Pfizer Exubera Inhalable Insulin

Until now the only way possible for diabetics in the USA to administer insulin has been through needle injection or in the subcutaneous area. The holy grail of non-needle insulin administration was only wishful thinking. Until now.

The Pfizer drug company will release it’s new form of inhalable insulin Exubera in 2006. The FDA approved Exubera’s use for insulin treatment in January of 2006.

New diabetics who are still squeamish over needle injections will surely welcome Exubera non-needle injection delivery method.

Here is what we know about Exubera.

Insulin is inhaled much like an asthma suffer uses an inhaler. The insulin dosage is dialed up and injected or inhaled into the lungs.

Exubera is only a fast acting insulin similar to other fast acting insulins like humalog. Currently Exubera does not have a long acting counterpart. Thus this inhalable insulin will not replace the need for injections subcutaneously.

One great application we see doctors could implement with this type of insulin is for the “poor man’s insulin pump”. In this application a diabetic could take 1-2 injections of long acting insulin each day at morning and or night. Those injections would cover just a fasting diabetics need for insulin. However when extra insulin is needed for meals or corrections they could be administered by the inhalable fast acting insulin.

Some concerns over Exubera include the long-term effects of inhaled insulin on the lungs. Studies will be conducted to see what long-term effects if any are noted with the drug. The dispenser in it’s first generation platform has a bulkiness. We would expect later generations of the dispenser to be improved as it brings profits for Pfizer.

Diabetics in the USA do have reason to rejoice over Pfizer’s Exubera. It is not a complete replacement to needle injections however it is a big step in that direction.

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