The FDA has approved Eli Lilly's treatment for severe hypoglycemia, the first emergency treatment that can be administered without an injection.
Severe hypoglycemia occurs when a patient's blood sugar falls to a dangerously low level. It usually happens in people who have diabetes.
The therapy Baqsimi is a powder that is administered into the nose. It will come in a single-use dispenser. It increases blood sugar levels in the body by stimulating the liver to release glucose into the blood.
"This new way to administer glucagon may simplify the process, which can be critical during an episode, especially since the patient may have lost consciousness or may be having a seizure. In those situations, we want the process to treat the suffering person to be as simple as possible," said Janet Woodcock, MD, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.