Inhalable insulin is a new (as of mid-2006) method of delivering insulin, a drug used in the treatment of diabetes, to the body. Insulin has traditionally been administered by injection, and several companies are developing inhaled forms of the drug to reduce the need for daily injections among diabetics.

Exubera, a form of inhalable insulin developed by Pfizer collaborating with Nektar Theraputics, was approved for use in the US and the UK in early 2006. In April of 2006, the UK's National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence issued a preliminary statement advising against the use of inhalable insulin on the grounds that the benefits of avoiding injections did not justify the higher cost of the new product, estimated at £1100 per year. NICE recommended use of the new drug only in clinical trials. ^*

Alkermes working with Eli Lilly has developed a competing inhalable form of insulin, as has MannKind Corporation. These drugs are currently in phase III clinical trials, and have not yet been approved for sale.

Links

• ^* Nektar's description of Exubera

References

• "Competition to dice up market: Alkermes starts phase III of inhaled insulin product" Bioworld Today 27 April 2006.
• Draft guidance from NICE against use of inhalable insulin

Anti-diabetic drugs | Diabetes