Shortly after acquiring smart insulin-pen-maker Companion Medical, Medtronic has officially launched the InPen device alongside integration with its Guardian Connect connected glucose monitoring (CGM) system.

Of note, Medtronic's InPen is the only smart insulin pen cleared by the FDA for use by people requiring multiple daily injections. It received that 510(k) back in 2016.

WHY IT MATTERS

With this system, users can view their live glucose readings alongside their insulin dose information within a single app interface. The InPen is also compatible with certain other CGM systems, but according to the company displays their information on a three-hour delay.

For Medtronic, the official launch of its first connected insulin pen checks off the goals it outlined at the time of the Companion Medical acquisition. By integrating the device with its CGM system, the full offering is another step toward Medtronic's broader strategy of data-driven diabetes management.

We're pleased to build on the success of InPen with added real-time glucose data, which provides a complete picture for users as they look to give themselves the right dose of insulin at the right time," Sean Salmon, EVP and president of the diabetes business at Medtronic, said in a statement.

"Our successful integration of these devices in just two months, following the close of our Companion Medical acquisition, is a testament to the close collaboration of our employees and strong passion to serve our customers with better solutions to manage their diabetes."

THE LARGER TREND

Medtronic is already a major name in diabetes management outside of the smart insulin-pen space. Its MiniMed 670G was the first FDA-cleared CGM able to automate insulin delivery as part of a hybrid closed-loop system. This has been followed most recently by clearance of the MiniMed 770G for adults and, for the first time, for children as young as two years old.

Others focused on smart insulin pens include Bigfoot Biomedical, which raised $45 million earlier this year from Abbott and others, and Novo Nordisk.