Glooko launches Android version of mobile app, universal cable, and web dashboard; compatible with 24 different glucose meters – October 30, 2013

Yesterday, Glooko announced the launch of an Android-compatible version of its Diabetes Management System (universal MeterSync cable, mobile app, and web dashboard), previously only available on Apple devices. This represents an important expansion of the company's footprint, as Android has a 52% market share in the US, 65% market share in Europe, and 90% market share in China. The new Android app will not be compatible with every Android smartphone model out there, but it will include the leading Samsung SIII and S4 models, along with Android phones from HTC and LG.

Notably, Glooko’s Android system can download data from 24 different meters (the new cable opens up micro- USB and mini-USB meters) across seven different brands (Accu-Chek, Bayer, FreeStyle, Glucocard, OneTouch, Nipro, ReliOn) using the same MeterSync cable. This is a bit broader than the Apple version of the app, which is compatible with 19 meters (there is some but not complete overlap – for certain meters, a USB on-the-go cable is needed).

According to data from the T1D Exchange, self-reported downloading of glucose meter data at home at least once a week is highest in patients <6 years (still just 5%!) and lowest in those 18-25 years old (1%). Such low rates of downloading likely reflect a variety of factors: hassle, challenges of sorting through the data, finicky software/cables, little perceived benefit from the time invested, etc. We think Glooko is doing a lot to simplify this entire process – the app and cable are very plug-and-play and work on the first try (we definitely didn’t need an instruction manual), and the data is sorted and displayed in actionable formats that can drive therapeutic changes (we are the biggest fans of the time-in-range pie charts sorted by time of day). From a healthcare provider perspective, Glooko’s compatibility with multiple meters and brands is huge – the “tangle” of wires is often cited as a big pain, not to mention the hassle of learning multiple software platforms. In the future, we wonder if Glooko will add pattern recognition and smart analytics to reduce the burden of data overload, help drive better patient outcomes, and outsource more care to patients themselves.

• The Android-compatible system received FDA clearance after a 30-day FDA 510(k) review (~40 days including the government shutdown). For comparison, the company’s first 510(k) took less than 60 days and the second one took only 29 days.
• At AADE, our visit to the Glooko booth provided a look at a prototype version of Glooko’s next-gen product on display: a Bluetooth Low Energy connector. This small plastic adapter will plug into a glucose meter and turn it into a Bluetooth-enabled device that sends the data straight to the Glooko mobile app. Nice! As we understand it, the goal is to submit the Bluetooth adapter to the FDA by the end of the year. We think this will be a huge addition to the Glooko’s product portfolio, especially considering what happened to Sanofi’s iBGStar once Apple decided to change the hardware connector for the iPhone 5.
• Also in Glooko’s pipeline is an insulin pump download partnership with Asante. In June, Asante announced two data downloading partnerships, one with Glooko and one with Diasend, to enable data downloading from the Asante Snap insulin pump. Patients will be able to upgrade to the new downloadable controller as early as 4Q13 ($99). The Glooko partnership is a very smart one for both companies – it allows Glooko to expand into the pump space and eliminates the need for Asante to develop its own software system. For more information, see our report at http://www.closeconcerns.com/knowledgebase/r/b9be31e8.  

--by Adam Brown and Kelly Close