Personal Injury Law

New Lung Cancer Risk for Exubera

By Brenda Fulmer

On April 9, 2008, the FDA announced new safety risks perhaps associated with Pfizer's diabetes drug, Exubera.  Exubera is an inhaled insulin product that was approved for use in the United States in 2006.  Recent clinical trials have exposed a concern that Exubera may be causing primary lung cancer.  The study uncovered six new cases of lung cancer versus only one case in the control subjects who were taking a placebo.  Pfizer has also noted that it has received at least one report of lung cancer in patients using the drug.  Pfizer's correspondence to physicians indicates that there "were too few cases to determine whether the emergence of these events is related to Exubera.  All patients who were diagnosed with lung cancer had a prior history of cigarette smoking."  Pfizer further assured patients "Exubera remains a safe and effective medication." 

The labeling for Exubera notes that the drug should not be prescribed to current smokers, smokers who recently quit smoking, and patients with certain lung diseases (including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, and asthma).  Patients with these conditions are at particular risk since these conditions can impact the manner in which the inhaled drug is absorbed by patient's bodies through their lung tissue. 

Full post as published by Tampa Bay Personal Injury Law on April 13, 2008 (boomark / email).