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Afrezza now available in US
Afrezza, the only inhaled insulin, is now available for prescription in the United States, according to a press release from Sanofi and MannKind Corporation.
Afrezza (insulin human, Sanofi) was approved by the FDA for treatment of high blood glucose in adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
“Many people living with diabetes are not able to control their blood sugar on their current medications and may benefit from using insulin,” Janet McGill, MD, professor of medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and clinical trial investigator for Afrezza, said in the release. “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.”
Afrezza is a dry formulation of human insulin delivered by a small, portable inhaler. The drug is rapidly absorbed, has a short duration of action and should be administered at the beginning of a meal.
“Afrezza is an important addition to Sanofi’s growing diabetes portfolio of integrated, personalized offerings, and it is one that highlights our dedication to bringing innovative therapies to people with this disease,” Pierre Chancel, senior vice president of the diabetes division at Sanofi, said in the release. “There is a recognized need for an insulin that doesn’t require an injection, and our organization is committed to making this new treatment option available to patients.”
The drug is recommended as part of a diabetes management plan that may include diet, exercise and other diabetes medications. It is not recommended for patients with chronic lung disease, those who smoke or recently stopped smoking or as a treatment for diabetic ketoacidosis.
“We are extremely proud to see the many years of work that went into developing Afrezza culminate in the day when it is now available to help people manage their diabetes,” Alfred Mann, executive chairman of MannKind Corporation, said in the release.