Comments on: Exubera Goes Phhhttt… What Now? http://www.diabetesmine.com/2007/10/exubera-goes-ph.html A gold mine of straight talk and encouragement for people living with diabetes Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:37:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: » Rebecca Killion: An FDA Patient Rep with Diabetes Speaks Out - DiabetesMine: the all things diabetes blog http://www.diabetesmine.com/2007/10/exubera-goes-ph.html/comment-page-1#comment-235506 » Rebecca Killion: An FDA Patient Rep with Diabetes Speaks Out - DiabetesMine: the all things diabetes blog Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:00:48 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2007/10/21/exubera-goes-phhhttt-what-now/#comment-235506 [...] On being part of the panel evaluating Pfizer’s failed Exubera: [...] [...] On being part of the panel evaluating Pfizer’s failed Exubera: [...]

]]> By: » Rebecca Killion: An FDA Patient Rep with Diabetes Speaks Out - DiabetesMine: the all things diabetes blog http://www.diabetesmine.com/2007/10/exubera-goes-ph.html/comment-page-1#comment-235507 » Rebecca Killion: An FDA Patient Rep with Diabetes Speaks Out - DiabetesMine: the all things diabetes blog Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:00:48 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2007/10/21/exubera-goes-phhhttt-what-now/#comment-235507 [...] On being part of the panel evaluating Pfizer’s failed Exubera: [...] [...] On being part of the panel evaluating Pfizer’s failed Exubera: [...]

]]> By: Wynema http://www.diabetesmine.com/2007/10/exubera-goes-ph.html/comment-page-1#comment-39058 Wynema Wed, 31 Oct 2007 16:58:09 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2007/10/21/exubera-goes-phhhttt-what-now/#comment-39058 I only learned yesterday that Exubera was going out of production. I am Type 2 for 8 years, and just started Lantus in 07/07. I still needed something before meals, but didn't want shot because of my busy life. I started using Exubera in August of 2007, after waiting a month for a diabetes educator to "teach" me how to use it. When I got to her office, she tried to read the manual to me. Turns out she didn't know anything about it, so I felt I wasted that money. She wanted me to start on 1mg before meals. That did nothing for my numbers, so I called her back and she increased it to 2 units. That did nothing, so I increased it to 3 on my own. Still nothing. I looked on Exubera's web site and saw for my weight (270), I should have started on 6 mg. I called Exubera to confirm my calculations, and a nurse there said yes. So, I went to 6 mg. Still no effect on my numbers. I called Exubera back and asked them what the max dosage was, and they said there were no max dosages. I asked what the people in the test trials were taking, and they said up to 27 units per meal. Since you can only inhale up to 3 units at a time, this would be 9 puffs before every meal! That's when I suspended my use of it until I go back to see my doctor. I didn't have a problem with the size of the unit, or the fear of lung damage, because I was just beginning to use Lantus, and didn't want to have to use needles the rest of the day also. It's just that it wasn't working. I was keeping a food log, so I know that I was not increasing my carbs, just because I thought the Exubera would cover them. I'm really down it didn't work out. I only learned yesterday that Exubera was going out of production. I am Type 2 for 8 years, and just started Lantus in 07/07. I still needed something before meals, but didn’t want shot because of my busy life. I started using Exubera in August of 2007, after waiting a month for a diabetes educator to “teach” me how to use it. When I got to her office, she tried to read the manual to me. Turns out she didn’t know anything about it, so I felt I wasted that money. She wanted me to start on 1mg before meals. That did nothing for my numbers, so I called her back and she increased it to 2 units. That did nothing, so I increased it to 3 on my own. Still nothing. I looked on Exubera’s web site and saw for my weight (270), I should have started on 6 mg. I called Exubera to confirm my calculations, and a nurse there said yes. So, I went to 6 mg. Still no effect on my numbers. I called Exubera back and asked them what the max dosage was, and they said there were no max dosages. I asked what the people in the test trials were taking, and they said up to 27 units per meal. Since you can only inhale up to 3 units at a time, this would be 9 puffs before every meal! That’s when I suspended my use of it until I go back to see my doctor. I didn’t have a problem with the size of the unit, or the fear of lung damage, because I was just beginning to use Lantus, and didn’t want to have to use needles the rest of the day also. It’s just that it wasn’t working. I was keeping a food log, so I know that I was not increasing my carbs, just because I thought the Exubera would cover them. I’m really down it didn’t work out.

