For Diabetics, a New Insulin Inhaler Could Replace Shots as Early as 2014

[KittyWampus]

Source: Business Week

For Diabetics, a New Insulin Inhaler Could Replace Shots as Early as 2014
By Justin BachmanAugust 14, 2013


The long promise of insulin that diabetics can inhale appears to be moving closer to the market. An inhalable insulin powder called Afrezza showed positive results for controlling diabetes in a late-stage clinical trial, the drug’s maker, MannKind (MNKD), reported today.

Pharmaceutical companies have been working on inhalable insulin for a long time on the theory that diabetics would prefer to puff on an inhaler than give themselves a shot. In 2007, Pfizer (PFE) stopped selling its Exubera insulin powder because of weak sales after less than two years on the market. Exubera never gained traction, largely because insurers wouldn’t pay for it, saying it was too expensive and didn’t work for many patients. Eli Lilly & Co. (LLY) and Novo Nordisk (NVO) both ended inhaled insulin research programs in 2008.

Read more: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-08-14/for-diabetics-a-new-insulin-inhaler-could-replace-shots-as-early-as-2014

[BlueManFan]

1. As a diabetic I am thrilled with this prospect. And I'm all giddy because I know the FDA

has my best interest at heart, not the wealth of the drug companies. We'll see how long it is before the folks who approved this go to work for the company.

[TexasTowelie]

2. An inhalible insulin was available in the US back in 2006.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inhalable_insulin

Inhalable insulin was available from September 2006 to October 2007 in the United States as a new method of delivering insulin, a drug used in the treatment of diabetes, to the body. After the withdrawal of the only inhalable formulation, all currently available insulin formulations are administered by subcutaneous or intravenous injection.[1]

The first such product to be marketed was Exubera, a powdered form of recombinant human insulin, delivered through an inhaler into the lungs where it is absorbed. Insulin has also been known to help patients with breast cancer, namely women.[2][3][4] Once it has been absorbed, it begins working within the body over the next few hours. Type 1 diabetics still need to take a longer acting basal insulin by injection.[5]

A systematic review concluded that inhaled insulin "appears to be as effective, but no better than injected short-acting insulin. The additional cost is so much more that it is unlikely to be cost-effective."[6] In October 2007, Pfizer announced that it would be discontinuing the production and sale of Exubera due to poor sales.[7] Several other companies are developing inhaled forms of the drug to reduce the need for daily injections among diabetics.

Note the statement that Exubera was withdrawn due to poor sales--it should more accurately be stated that Pfizer failed to provide adequate marketing for Exubera and that it remained available in European countries for a few years afterwards. Pfizer also became involved in a patent infringement lawsuit which also factored into why the product was withdrawn from the market. There is more money to be made from the sale of syringes, insulin and pumps so the pharma industry in essence killed the program.

[BlueManFan]

3. As was Seldane and Phenergan, and on on and it goes.

I'll stick with the insulin with the 40 year track record.

[pscot]

4. Oh hell no

I love giving myself shots.

[arikara]

5. I heard that the problem with insulin by inhalation

is that its harder to administer the correct dosage that way. I wonder how they will get around that now.

[gristy]

6. my list of breakthrough diabetes management tools

Here's my list:

1. Humalog
2. 5-second electronic blood glucose testing. And the price keeps dropping... $0.29 per strip at Walmart these days.

Inhalable insulin? I don't see it getting on this list or any other.

[quakerboy]

8. Why not?

If they get it working properly.. I cant see it not getting on the list. Not having to look for new injection sites all the time? No more bruises? No more buying needles (and sharps safety/disposal)

If nothing else, it would have the potential to make life easier for everyone in a lot of retirement homes. No one likes getting jabbed with a needle morning noon and night.

Getting it working properly is the key. Not sure how you do a variable, responsive to blood sugar dose on an inhaler, or how you determine what absorption looks like for a guy with copd who doesn't breathe it in right vs a person in otherwise good health.

[silvershadow]

7. I'm not diabetic, but I do give myself a shot every day for MS. I gotta ask:

Why on earth would you want to inhale medicine that's for diabetes? Your lungs have nothing to due with diabetes, so that delivery option just seems more than strange to me. I use an inhaler, as well, but it's for asthma. It's lung medicine. What's next, inhalable aspirin?

[EOTE]

10. Your lungs have blood vessels in them.

So whatever you inhale will quickly enter your blood stream.

[tanyev]

9. My husband is really looking forward to this. Hope it catches on.

[eilen]

11. We will never use this in hospitals.

The fast acting injectible insulin, apidra along with Lantus is a standby, much easier to adjust dosage for fasting and controlling blood sugar. We don't even give metformin.

The individual at home-- right now pens are very popular as they are easy to adjust dosage. The problem I can see with the inhalers is that people often don't use them correctly. However, for those that do, and those that will be able to afford them, they may feel freer.

[IDemo]

12. Tried the pens for 90 days, hated them

I'll 'stick' with the syringes, Humalog and Lantus.

Along with dosing issues, I'd like to know what has changed with the latest inhalable that avoids the reduced lung capacity as seen with earlier brands. You're still introducing a powder into your lungs. No thanks.

[Judi Lynn]

13. Big, BIG step forward. People will be far happier inhaling it.

Of course, they could still continue to allow the old system for those who've simply become too attached to the shots! As if!