Exubera Works Even with Cold or Flu-Study

A new form of insulin which is inhaled rather than injected works even if patients have a respiratory infections or are exposed to passive cigarette smoke. Exubera was recently launched in major markets for the treatment of diabetes by Pfizer Inc, using an inhaler developed by Nektar Therapeutics.

"This information is important for healthcare providers," Professor Philippe Camus of the University Medical Center, Dijon in France, told the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes.

"It shows that the efficacy and tolerability of Exubera remain unchanged even if patients develop a cold or the flu. Also, studies showed patients taking Exubera are no more likely to develop a respiratory infection than patients using injectable insulin," he added.

A further analysis of five other clinical trials presented at the meeting also showed that people with either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes who used Exubera gained less weight than those using injectable insulin.

Presented in Copenhagen last Friday at the 42nd annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes.