Diabetes Podcast Tests Inhaled Insulin
Blood Sugar Unfiltered released "We Tried Inhaled Insulin" offering firsthand experience with this emerging alternative to subcutaneous injections. The episode provides candid user feedback on efficacy and usability — crucial data as medtech shifts toward patient-centric diabetes solutions.
The idea of inhaled insulin has been explored since the 1920s, but the first product to reach the market was Exubera in 2006. Developed by Pfizer and Nektar Therapeutics, it was hailed as a revolutionary needle-free option for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Despite the initial promise, Exubera was a commercial failure and Pfizer pulled it from the market in late 2007, citing poor sales. The bulky size of the inhaler, complex dosing, and higher cost were significant barriers to adoption by patients and doctors. The only inhaled insulin currently available is Afrezza, made by MannKind Corporation, which received FDA approval in 2014. It is an ultra-rapid-acting insulin that peaks in the bloodstream within 12 to 15 minutes, significantly faster than the roughly 50 minutes it takes for injected rapid-acting insulins. Afrezza is intended for adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and must be used with a long-acting insulin in type 1 patients. However, it carries a boxed warning and is not recommended for patients with chronic lung conditions like asthma or COPD due to the risk of acute bronchospasm. The drug initially struggled with slow sales, and a major marketing partnership with Sanofi was terminated in 2016. In its first nine months, total sales revenue was just over $5 million. MannKind has since continued to market Afrezza, with net sales reaching $23 million in the fourth quarter of 2025. The company is now seeking to expand the drug's approval for pediatric patients, with an FDA target action date set for May 29, 2026.
