Exubera is the the first inhaled insulin to get FDA approval.

Exubera delivers short-acting insulin via an inhaler. It offers adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes an alternative to the insulin injections they need to control their blood sugar.

In type 1 diabetes, inhaled insulin may be added to longer acting insulins as a replacement for short-acting insulin taken with meals.
In type 2 diabetes, inhaled insulin may be used alone, along with oral non-insulin pills that control blood sugar, or with longer acting insulins.

Although clinical trials had demonstrated Exubera to have efficacy similar to that of short-acting insulins, but without the needle stick, a host of concerns had cropped up, including worries about pulmonary toxicities, and questions about Exubera’s ability to achieve a reduction in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels to below 7%, the accepted gold standard.

Precautions

All patients should have their lung function evaluated before beginning Exubera treatment. These tests should be repeated every six to 12 months while treatment continues.

Contraindications

1. Age less than 18 years
2. Current smokers or people who have quit smoking within the previous six months
3. Lung disorders as asthma, bronchitis or emphysema

However, people with colds or flu should still be able to take the drug, although it may cause coughing.

Exubera will be on pharmacy shelves by the middle of the year, according to Rebecca Hamm, spokeswoman for Exubera maker Pfizer.

Reference - Pfizer, WebMD, MedPage Today

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