]]> By: AmyT http://www.diabetesmine.com/2007/10/exubera-goes-ph.html/comment-page-1#comment-39057 AmyT Wed, 31 Oct 2007 04:14:12 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2007/10/21/exubera-goes-phhhttt-what-now/#comment-39057 Laureen, I still don't know what you're talking about. Before I started pumping, I was on about 8-10 injections per day. There is no way some imprecise inhaler could replace that therapy. Laureen,

I still don’t know what you’re talking about. Before I started pumping, I was on about 8-10 injections per day. There is no way some imprecise inhaler could replace that therapy.

]]> By: Laureen http://www.diabetesmine.com/2007/10/exubera-goes-ph.html/comment-page-1#comment-39056 Laureen Wed, 31 Oct 2007 01:18:05 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2007/10/21/exubera-goes-phhhttt-what-now/#comment-39056 There is no being nasty here. The truth is until YOU have had to give yourself 4 injections a day to stay alive, you don't know what it is like. There is no other NON-INVASIVE drug available to Type I diabetics. Nektar resumes all rights to Exbura and I ahve no doubt this product will be produces. They GET the need for a NON-INVASIVE, innovative product. There is no being nasty here. The truth is until YOU have had to give yourself 4 injections a day to stay alive, you don’t know what it is like. There is no other NON-INVASIVE drug available to Type I diabetics. Nektar resumes all rights to Exbura and I ahve no doubt this product will be produces. They GET the need for a NON-INVASIVE, innovative product.

]]> By: AmyT http://www.diabetesmine.com/2007/10/exubera-goes-ph.html/comment-page-1#comment-39055 AmyT Wed, 31 Oct 2007 00:50:23 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2007/10/21/exubera-goes-phhhttt-what-now/#comment-39055 Laureen, First off, no need to be nasty. Next time you start off a comment by calling people names, I will delete you. Secondly, to be clear, Exubera is NOT the closest thing to a cure. Not even close. I'm sorry that Pfizer is pulling the plug on a product that worked for you. But that's business -- and the consensus in the medical world is that Exubera is not really ready for PrimeTime. Hold on, Lady, I'm sure new inhalable insulin is on the way. Laureen,
First off, no need to be nasty. Next time you start off a comment by calling people names, I will delete you.

Secondly, to be clear, Exubera is NOT the closest thing to a cure. Not even close.

I’m sorry that Pfizer is pulling the plug on a product that worked for you. But that’s business — and the consensus in the medical world is that Exubera is not really ready for PrimeTime. Hold on, Lady, I’m sure new inhalable insulin is on the way.

]]> By: Laureen http://www.diabetesmine.com/2007/10/exubera-goes-ph.html/comment-page-1#comment-39054 Laureen Wed, 31 Oct 2007 00:28:21 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2007/10/21/exubera-goes-phhhttt-what-now/#comment-39054 First - For you morons who think syringers are so tiny, you take 4 shots a day! Idiots! Exubera is the closest thing to a cure as Type I diabetics will ever get and yes Exubera is a great product, unfortunately, Pfizer had no marketing campaign and an awful sales force. Pfizer says I have other options, but do I really? I can't have an islet cell transplant due to anti-rejection drugs; I can't take a pill because I am insulin-dependent. My only option is to go back on 4 injections a day: to have bruised, sore arms and legs again and to have to get up and run to the bathroom to give an injection before breakfast, lunch, and dinner or to get gawked at if I give an injection at the table in a restaurant. Exubera is my CURE. I don't have the luxury of not taking insulin. I need it to survive. This may be the closest thing to a cure that many Type I diabetics will ever see. Pfizer says on their web site, "That's why we at Pfizer are committed to being a global leader in health care and to helping change millions of lives for the better through providing access to safe, effective and affordable medicines and related health care services to the people who need them" (Pfizer.com). Instead of Pfizer improving my life they are taking away the ONLY non-invasive treatment option for me and the 3 million Type I diabetics in the US. I would love to sit down with the person who made the decision to take it off the market and give him or her 4 injections a day for a week, let alone 20 years, and see if he would change his mind. Fight4Exubera@aol.com <a target="_blank" href="http://www.myspace.com/reen910" rel="nofollow">http://www.myspace.com/reen910</a> First – For you morons who think syringers are so tiny, you take 4 shots a day!
Idiots! Exubera is the closest thing to a cure as Type I diabetics will ever get and yes Exubera is a great product, unfortunately, Pfizer had no marketing campaign and an awful sales force.

