Inhaled insulin's last gasp?

Clinical programs for inhaled insulin have received several setbacks of late, with Bagsvoerd, Denmark-based Novo Nordisk deciding to terminate phase 3 trials of its inhaler and Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly announcing that it was axing development of its inhaled product. But, the death blow was delivered: Pfizer, of New York, which in October had pulled its own inhaled insulin product, Exubera, from the market due to disappointing sales, said it is updating the product's label to reflect an increased incidence of lung cancer cases among former smokers.