[e-drug] Nasal insulin withdrawal

["Valeria Frighi" <Valeria.Frighi@psych.ox.ac.uk>]

E-DRUG: Nasal insulin withdrawal
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Dear colleagues,

Pfizer withdrew Exhubera last week because of insufficient revenues.
I never thought inhaled insulin had a great future unless the device got smaller and the safety concerns (due to administration of a growth factor to a tissue not meant to receive it) were allayed by long term trials. Still, Exhubera was useful in a percentage of selected patients (those with real needle phobia or frequent serious hypoglycaemia).

 I am sorry the company made this decision. I suppose if they had marketed Exhubera at a less exhorbitant price they might have convinced NICE to make it available. 

Now, some of the patients started on nasal insulin will go on subcutaneous pumps- very costly and not always friendly.

Happy New Year

Valeria


Dr Valeria Frighi
University Dept. of Psychiatry
Neurosciences Building
Warneford Hospital
Oxford
OX3 7JX
UK
"Valeria Frighi" <Valeria.Frighi@psych.ox.ac.uk>