MannKind Says Regains Afrezza Marketing Rights From Sanofi

(RTTNews) - MannKind Corp. (MNKD) said that it has assumed responsibility for the worldwide development and commercialization of Afrezza (insulin human) Inhalation Powder from Sanofi, effective today, in a transition that ensures patients will not experience any interruption in their treatment.

As per terms of the transfer agreement, Sanofi will continue to distribute Afrezza from its existing inventory until MannKind begins to distribute Afrezza during the third quarter.

Afrezza (uh-FREZZ-uh), approved in 2014 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, is a rapid-acting inhaled insulin therapy indicated to improve glycemic control in adult patients with diabetes. Taken at the start of a meal using a specially designed inhaler, Afrezza dissolves rapidly upon inhalation to the deep lung and delivers insulin quickly to the bloodstream. Peak insulin levels are achieved within 12 to 15 minutes of use and help to control post-meal blood sugar spikes that affect HbA1C levels. Afrezza should not be used by patients who have problems with their lungs (such as asthma or COPD) and is not recommended in patients who smoke or who have recently stopped smoking.

Afrezza is not a substitute for long-acting insulin but must be used in combination with long-acting insulin in patients with type 1 diabetes.