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Tandem’s Hybrid Closed Loop Pivotal Study: Control-IQ and Dexcom G6

Updated: 8/14/21 3:00 amPublished: 7/20/18
By Jimmy McDermottAdam Brown

By Jimmy McDermott and Adam Brown

Recruiting now! This major study will support FDA submission of Tandem’s t:slim X2 with Control-IQ and Dexcom G6 in people with type 1 ages 14 and up; includes automatic boluses for high blood sugars

Clinical Trials Identifier: NCT03563313

Trial Name: The International Diabetes Closed Loop (iDCL)Trial: Clinical Acceptance of the Artificial Pancreas (DCLP3)

Diabetes Type: Type 1 diabetes

What the trial is testing: This six-month pivotal study will examine the efficacy and safety of Tandem’s t:slim X2 pump with Control-IQ in people with type 1 diabetes (14+ years). Based on readings from the Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitor (CGM), the Control-IQ algorithm automatically adjusts basal insulin to prevent high and low blood sugars. Notably, the system will also deliver automatic correction boluses to bring down very high blood sugars, an advantage over other systems. The Control-IQ algorithm is embedded in the Tandem pump, meaning a user will only need to wear the pump and CGM to be in closed loop. The control group will use a t:slim X2 insulin pump and a Dexcom G6, but without automated insulin delivery.

What the trial is measuring: This study will measure time-in-range (70-180 mg/dl) based on CGM readings, as well as time spent in high and low blood sugar ranges. Other outcomes include A1C, weight, total daily insulin dose, and quality of life.

Why is this new/important? As a pivotal trial, the results from this study will be submitted to the FDA to support approval of the consumer Control-IQ product. In the US, Control-IQ will likely be the second automated insulin delivery system to come to market, following last year’s US launch of the MiniMed 670G. However, Control-IQ stands out as the first system with automatic correction bolusing for high blood sugars, in addition to automatic basal insulin adjustments. (The MiniMed 670G can only do basal adjustment.) Control-IQ will also be the first hybrid closed loop that does not require fingerstick calibration for the CGM to function. (The MiniMed 670G recommends 3-4 fingersticks per day for calibration.) Last, Control-IQ will also be the first approved hybrid closed loop system available with Dexcom CGM.

When will Control-IQ launch? Tandem has said publicly it hopes to launch Control-IQ in the first half of 2019, though this will require getting the study finished on time. Tandem’s precursor system, Basal-IQ, is expected to launch in August; read more on that FDA approval here, including the free software update details for current Tandem users.

Trial Length: Approximately six months (26 weeks)

Trial Locations:

  • California: Santa Barbara (Sansum) and Stanford University

  • Colorado: Aurora (Barbara Davis Center)

  • Massachusetts: Boston (Joslin Diabetes Center)

  • Minnesota: Rochester (Mayo Clinic)

  • New York: New York City (Mount Sinai)

  • Virginia: Charlottesville (UVA)

Click here for contact details.

Do you qualify? Eligibility criteria for the study include:

  • At least 14 years old

  • Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes for at least one year and using insulin for at least one year

  • Willingness to switch to Humalog or Novolog if not using already, and to use no other insulin besides Humalog or Novolog during the study

  • Cannot use of any non-insulin diabetes drug other than metformin – for type 1s, this means no use of Symlin, GLP-1 agonists like Victoza and Trulicity, and no use of SGLT-2 inhibitors like Jardiance, Invokana, and Farxiga.

  • See full list of criteria here

Where to get more information:

Contact your closest site via the information listed under trial locations. The heads of the study, Dr. Sue Brown and Emma Emory, can also be contacted at [email protected] and [email protected]

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About the authors

Adam Brown joined diaTribe in 2010 as a Summer Associate, became Managing Editor in 2011, and served as Senior Editor through 2019. Adam brings almost two decades of personal experience... Read the full bio »