You're asking me? NVO bought the rights to this stuff by buying up Aradigm's patent estate cheap. Back when folks thought inhaled insulin might sell, the decision was made by NVO to sue PFE/NKTR. Maybe the narrowing of the claims is a measure to cut legal costs ;>}
It's a good question, though, because with the apparent success of Januvia, the argument for inhaled insulin is less compelling. I find the apparent safety advantage of Januvia over competing DPP-4 inhibitors a bit mystifying, but I digress. In any case, given that safe new oral therapy, and that ALL inhaled insulins are going to generate an antibody response, sales are going to be a problem for everyone in the inhaled space. When the ADA president said it was his job to discourage folks from using it because of that (or more general pulmonary concerns, of which the antibody response is a manifestation), it was a blow to all players.
I think they are wasting the money because of inertia, and because they believe that smaller, sexier inhalers will help turn the corner (I have my doubts about the latter). So they are still battling over the turf.
Cheers, Tuck |
