After Eight Years on Exubera, How Effective Is It?

After eight years on Exubera, the results showed that it was well-tolerated and effective at maintaining blood sugar control.

Two new studies presented today at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) meeting reinforce the efficacy and safety of Exubera (insulin human [rDNA origin]) Inhalation Powder for adults with diabetes. An eight-year extension study showed that Exubera was well-tolerated and effective at maintaining blood sugar control. A second eight-day, exploratory study with Exubera and Lantus® (insulin glargine [rDNA origin] injection) in patients with type 2 diabetes not controlled with multiple diabetes pills showed that daily blood sugar levels were lower with Exubera at the end of treatment. These data add to the growing body of evidence that Exubera is a beneficial treatment option in the management of diabetes.

“It’s exciting that eight-year Exubera data are available so quickly after this medicine has become available to physicians and patients because it supports the safety and efficacy of Exubera,” said Dr. Mark Burge, from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Department of Medicine. “These data should reassure both patients and physicians that people with diabetes can use Exubera safely and effectively over an extended period.”

The first study assessed lung function and blood sugar control over eight years in adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Patients, completing any of the three, three-month randomized phase 3 Exubera clinical trials, could enter the study and were treated with a diabetes treatment regimen (metformin and/or sulfonylurea and/or thiazolidinediones and/or injected insulin) that included Exubera (Exubera group) or that did not include Exubera (comparator group) for two years. One hundred seventy-three patients were enrolled in the Exubera group, and 44 patients were enrolled in the comparator group. When the study was extended for patients using Exubera, more than half remained in the study beyond two years, and 52 of the patients remained in the study for eight years. Lung function was measured using force expiratory volume (FEV1) and yearly rates of decline were calculated and compared to the control group and to two databases which evaluated lung function over two and seven years in adults with diabetes.

The eight year study found that the average yearly reductions in lung function in patients using Exubera were similar to people with diabetes that were not treated with Exubera.  Other clinical studies for Exubera showed that average initial declines in lung function were small compared to the control group and did not progress. This study also showed that Exubera provided sustained blood sugar control throughout the eight year period. Blood sugar levels as measured by A1C were 8.5% at the beginning of the study, decreased after 3 months of therapy, were maintained throughout the eight years ending with an A1C of 7.9%.

The most common adverse event was hypoglycemia which decreased over time from 2.9 episodes/subject-month after 1 month of Exubera therapy to 1.7 episode/subject-month after 8 years of therapy. Over the eight years of the study, the three most common respiratory adverse events were respiratory tract infection, such as a common cold, (67.6%), cough (41.6%) and pharyngitis (sore throat) (38.2%). As can be expected in a long term trial, serious adverse events were reported. These occurred in 62 (35.8%) of patients over the eight-year period. Among the serious adverse events were coronary artery disease, degenerative joint disease, anemia, myocardial infarction and basal cell carcinoma. The study did not have a control group beyond two-years but no events occurred with consistency.

Because lack of mealtime, blood sugar control is the first defect in type 2 diabetes, a second exploratory study was designed to explore whether Exubera, mealtime insulin, could provide effective 24-hour blood sugar control.

In a single-site, two arm cross-over design, open label, exploratory in-patient study, 40 patients uncontrolled with multiple oral diabetes pills added either Exubera or Lantus as their first insulin. Patients’ blood sugar levels were intensively monitored using an 8-pt glucose profile for five days of each treatment period and 24-hour blood sugar profiles were assessed using continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS) technology for the final 3 days of each treatment period. Exubera and Lantus were titrated according to blood sugar levels based on prescribing information. At the end of the study period, the daily dose of Exubera was 15.1 mg (equivalent to approximately 40.1 IU) compared with 16.4 IU for Lantus.

In the final three days of the study, mealtime blood sugar levels with Exubera were lower with similar fasting blood sugar levels compared to Lantus which resulted in lower overall 24-hour blood sugar levels with Exubera. There were no differences in the blood sugar variability endpoints (SD, MAGE, MODD) between Exubera and Lantus. Additional large scale studies comparing Exubera and Lantus are on-going. No patients experienced severe adverse events with either treatment in the study. As with all forms of insulin, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels) was the most frequently observed adverse effect with both insulins, but was more frequent in the Exubera group than in the Lantus group (8.7 vs. 2.4 per-subject-month of exposure).

“The results of these two studies further support the role of Exubera as a first insulin option in the management of type 2 diabetes,” said Dr. Rochelle Chaiken, Endocrinologist and Cardiovascular Medical Group Leader from Pfizer. “Given the progressive nature of diabetes and the challenges related to treating and managing the disease over time, we are committed to educating physicians and patients about the critical role that earlier insulin initiation may play in managing this disease.”

 Learn about the ONlY Instant Disposable In Office A1c Test:  Studies have shown that by providing the A1c test in the office while the patient is present, can lower A1c by a full point.  Learn about the only 99% accurate disposable A1c test that is CLIA waived and cost less then 10 dollars and reimbursed at least 21 dollars.     https://www.a1ctest.com

================================

Help us keep this newsletter free—update your profile!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

https://www.diabetesincontrol.com/surveys/index.php