FreeStyle Libre App Cleared; Happy Bariatric Surgery Patients; Wegovy Sales Strong

The FDA cleared Abbott’s iPhone FreeStyle Libre 2 iOS application to be used with its integrated continuous glucose monitoring system, providing minute-by-minute glucose readings and optional alarms.

However, the agency turned down Ardelyx’s investigative treatment tenapanor for the control of serum phosphorus in adult patients with chronic kidney disease on dialysis, stating that the treatment effect was “small and of unclear clinical significance.”

Patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity were quite happy after undergoing bariatric surgery — reporting improved physical functioning, general health perception, energy/fatigue, and diabetes-related quality of life — versus patients who received intensive medical therapy alone, according to new findings from the STAMPEDE trial. (Annals of Surgery)

Among people with chronic kidney disease, metabolic syndrome was not only common, but also increased the risk for all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events by 26% and 48%, respectively. (Journal of Internal Medicine)

As the COVID-19 pandemic is prompting many to shed some pounds, Novo Nordisk’s CEO said sales of its new obesity drug Wegovy (injectable 2.4 mg semaglutide) are going strong. (Reuters)

By exercising and slashing just 250 calories off of daily intake, older adults with obesity were able to improve aortic stiffness.

In related news, daily treatment with 3.0 mg liraglutide (Saxenda) paired with lifestyle intervention helped adults with overweight or obesity cut visceral adipose tissue. (The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology)

During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic — spanning roughly from late March to the end of June 2020 — children who developed new-onset type 1 diabetes were presenting with more severe cases, marked by more cases of diabetic ketoacidosis. (Diabetic Medicine)