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Inhaled insulin (Exubera)
Inhaled insulin is a rapid-acting insulin that is absorbed through the lungs to lower blood glucose by promoting glucose uptake and storage in peripheral tissues.
Inhaled insulin is a rapid-acting insulin that is absorbed through the lungs to lower blood glucose by promoting glucose uptake and storage in peripheral tissues. Used for Type 1 diabetes mellitus, Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
At a glance
| Generic name | Inhaled insulin (Exubera) |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Pfizer |
| Drug class | Rapid-acting insulin |
| Target | Insulin receptor |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Diabetes |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Exubera delivers recombinant human insulin via inhalation, allowing systemic absorption through the pulmonary epithelium. This provides a non-injectable route of administration with a rapid onset of action similar to subcutaneous rapid-acting insulin, helping to control postprandial (after-meal) blood glucose levels in diabetic patients.
Approved indications
- Type 1 diabetes mellitus
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Common side effects
- Cough
- Hypoglycemia
- Throat irritation
- Bronchitis
Key clinical trials
- A Clinical Trial Assessing The Impact Of Inhaled Insulin On Glucose Control In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (PHASE3)
- Safety And Efficacy Of Exubera Compared With Subcutaneous Human Insulin Therapy In Children And Adolescents (PHASE3)
- This Study Is To Determine If Inhaled Insulin Is Effective In Treating Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (PHASE4)
- Patient Transitioning From Exubera® Inhalation Powder to Technosphere® Insulin Inhalation Powder
- A Clinical Trial Comparing the Efficacy and Safety of Exubera® and Lantus® (PHASE4)
- A One Year Clinical Trial Assessing the Usefulness and Safety of Inhaled Insulin in Diabetics With Asthma (PHASE3)
- Long-Term Safety Study of Inhaled Insulin: An Up to Four-Year Extension of Therapy in Subjects With Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (PHASE2)
- Efficacy and Safety of Inhaled Insulin Compared With Subcutaneous Human Insulin Therapy in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes (PHASE3)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Inhaled insulin (Exubera) CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Inhaled insulin (Exubera) updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Pfizer portfolio CI