Frequently Asked Questions

Do you carry inhaled insulin?

Short Answer

No, not at this time.

Long Answer

On January 27, 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the sale of Exubera, a new form of insulin manufactured by Pfizer that can be inhaled instead of injected. Phase III clinical trials are being conducted in many other countries, including Canada.

An inhaler device is used to deliver insulin in a powdered form. Exubera is inhaled 10 minutes prior to a meal to control glucose levels in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Because Exubera is a fast-acting form of insulin, some users will still need at least one injection a day of long-lasting insulin.

Exubera is not recommended for smokers, children, and people with a chronic lung disease such as asthma.

Additional Information

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exubera: Wikipedia entry on Exubera.

businessweek.com/ magazine/content/06_29/b3993052.htm: Pfizer's insulin inhaler may not be as big a diabetes blockbuster as expected.

cbc.ca/ health/story/2006/07/13/insulin-inhaled.html: Canadian diabetics await inhaled insulin approval: article about the Exubera clinical trials in Canada. (CBC News)

diabetesnet.com/ diabetes_treatments/insulin_inhaled.php: Will Inhaled Insulin Really Take Your Breath Away?: a more technical article about Exubera with a picture of the inhaler. (Diabetes Mall)

masshightech.bizjournals.com/ masshightech/stories/2007/01/08/daily2.html: Alkermes, Eli Lilly modify insulin inhaler deal: update on development of the AIR Inhaled Insulin System now in Phase 3 clinical trials. (Mass High Tech)