Monitor Market Is Growing
Three companies' sales of continuous blood glucose systems reached close to $200 million in 2009, nearly double their sales of just the year before, according to a market-research firm. In its latest report on the diagnostic-testing industry, Kalorama Information said that the continual-monitoring growth by the companies Medtronic Inc., Dexcom Inc., and Insulet Corp. should continue, given the increasing patient population and the growing popularity of the devices. Fewer than 30% of type 1 diabetes patients in the United States who currently use insulin pumps also have continuous blood glucose monitors, according to the report. Among type 2 U.S. diabetes patients using insulin pumps, fewer than 1 in 100 has a continuous monitor.
Giving Back to the DEA
Americans turned in more than 242,000 pounds of unused or unwanted prescription drugs for disposal as part of the first national prescription drug “Take-Back” campaign, the Drug Enforcement Administration reports. The agency reported a huge turnout of people turning in large quantities of old drugs at more than 4,000 disposal sites being run by law enforcement personnel across the country. “The Take-Back campaign was a stunning nationwide success [and] a crucial step toward reducing the epidemic of prescription drug abuse that is plaguing this nation,” said DEA Acting Administrator Michele Leonhart in the announcement.