Abbott Teams with The Big Ten Conference to Raise Blood

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Abbott partnered with the Big Ten Conference to help raise awareness for national blood shortages and inspire people to donate.¹ The company is working with the athletic, including all 18 member-university athletic departments, for the “We Give Blood Drive.”

As part of the initiative, Abbott is running a competition amongst the schools. The school that brings in the most blood donations will receive a $1 million donation to be used for student or community health needs.

In a press release, Abbott’s chairman and CEO Robert B. Ford said, “The U.S. continues to experience ongoing blood shortages, and we knew as a leader in diagnostics and testing we had to do something powerful to draw in donors. What better way to inspire people to donate than tapping into rivalries between Big Ten schools and offering up a friendly competition. It's our hope we'll give the blood supply a significant boost while inspiring a future generation of blood donors."

Big Ten Conference Commissioner Tony Petitti added, “We're grateful for Abbott's important work and partnership with the Big Ten Conference. Students, alumni and fans of Big Ten universities are known across the country for both their competitive and community spirit, giving us confidence this campaign will inspire them to donate blood, support their favorite Big Ten school and potentially save a life."

In other news for the company, Abbott recently announced that it has completed enrollment for its VOLT-AF IDE study ahead of schedule.² The study is set to determine the effectiveness of the company’s Volt PFA system.

Monica Lo, MD, is an electrophysiologist at the Arkansas Heart Hospital who specializes in complex arrhythmias. In a press release from Abbott, she said, “It was exciting to participate in the VOLT-AF IDE Study to help assess a next-generation PFA catheter that incorporates new design concepts we believe will advance PFA technology and improve patient outcomes. Only through studies like VOLT-AF and Abbott's new FOCALFLEX trial, can we fully understand and safely deploy the next generation of AFib treatments to help people enjoy life free from complex heart rhythm conditions."

In the same press release, professor Prash Sanders, MBBS, PhD, said, “There's immense value in exploring different therapy options for patients to treat abnormal heart rhythms because each case is unique. Abbott improved upon limitations of first-generation systems and has successfully advanced its approach to PFA beyond those initial systems that have come to market."

Sanders is also the director of the Center for Heart Rhythm Disorders at the University of Adelaide in Australia.

In September, Abbott announced that Lingo, a real-time glucose monitoring system, is available in United States without a prescription.³

"There is a great deal of interest in tracking biomarkers that provide insights into one's health and wellness that were previously undetectable using the trackers available to consumers," said Olivier Ropars, divisional vice president of Abbott's Lingo business, in a press release. "Glucose is a powerful signal of your body's unique response to food and lifestyle. Abbott's Lingo tracks your glucose 24/7, translating the data into insights and bridging the gap between traditional healthcare and preventative measures. Lingo empowers individuals to build new healthy habits and take control of their health and wellness."

Sources

1. Abbott and the Big Ten Conference Tackle U.S. Blood Shortages with First-of-its-Kind, Nationwide Blood Donation Competition, 'The We Give Blood Drive.' Abbott. September 26, 2024. Accessed October 10, 2024. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/abbott-and-the-big-ten-conference-tackle-us-blood-shortages-with-first-of-its-kind-nationwide-blood-donation-competition-the-we-give-blood-drive-302260014.html
2. Abbott Advances Pulsed Field Ablation Clinical Studies and Launches New Technology to Support Advanced Cardiac Mapping. Abbott. October 10, 2024. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/abbott-advances-pulsed-field-ablation-clinical-studies-and-launches-new-technology-to-support-advanced-cardiac-mapping-302272620.html
3. Abbott's Lingo™ Continuous Glucose Monitor for Health and Wellness Now Available in the U.S. Abbott. September 5, 2024. Accessed October 10, 2024. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/abbotts-lingo-continuous-glucose-monitor-for-health-and-wellness-now-available-in-the-us-302239097.html