Sanofi, MannKind launch diabetes drug Afrezza in US

Indicated to control high blood sugar in adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, Afrezza is a drug-device combination that uses a small and portable inhaler to deliver a dry formulation of human insulin to help patients achieve blood sugar control.

Administered at the beginning of a meal, Afrezza dissolves rapidly upon inhalation to the lung and delivers insulin quickly to the bloodstream, while peak insulin levels are achieved within 12-15 minutes of administration.

Washington University School of Medicine professor of Medicine and Afrezza clinical trial investigator Dr Janet McGill said: "Many people living with diabetes are not able to control their blood sugar on their current medications and may benefit from using insulin. Now they have another option to administer insulin that is not an injection.

"This delivery option may help change the dialogue between health care professionals and people living with diabetes about initiating or intensifying insulin therapy."

The drug is not indicated for use in patients with chronic lung disease such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and to treat diabetic ketoacidosi.

Afrezza is being developed and commercialized as part of an exclusive licensing agreement signed by Sanofi and MannKind.

Under the deal, Sanofi is responsible for the product’s global commercial, regulatory and development activities.

Currently, Afrezza is available in four and eight-unit single-dose cartridges of insulin powder that can be used in combination with other diabetes medications, as prescribed by a health care professional, to achieve target blood sugar levels.

Image: Afrezza Inhaler with 8 unit and 4 unit cartridges of Afrezza (insulin human) Inhalation Powder. Photo: courtesy of Sanofi and MannKind Corporation.