A Phase 2 clinical study of inhaled insulin conducted by Eli Lilly and Company and Alkermes, Inc., shows that patients who use the Lilly/Alkermes inhaled insulin system can control their blood sugar levels to equivalent levels of patients using injected insulin. Eighty percent of the patients in the trial preferred the inhaled insulin treatment. Though some physicians and diabetic patients are reluctant to begin insulin therapy, it is important to start using insulin as soon as possible to prevent kidney disease, vision loss and nerve damage. Phase III clinical trials will be conducted in United States, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Columbia, Chile, Croatia, Denmark, Hungary, India, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines.

By Ellie Kuykendall