Pfizer and two partners received approval from a scientific advisory panel Thursday for an inhaled form of insulin, staying ahead of Eli Lilly and Co. and others in the race to market an alternative to injections that could generate $1 billion in annual sales.

The recommendation by a Food and Drug Administration advisory panel came despite questions about use of the inhalable drug by people who have lung disease or have been exposed to secondhand smoke.
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MEXICO CITY, Jun 02, 2005 (United Press International via COMTEX) — With drastic changes the Mexican diet, exercise patterns and demographics in the last 15 years, diabetes has become a serious concern, public health officials told United Press International.

Widespread diabetes could bankrupt the country’s health system in the next decade, with annual costs of attending to patients with the disease estimated to double within five years, according to a recent report by the Instituto Nacional de Salud Publica.

Moreover, statistics from the Health Secretariat suggest the number of patients with diabetes grew seven times over the past 20 years and has become Mexico’s fourth highest cause of death in the country, and the INSP report, released last month, said the costs of caring for diabetic patients have grown to $317 million annually.

These costs are equivalent to 34 percent of the budget allocated for public health insurance in Mexico in 2005 and will involve more than 43,000 doctors working in the country.
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