Tandem Diabetes Care
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Medical devices |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Founder | Engineers (names not specified) |
| Headquarters | San Diego, California , United States |
Key people | Kim Blickenstaff (former President and CEO, Executive Chairman), John F. Sheridan (President and CEO since March 1, 2019) |
| Products | t:slim Insulin Pump, t:connect Diabetes Management Application, t:flex Insulin Pump, t:slim G4 insulin pump, Tandem Device Updater, t:slim X2 platform, t:lock Connector, Basal-IQ predictive low glucose suspend technology, Control-IQ hybrid closed-loop algorithm |
Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc. is a medical device company based in the United States, with its headquarters located in San Diego, California. The firm focuses on creating innovative solutions for diabetes management, particularly in the area of insulin infusion therapy.
History
Originally established in 2006 under the name Phluid, Inc., the company was founded by engineers aiming to enhance insulin pump technology. The arrival of Kim Blickenstaff as president and CEO in 2007 marked a pivotal shift toward product development driven by comprehensive market research. This approach culminated in the launch of the t:slim Insulin Pump. In 2008, the organization rebranded as Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc., adopting a user-focused philosophy for both product design and customer support. Incorporating principles from consumer electronics, Tandem sought to improve usability and attractiveness by consulting with over 4,000 insulin pump users and healthcare professionals to guide its initial device development.
By 2016, Tandem Diabetes Care had achieved significant expansion, earning the #39 position on Deloitte’s Fast 500 list for North America. Additionally, the company was acknowledged as one of San Diego’s premier workplaces in 2018.
In February 2019, a planned leadership transition took place when Kim Blickenstaff moved into the role of Executive Chairman. John F. Sheridan, previously serving as COO, assumed the positions of President and CEO starting March 1, 2019, representing a strategic succession within the company’s executive team.
Products
The t:slim Insulin Pump received FDA clearance in November 2011, marking it as the first insulin pump featuring a touch-screen interface. Following this, in February 2013, the company obtained FDA approval for the t:connect Diabetes Management Application, a cloud-based platform compatible with both Mac and PC systems that allows patients and healthcare providers to access data from pumps and glucose meters remotely. January 2015 saw the introduction of the t:flex Insulin Pump, notable for having the largest insulin reservoir capacity available at that time.
In July 2014, Tandem submitted a Premarket Approval (PMA) application for the t:slim G4 insulin pump, which combined t:slim technology with the Dexcom G4 Platinum Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) System; FDA approval was granted in September 2015. The FDA also authorized the Tandem Device Updater in July 2016, facilitating remote firmware updates to improve pump functionality.
By October 2016, Tandem began distributing its next-generation platform known as the t:slim X2. This was followed in August 2017 by the release of the t:lock Connector and an updated version of the t:slim X2 integrated with Dexcom G5 Mobile CGM technology. In July 2018, Tandem launched its inaugural automated insulin delivery (AID) system featuring Basal-IQ predictive low glucose suspend technology. The FDA further recognized the t:slim X2 in February 2019 as the first device categorized under Alternate Controller Enabled Infusion Pumps (ACE pumps).
The t:slim X2 platform continues to be enhanced through updates delivered via the Device Updater. Notably, it incorporated the Control-IQ hybrid closed-loop algorithm—licensed from TypeZero in 2016—which became available to users starting January 2020. This ongoing product advancement underscores Tandem’s leadership role in integrating cutting-edge technologies to sustain its competitive position within the diabetes care device market.