Pfizer says I have other options, but do I really? I can’t have an islet cell transplant due to anti-rejection drugs; I can’t take a pill because I am insulin-dependent. My only option is to go back on 4 injections a day: to have bruised, sore arms and legs again and to have to get up and run to the bathroom to give an injection before breakfast, lunch, and dinner or to get gawked at if I give an injection at the table in a restaurant. Exubera is my CURE. I don’t have the luxury of not taking insulin. I need it to survive. This may be the closest thing to a cure that many Type I diabetics will ever see.

Pfizer says on their web site, “That’s why we at Pfizer are committed to being a global leader in health care and to helping change millions of lives for the better through providing access to safe, effective and affordable medicines and related health care services to the people who need them” (Pfizer.com). Instead of Pfizer improving my life they are taking away the ONLY non-invasive treatment option for me and the 3 million Type I diabetics in the US.

I would love to sit down with the person who made the decision to take it off the market and give him or her 4 injections a day for a week, let alone 20 years, and see if he would change his mind.

Fight4Exubera@aol.com

http://www.myspace.com/reen910

]]> By: Dan Fahey http://www.diabetesmine.com/2007/10/exubera-goes-ph.html/comment-page-1#comment-39053 Dan Fahey Tue, 23 Oct 2007 16:27:11 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2007/10/21/exubera-goes-phhhttt-what-now/#comment-39053 For existing Type 1 diabetics, I don't see that inhalable insulin would have much appeal, given its dowsides: dosage variability and potential lung damage. I can understand someone thinking there may be a market for Type 2 diabetics who REALLY should be using insulin but are afraid of needles, BUT the treatment must be more effective than the alternatives, and that's where this Exubera and other inhalables have missed the boat. I agree with the other commentators that getting meaningful USER input is crucial to developing a viable product and they couldn't have done that, or they would never have put forth this product. For existing Type 1 diabetics, I don’t see that inhalable insulin would have much appeal, given its dowsides: dosage variability and potential lung damage.
I can understand someone thinking there may be a market for Type 2 diabetics who REALLY should be using insulin but are afraid of needles, BUT the treatment must be more effective than the alternatives, and that’s where this Exubera and other inhalables have missed the boat.
I agree with the other commentators that getting meaningful USER input is crucial to developing a viable product and they couldn’t have done that, or they would never have put forth this product.

]]> By: Rob http://www.diabetesmine.com/2007/10/exubera-goes-ph.html/comment-page-1#comment-39052 Rob Mon, 22 Oct 2007 15:50:08 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2007/10/21/exubera-goes-phhhttt-what-now/#comment-39052 Dan Golan - If you check out the link I posted, you'll see that there are companies investing in what I would functionally call a 'cure.' There are a number of entities engaged in islet encapsulation, islet regeneration, prevention of the immune system attacks. Not to mention the purely mechanical avenues like artificial pancreases & smart insulins. The stuff is out there, but there hasn't been to-date (to my knowledge at least) a coalescence around the more promising areas of resaerch. Dan Golan -

If you check out the link I posted, you’ll see that there are companies investing in what I would functionally call a ‘cure.’ There are a number of entities engaged in islet encapsulation, islet regeneration, prevention of the immune system attacks. Not to mention the purely mechanical avenues like artificial pancreases & smart insulins. The stuff is out there, but there hasn’t been to-date (to my knowledge at least) a coalescence around the more promising areas of resaerch.

]]> By: dan golan, israel http://www.diabetesmine.com/2007/10/exubera-goes-ph.html/comment-page-1#comment-39051 dan golan, israel Mon, 22 Oct 2007 15:18:19 +0000 http://diabetesmine.dreamhosters.com/2007/10/21/exubera-goes-phhhttt-what-now/#comment-39051 I am not a one that likes to think about cure's research in terms of "conspiracy". However when you combine these 2.8B that were spent on a product that no one really need, with the fact that the JDRF can fund only 200M a year for a cure research. This goes through to my mind. I am not a one that likes to think about cure’s research in terms of “conspiracy”. However when you combine these 2.8B that were spent on a product that no one really need, with the fact that the JDRF can fund only 200M a year for a cure research. This goes through to my mind.

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