Diabetes

From WikiCover

Diabetes is a chronic health condition where the body is unable to produce or adequately use insulin. Diabetes is broadly grouped into two types -- Type I and Type 2. Type 2 diabetics make up approximately 90% of all diabetics and the incidence of Type 2 diabetes is growing rapidly. According to the World Health Organization, diabetes is reaching epidemic proportions.

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Approximately 194 million people worldwide suffer from the disease, and it is estimated that the number of people with diabetes will more than double by 2030. Predictions are that one in three children in the U.S. born five years ago will develop diabetes. Direct healthcare costs may be as much as $286 billion worldwide. It is widely accepted that early intervention for Type 2 diabetics by treatment with insulin improves outcomes. However, as Type 2 diabetics are reluctant to inject insulin the introduction of non-invasive insulin delivery formats, such as inhalable insulin, is likely to have greater impact on outcomes and become the preferred means for delivering insulin for Type 2 diabetics.

The first inhalable insulin product, Pfizer's Exubera, was approved by the European Commission on January 26, 2006 and by the FDA on January 27, 2006. Following the launch of Exubera, inhaled insulin has become available for diabetics and the way is being paved for next generation products.