Pfizer and MannKind announce inhaled insulin collaboration

Pfizer has signed a partnership agreement with MannKind for certain patients on Exubera [insulin human (rDNA origin)]with a continuing need for inhaled insulin to be transferred on to Technosphere Insulin.

Technosphere Insulin is an inhaled insulin product from MannKind that has recently completed phase III clinical trials.

In October 2007, Pfizer announced plans to stop marketing Exubera as it did not meet its financial expectations or patients’ needs.

Since that time, patients using the drug have moved to other treatments, though a minority still have a continuing medical need for inhaled insulin.

Under this new agreement, these patients will use the therapy from MannKind, with Pfizer reimbursing some of the costs relating to this transition.

Dr Peter Richardson, chief scientific officer at MannKind, said: “For some Exubera patients, continued treatment with inhaled insulin is needed.”

He added that these patients either have a poor response to subcutaneous insulin or have severe needle-phobia.

Dr Richardson said these patients have a high level of medical need and will benefit from using the company’s inhaled insulin product.

In April 2008, Pfizer announced the decision to relabel Exubera to warn of the dangers of lung cancer.