Diabetes Dialogue: News and Updates in Diabetes Care from February 2025

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

In this episode of Diabetes Dialogue: Technology, Therapeutics, & Real-World Perspectives, hosts Diana Isaacs, PharmD, an endocrine clinical pharmacist, director of Education and Training in Diabetes Technology, and codirector of Endocrine Disorders in Pregnancy at the Cleveland Clinic, and Natalie Bellini, DNP, program director of Diabetes Technology at University Hospitals Diabetes and Metabolic Care Center, discuss the changing landscape of GLP-1 receptor agonist-based therapies in light of Eli Lilly and Company’s announcement of new tirzepatide (Zepbound) single-dose vials and reduced pricing as well as the FDA decision to remove semaglutide from the drug shortage list. Later in the episode, hosts focus on updates in diabetes technology from the month of February, with a particular focus on the FDA’s historic clearance of the Tandem Control-IQ automated insulin delivery (AID) for type 2 diabetes.

Changes in GLP-1 Availability

On February 25, 2025, Eli Lilly and Company announced the launch of 7.5 mg and 10 mg tirzepatide (Zepbound) single-dose vials, available for $499 with the new Zepbound Self Pay Journey Program as well as a price reduction for their 2.5 mg and 5 mg vials through LillyDirect Self Pay Pharmacy Solutions. While hosts express excitement over this and the removal of semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) from the drug shortage list, they express concern over the impact discontinued access through compounding pharmacies may have on both access and patient health.1,2

Tandem Control-IQ Gets Nod for T2D

On February 25, 2025, Tandem announced its Control-IQ+ technology (Control-IQ+) was cleared by the FDA for people with type 2 diabetes ages 18 and older. Already cleared for use by people with type 1 diabetes, the latest clearance is based on a trial of more than 300 people with type 2 diabetes, which Tandem bills as the first large-scale, randomized, controlled study of an automated insulin delivery system completed in this patient population.3

Relevant disclosures for Isaacs include Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, Abbott Diabetes Care, Dexcom, Medtronic, and others. Relevant disclosures for Bellini include Abbott Diabetes Care, MannKind, Provention Bio, and others.

References:

1. Eli Lilly and Company. Lilly launches additional Zepbound vial doses and offers new savings for self-pay patients. Eli Lilly and Company. February 25, 2025. Accessed March 2, 2025. https://investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/lilly-launches-additional-zepbound-vial-doses-and-offers-new.

2. Novo Nordisk. FDA declares Wegovy® and Ozempic® shortage is over and that Novo Nordisk is fully meeting or exceeding nationwide demand for all doses. PR Newswire: press release distribution, targeting, monitoring and marketing. February 21, 2025. Accessed March 2, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fda-declares-wegovy-and-ozempic-shortage-is-over-and-that-novo-nordisk-is-fully-meeting-or-exceeding-nationwide-demand-for-all-doses-302382370.html

3. Tandem Diabetes Care. Tandem Diabetes Care announces FDA clearance of Control-IQ+ automated insulin delivery technology for people with type 2 diabetes. Tandem Diabetes Care. February 25, 2025. Accessed March 2, 2025. https://investor.tandemdiabetes.com/news-releases/news-release-details/tandem-diabetes-care-announces-fda-clearance-control-iq.