WE CLAIM :
1. A method for preparing a stable, dry powder insulin composition, said
method comprising:
dissolving insulin in an aqueous buffer at a concentration in the range from 0,01% to 1% to form a solution; and
spray drying the solution to produce substantially amorphous particles having an average size in the range from 0.1 µm to 5 µm.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insulin is dissolved in a aqueous buffer together with a pharmaceutical carrier, wherein a dry powder having insulin present in individual particles at from 5% to 99% by weight is produced upon spray drying.
3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pharmaceutical carrier is a carbohydrate, organic salt, amino acid, peptide, or protein which produces a powder upon spray drying.
4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the pharmaceutical carrier is a carbohydrate selected from the group consisting of mannitol, rafßnose, lactose, malto dextrin and trehalose.
5. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the pharmaceutical carrier is an organic salt selected from the group consisting of sodium citrate, sodium acetate, and sodium ascorbate.
6. An insulin composition for pulmonary delivery, said composition comprising a dry powder of individual particles which include insulin present at from 20% to 80% by weight in a pharmaceutical carrier material.

wherein the particles have an average size in the range from 0.1 µm to 5 µm,
7. The insulin composition as claimed in claim 6, wherein the composition is substantially free from penetration enhancers.
8. The insulin composition as claimed in claim 6, wherein the pharmaceutical carrier material comprises a carbohydrate selected from the group consisting of mannitol, raffmose, lactose, malto dextrin, and trehalose.
9. The insulin composition as claimed in claim 6, wherein the pharmaceutical carrier material comprises an organic salt selected from the group consisting of sodium citrate, sodium gluconate, and sodium ascorbate.
10. A method for preparing a stable, dry powder insulin composition, said method comprising:
providing an aqueous solution of insulin and a pharmaceutical carrier dissolved in an aqueous buffer, wherein the insulin is present at 0.01% to 1% by weight and comprises from 20% to 80% of the total weight of insulin and pharmaceutical carrier in the solution; and spray drying the solution to produce amorphous particles comprising both the insulin and the pharmaceutical carrier having an average size in the range from 0.1 µm to 5 µm and a moisture content below 10%.
11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the pharmaceutical carrier is a carbohydrate, organic salt, amino acid, peptide, or protein which produces a powder upon spray drying.
12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the carbohydrate carrier is selected from the group consisting of mannitol, raffinose, lactose, malto dextrin and trehalose.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the carrier is an organic salt selected from the group consisting of sodium citrate, sodium acetate, and sodium ascorbate.
14. An insulin composition for pulmonary delivery, said composition comprising;
a dry powder of individual amorphous particles including both insulin and a pharmaceutical carrier, wherein the particles comprise from 20% to 80% insulin by weight, have an average particle size in the range from 0.1 µm to 5 µm, and have a moisture content below 10%.
15. The insulin composition as claimed in claim 14, wherein the particles consist essentially of the insulin and the pharmaceutical carrier.
16. The insulin composition as claimed in claim 14, wherein the composition is substantially free from penetration enhancers,
17. The insulin composition as claimed in claim 14, wherein the pharmaceutical carrier material comprises a carbohydrate selected from the group consisting of mannitol, raffmose, lactose, malto dextrin, and trehalose.
18. The insulin composition as claimed in claim 14, wherein the pharmaceutical carrier material comprises an organic salt selected from the group consisting of sodium citrate, sodium gluconate, and sodium ascorbate.
19. A method for preparing a stable, dry powder insulin composition, said method comprising:

dissolving insulin in an aqueous buffer at a concentration in the range from 0.01% to 1% to form a solution; and
spray drying the solution to produce substantially amorphous particles having an average size below 10 µm.
20 The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the insulin is dissolved in a aqueous buffer together with a pharmaceutical carrier, wherein a dry powder having insulin present in individual particles at from 5% to 99% by weight is produced upon spray drying.
21. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the pharmaceutical carrier is a carbohydrate, organic salt, amino acid, peptide, or protein which produces a powder upon spray drying,
22. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the pharmaceutical carrier is a carbohydrate selected from the group consisting of marmitol, raffmose, lactose, malto dextrin and trehalose.
23. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the pharmaceutical carrier is an organic salt selected from the group consisting of sodium citrate, sodium acetate, and sodium ascorbate.
24. An insulin composition for pulmonary delivery, said composition comprising a dry powder of individual particles which include insulin present at from 20% to 80% by weight in a pharmaceutical carrier material, wherein the particles have an average size below 10 µm.
25. An insulin composition as claimed in claim 24, wherein the composition is substantially free from penetration enhancers.

26. An insulin composition as claimed in claim 24, wherein the phamiaceutical carrier material comprises a carbohydrate selected from the group consisting of mannitol, raffmose, lactose, maho dextrin, and trehalose.
27. An insulin composition as claimed in claim 24, wherein the pharmaceutical carrier material comprises an organic salt selected from the group consisting of sodium citrate, sodium gluconate, and sodium ascorbate.
28. A method for preparing a stable, dry powder insulin composition, said method comprising:
providing an aqueous solution of insulin and a pharmaceutical carrier dissolved in an aqueous buffer, wherein the insulin is present at 0.01% to 1% by weight and comprises from 20% to 80% of the total weight of insulin and pharmaceutical carrier in the solution; and spray drying the solution to produce amorphous particles comprising both the insulin and the pharmaceutical carrier having an average size below 10 µm and a moisture content below 10%.
29. The method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the pharmaceutical carrier is a carbohydrate, organic salt, amino acid, peptide, or protein which produces a powder upon spray drying.
30. The method as claimed in claim 29, wherein the carbohydrate carrier is selected from the group consisting of mannitol, raffinose, lactose, malto dextrin and trehalose.
31. A method as claimed in claim 29, wherein the carrier is an organic salt selected from the group consisting of sodium citrate, sodium acetate, and sodium ascorbate.

32. An insulin composition for pulmonary delivery, said composition
comprising:
a dry powder of individual amorphous particles including both insulin and a pharmaceutical carrier, wherein the particles comprise from 20% to 80% insulin by weight, have an average particle size below 10 µm, and have a moisture content below 10%,
33. An insulin composition as claimed in claim 32, wherein the particles
consist essentially of the insulin and the pharmaceutical carrier,
34. An insulin composition as claimed in claim 32, wherein the composition is
substantially free from penetration enhancers.
35. An insulin composition as claimed in claim 32, wherein the pharmaceutical
carrier material comprises a carbohydrate selected from the group
consisting of mannitol, raffmose, lactose, malto dextrin, and trehalose.
36. An insulin composition as claimed in claim 32, wherein the pharmaceutical
carrier material comprises an organic salt selected from the group
consisting of sodium citrate, sodium gluconate, and sodium ascorbate.