DIABETES SUFFERERS COULD HAVE BREATHER FROM SHOTS MANNKIND CORP. HAS PATIENTS FOR STUDY OF INSULIN THAT CAN BE INHALED.Byline: GREGORY J. WILCOX Staff Writer VALENCIA -- MannKind Corp. said Thursday that it finished enrolling patients in a major long-term safety study of an insulin drug that can be inhaled in·hale v. in·haled, in·hal·ing, in·hales v.tr. 1. To draw (air or smoke, for example) into the lungs by breathing; inspire. 2. . The drug, Technosphere Insulin, is delivered to the lungs via the Valencia-based company's proprietary inhaler inhaler /in·hal·er/ (in-hal´er) 1. an apparatus for administering vapor or volatilized medications by inhalation. 2. ventilator (2). in·hal·er n. . If the drug receives federal approval, it could replace injections for some diabetes suffers, said Dr. Peter Richardson Peter Richardson, born 15 October 1951 in Devon, is an English actor, comedian, director, and writer. He is best known for The Comic Strip Presents... television series. , the company's chief scientific officer. The study includes more than 1,800 patients and should be finished about two years from now. It will evaluate the pulmonary safety of Technosphere Insulin in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes type 2 diabetes n. See diabetes mellitus. , as well as a subgroup without diabetes, the company said. It's part of a series of Phase 3 clinical program now under way in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , Europe and Latin America Latin America, the Spanish-speaking, Portuguese-speaking, and French-speaking countries (except Canada) of North America, South America, Central America, and the West Indies. . Richardson said that the company's previous studies showed no adverse impacts on lung function or weight gain. ``We're really quite delighted by the observation that patients treated by inhalation tend to lose weight, which is a good thing,'' he said. Large-scale clinical trials such as this are conducted during the final phase of the development of a new therapeutic agent prior to the evaluation by regulatory authorities. ``This successful recruitment of patients represents a major achievement for the development of Technosphere Insulin and demonstrates our ability to execute a comprehensive clinical program,'' Alfred Mann, MannKind's chief executive officer, said in a statement. The company focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of therapeutic products for diseases such as diabetes and cancer. Analyst William Tanner at Leerink Swann in New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of said that if the drug wins approval it will enable MannKind to tap into a revenue stream of several billion dollars a year. The company has several competitors, including Pfizer Inc. ``I would say it's important to the extent that it kind of defines the likely end of the clinical trial program,'' he said of the company's announcement. greg.wilcox(at)dailynews.com (818) 713-3743 |
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