Pfizer's bandwagon might be busted! Turns-out a study says inhaled human insulin, whether formulated as a powder or liquid, is more immunogenic than injected insulin.

Adverse effects of antibody formation have not been thoroughly investigated. But it was shown, comparatively, that inhaled insulin provokes more of an immune response than injections. Spitting is a dirty habit - but it's not good for nothing. The mucosal defense system is the body's primary line of defense against inhaled foreign matter - kind of like the MARINES of the human body. It is uniquely able to discern self from non-self bodies. So far - it looks like Pfizer's toker is a no go.

As I said before - the adverse events have not been thoroughly investigated. Until we know exactly what kind of mucosal revenge or pulmonary punishment lies ahead - I'd stick to the tried and true...subQ, for now. However the Generex Oral-lyn human trials are looking pretty promising. Stay tuned.

Sink your teeth into this one. Generex, the company that is quickly making a name for itself as the leader in drug delivery for metabolic diseases through the inner lining of the mouth, announced that it has been granted the first patent for its medicinal gum platform. The patent is titled Compositions for Oral Transmucosal Delivery of Metformin. It covers claims to the composition, processes, and methodologies for the delivery of an oral transmucosal metformin composition via the oral mucosal membrane for absorption. Long story short: you chew it.

Metformin is a generic drug used to regulate blood sugar levels by reducing the amount of glucose produced by the liver. The popular brand names of Metformin include: Glucophage, Diabex, Diaformin, Fortamet, Riomet, and Glumetza. Metformin is the only anti-diabetic drug that has been proven to reduce the cardiovascular complications of diabetes, as evidenced in a large study of overweight patients with diabetes. Metformin has been in use around the world for more than 30 years. It remains the most prescribed drug for Type-2 diabetes, a testimony to its efficacy and its prominent place in diabetes therapy.

Rose C. Perri, the Generex Chief Operating Officer commented, "we are very pleased to receive the first patent for our metformin gum product, a product that compliments our flagship product, Generex Oral-lyn™, and related diabetes pipeline". On a personal note, when I first learned about this development from the masterminds at Generex I was definitely excited. But now that the train has left the station, I'm happy to share this news with the gum-chewing, metformin-taking, diabetes population. It's all about the delivery and this one is definitely special.

Generex's flagship product, Oral-lyn^TM, is an oral insulin spray for the treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Their technology permits the delivery of insulin through the oral cavity (with no deposit in the lungs). Whatever you do, don't call it an inhaler.

Oral-lyn^TM is a liquid form of human insulin that is absorbed through the buccal mucosa. Say that three times, fast. It is delivered through the RapidMist^TM device, which looks a lot like an inhaler. But because this device limits absorption to the mouth, there is no entry into the lungs. The rich vascularity of the buccal mucosa allows for much faster absorption of insulin and a shorter total duration of activity which makes Oral-lyn^TM an ideal mealtime insulin, as it can be conveniently administered immediately prior to meals with little prospect of hypoglycemia. Oral-lyn^TM can be used as a preventative agent by people with pre-diabetes to delay the onset of diabetes and by patients with type-2 diabetes to delay the onset of insulin dependence and the complications associated with diabetes.

Generex Oral-lyn^TM is expected to lead to an enormous improvement in the quality of life, with the elimination of pain and a significant increase in convenience. This will result in improved compliance with a relative decrease in complications and a significant reduction in the costs associated with treating them. Knowing now that you can non-invasively continuously monitor your blood sugars, patch on your basal rate, and puff (but not inhale) for your meals - I'm going to do my share of screaming from the hilltops to get these devices the attention they warrant.

Dear Mister FDA, please don't give any of these potential pipeline treatments any shenanigans. They deserve a bedtime story and a kiss on the forehead for the promise they bring to us in the cold, weary world of diabetes. Oh yeah-- and please put a little hustle in it! Yours truly, Allie B