes where they are in their treatment journey versus requiring them to completely shift their management plan.

As part of our mission to simplify diabetes management for those living with the condition, we regularly evaluate opportunities for collaborations with other technology companies in the diabetes space to deliver the best solutions possible. We're excited about our recent partnerships (including Welldoc) as well as Ypsomed to commercialize an AID system in the U.S. and look forward to expanding our offerings in the connected care space.

Tuba: Lilly has few collaborations in diabetes such as Welldoc early this year. What is the difference between Welldoc and this collaboration or any other collaboration?

Kevin: We are focusing our immediate efforts with Welldoc on developing a connected pen platform for people living with diabetes in the U.S., which includes commercializing a new version of its BlueStar app. The agreement with Welldoc is global and we will work with them to evaluate potential opportunities to launch the platform in other geographies.

While the agreement with Dexcom, Glooko, myDiabby Healthcare, and Roche is also global, it involves integrating the Tempo Pen and Tempo Smart Button into their respective product offerings in markets outside the United States.

Tuba: How does this collaboration help patients with diabetes?

Kevin: This collaboration is an important step forward in helping people reduce the amount of 'mental math' they have to complete every day to understand how their glucose levels are impacted by a variety of factors, including their insulin doses. Insulin dose logging is often a missing piece of the diabetes management puzzle for people who use insulin pens and manually track their doses. By integrating data from the connected pen solutions (automatically captured by the Tempo Pen and Tempo Smart Button) into compatible software, users and HCPs can get a fuller picture of a person's diabetes management while relieving some of the burden associated with manual logging. This accurate, real-time data collection may help support improved decision-making for people with diabetes and their healthcare providers.

Tuba: Give specifications of Tempo Pen and Tempo Smart Button.

Kevin: At this time, the Tempo Smart Button and compatibility efforts are still in development, so we cannot share in-depth details about functionality, but can provide background on how the products work together.

The Tempo Pen is a modified version of Lilly's existing prefilled, disposable insulin pen to which the Tempo Smart Button (which is pending CE mark), attaches. When the Tempo Smart Button is attached to the Tempo Pen and paired with a compatible app, the Bluetooth-enabled Smart Button automatically transfers data to the app. We aim to support improved decision-making for people with diabetes and their healthcare providers through accurate, real-time data collection.

Tuba: What would be the targeted markets to launch Tempo Pen and Tempo Smart Button?

Kevin: The Tempo Pen is approved in several markets around the world, including in the U.S. and the European Union. We plan to launch the Tempo Pen alongside the Tempo Smart Button, pending local regulatory clearance or certification for the module. We expect to receive CE mark certification by year-end 2021 for the Smart Button and launch rollout will vary by region.

Tuba: Why do you think digital efforts in diabetes are essential?

Kevin: Managing diabetes is a complicated process, especially insulin management. We know the complexity of managing insulin, especially challenges associated with manually tracking doses, may lead to undesirable outcomes if miscalculations happen. As part of our commitment to simplifying the lives of those living with diabetes, investing in the development of connected care technologies  including collaborations with valuable partners who offer unique capabilities is a critical piece of our business.

We are very excited about the potential of our ongoing connected care efforts from partnership agreements related to our insulin pens as well as our efforts with Ypsomed to commercialize an automated insulin delivery system.

Tuba: Share your long-term goals for improving the lives of people with diabetes. What are Lilly's other efforts to make life better for people with diabetes?

Kevin: Addressing the impact of diabetes has been at the heart of our purpose for a century and our long-term goal is to improve the outcomes of those living with the condition by simplifying the management process through the use of technology to enhance their overall experience. There are several avenues we pursue to achieve that goal through innovative medicine development as well as the advancement of technologies for delivering that medicine and monitoring its impact on blood glucose levels. Our endeavors include varying tools from connected pens and data management app compatibility, to a fully integrated automated insulin delivery system.

We are making strong progress in our collaboration with Ypsomed to advance our automated insulin delivery system and we look forward to sharing more updates on that work in the future. Holistically, we continually engage with the diabetes community to understand unmet needs and are dedicated to progressing research on treatments and tools that can meet these needs. Looking to the future, we'll remain strong in our commitment to push the boundaries of what's possible in diabetes care.

Source: Diabetes UK

About Kevin Cammack:

Kevin Cammack leads Eli Lilly's Connected Care development and commercialization efforts. Kevin received his Bachelor of Arts degree from DePauw University in Greencastle, and his MBA from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University in Bloomington.

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