Inhaled insulin shows signs of life after setbacks

[industry_news]

Mannkind took another big step toward filing an application for its inhaled insulin after releasing data from a late-stage trial demonstrating the therapy is not inferior to injected drugs that control blood sugar levels in Type 1 diabetes patients. Just as importantly, researchers noted that there was no difference in lung function measures for patients taking Mannkind's therapy, a safety factor that has dogged similar therapies.
Mannkind has stuck with its inhaled insulin program even after Pfizer, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk had all walked away from their own efforts in the field. In a separate announcement Pfizer said that some Exubera patients who still need an inhaled insulin will be switched to Mannkind's therapy. Investors have battered the company's stock price, but the CEO says Mannkind plans to go the distance.
"Technosphere Insulin promises to be an important additional option for the treatment of patients with Type 1 diabetes," MannKind Chief Scientific Officer Peter Richardson said in a statement. An application should follow in the next few months.
- check out the Mannkind release
- read the story from the Wall Street Journal
Related Articles:
Pfizer kills off Exubera, hunts for deals
Inhaled insulin lung cancer warning riles investors
Novo Nordisk shelves inhaled insulin, axes staffers
Alkermes: Lilly may dump inhaled insulin program
MannKind bets the farm on inhaled insulin (Nov 2007)


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