Inhalable Insulin Gets FDA Panel OK

This article about is about getting a new form of insulin for people with diabetes to try out. Many people are reluctant to receive insulin shots, so the people at Pfizer, Sanofi-Aventis and Nektar Therapeutics felt that an inhalable form of insulin may be better for them. However, even though it may be a good thing for some people, it may be more harmful to others. There were questions about smokers and people with lung disease, and if it would affect them in a harmful manner. After the testing, the people who ended up using the inhalable insulin ended up having a shortage of breathing or ended up coughing. This new type of insulin has its upsides and its downsides; the Americans will just have to be patient and wait and see what the government has to say about this issue facing millions of people.


This article relates to history because there was something called The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938. It helped to establish the Food and Drug Administration. At this time, drugs such as penicillin and tetracycline were being tested to see if they were safe. Also, at this time, people were very hesitant about trying these new drugs, just as they are nowadays. The New Drug Application (NDA) has complete power in overriding decisions from the pharmaceutical companies. Sometimes the drug development process can take up to ten years, but usually takes about two or three. This was the same way back in the old days, however, today the United States is a little bit more technologically advanced.