Diabetes Dialogue: What's New at Medtronic Diabetes, With Bob Vigersky, MD

Welcome back to Diabetes Dialogue: Technology, Therapeutics, & Real-World Perspectives!

In this episode, cohosts Diana Isaacs, PharmD, and Natalie Bellini, DNP, sit down with Bob Vigersky, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Medtronic Diabetes, to discuss major developments in diabetes technology, regulatory approvals, and the company’s future direction.

Vigersky begins by highlighting Medtronic’s newest CGM technologies. The Instinct sensor, developed in collaboration with Abbott, is a 15-day, factory-calibrated sensor that represents a significant step forward in wear duration and convenience. Alongside it is the Simplera Sync sensor, a fully disposable 7-day option that integrates seamlessly with Medtronic’s MiniMed 780G automated insulin delivery system. Together with the Guardian 4 sensor, these options provide patients and providers with unprecedented flexibility and choice, enabling customization based on lifestyle needs, preferences, and infusion set change schedules. Importantly, all three sensors will be interoperable with the 780G system.

The discussion also addresses recent regulatory milestones. In Europe, the 780G system is now approved for children as young as two, for use during pregnancy in women with type 1 diabetes, and for adults with type 2 diabetes. In the U.S., data from Medtronic’s pivotal type 2 diabetes trial demonstrated nearly 80% time in range among largely pump-naïve participants, with sustained benefits at 12 months. These findings underscore the algorithm’s robustness, adaptability, and ability to reduce barriers for individuals transitioning from multiple daily injections to automated insulin delivery.

The conversation also offers a glimpse into Medtronic’s pipeline. Innovations on the horizon include a screenless pump controlled via smartphone, a patch pump with a 300-unit reservoir aimed at addressing the needs of individuals requiring higher insulin volumes, and a next-generation algorithm designed to further reduce the burden of meal management. Vigersky notes that the company’s advanced in silico modeling tools are accelerating the refinement of these algorithms, allowing rapid iteration and validation before clinical deployment.

The episode concludes with an optimistic look forward to future data on 780 to be presented at upcoming conferences. Vigersky closes with a restatement of Medtronic Diabetes' message, stating that the technological advancements the company has developed will allow for a faster cadence of producing and distributing the devices patients need.

References

1. In-Home Study with MiniMed 780G Pump Automated Control in Type 2-Evaluation of the AHCL System in Adults with Insulin-Requiring Type 2 Diabetes. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05238142. Updated February 21, 2025. Accessed October 2, 2025. https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05238142

2. FDA Clears MiniMed 780G System to Enable Integration with the Instinct Sensor, Made by Abbott, and Approves Use in Type 2 Diabetes. Medtronic Newsroom. September 2, 2025. Accessed October 2, 2025. https://news.medtronic.com/2025-09-02-FDA-Clears-MiniMed-TM-780G-System-to-Enable-Integration-with-the-Instinct-Sensor,-Made-by-Abbott,-and-Approves-Use-in-Type-2-Diabetes