Pfizer gives up on inhaled insulin product.

After 10 years of investment and a stepped-up marketing campaign, Pfizer Inc. threw in the towel on Exubera, having failed to convince physicians and patients of the convenience of the inhaled insulin product.

The company discontinued sales of Exubera--the first inhaled insulin to hit the market--on Oct. 18.

"The product has simply not gained the acceptance of patients and physicians," Pfizer Chief Executive Officer Jeff Kindler said in a conference call with reporters and stock analysts. Pfizer licensed the inhalation device from Nektar Therapeutics.

Pfizer said it would support physicians during a 3-month transition period as they switch patients to other drugs.

Dr. Philip Levy, chairman of endocrinology and metabolism at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, Phoenix, said Exubera worked well for several of his patients, but the inhaler's unwieldy size was likely a deterrent for some patients. Also, physicians "were used to teaching insulin, and they weren't used to teaching this," he added.

The inhaled-insulin product got off to a rocky start, with several delays because of manufacturing challenges. Pfizer finally rolled it out on a limited basis in Sept. 2006.

Dr. Levy said that he doesn't expect inhaled insulin to vanish altogether. "I probably would give another device a try," he said. "Some of the newer [inhalers currently being tested by other companies] are much smaller."

Dr. Levy disclosed accepting speaking fees from Pfizer in the past, and his practice was included in a postmarketing study of Exubera that was funded by Pfizer.

This newspaper and "The Pink Sheet" are published by Elsevier. Assistant Editor Denise Napoli contributed to this story.

BY JESSICA MERRILL

"The Pink Sheet"