Shhh. Big Pharma scientists hard at work. On what, you ask? Why, on Novo's new "baby" - a drug designed to treat type 2 diabetes. Liraglutide, a hormone analogue, is supposed to improve blood sugar control. It's also supposed to get you that coveted magic bullet (a la Byetta): weight loss. Ooh, baby. Now that's medication!

Novo Nordisk has been working on Liraglutide for a while now. Here's the latest: Novo announced Monday that two Phase III studies were successful in demonstrating the aforementioned blood sugar control and weight reduction. Novo is riding high on the news: its shares rose six percent on the announcement. According to a pharmaceutical industry analyst quoted by Reuters, the shares surged so healthily because the positive news was expected.

The powers-that-be at the drug giant say they hope Liraglutide can be submitted for regulatory approval by mid-2008. They hope it will become another blockbuster, with estimated annual sales topping one billion. Stay tuned.

Exubera, Exubera. What will become of you? That is the big question. Pfizer's eagerly awaited inhalable insulin device is nearing the market. For anyone following this saga, there is a must-read market analysis piece on Business Week's website. With the great title to boot: "From Pfizer, Irrational Exubera?"

The article looks at the big question everyone is asking about Exubera: will it be the blockbuster drug it's been hyped as? While Pfizer says it expects billions of dollars in sales (and the company is pouring millions into promoting the product), critics say it is an overhyped, overpriced product that could put some diabetics in danger of lung damage. Not to mention the device is the size of a county fair prize-winning squash! Who wants to suck on that in public?! Let alone tote it around. On the other hand, let's not forget it's big selling point: no needles. Yet critics maintain so-called needle phobia is not as widespread as Pfizer would have you believe.

If you check out this article, also take a look at the readers' comments at the end. There seems to be a fairly even split in opinion on this thing.