Sanofi And MannKind Say Inhaled Insulin Afrezza Now Available In U.S.

(RTTNews) - Sanofi (SNYNF, SNY) and MannKind Corp. (MNKD) announced that Afrezza (insulin human) Inhalation Powder, the only inhaled insulin, is now available by prescription in U.S. retail pharmacies nationwide.

Afrezza is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to control high blood sugar in adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Afrezza is a drug-device combination product that consists of a dry formulation of human insulin delivered from a small and portable inhaler to help patients achieve blood sugar control. Afrezza is rapidly absorbed and has a short duration of action. It is administered at the beginning of a meal.

Afrezza can help control high blood sugar as part of a diabetes management plan that may include diet, exercise and other diabetes medications. Afrezza should not be used in patients with chronic lung disease such as asthma or COPD. Afrezza cannot be used to treat diabetic ketoacidosis. Afrezza is not recommended in patients who smoke or who have recently stopped smoking.

Prescription Afrezza is a rapid-acting inhaled insulin used to treat adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes for the control of high blood sugar.

Sanofi and MannKind entered into a worldwide exclusive licensing agreement to develop and commercialize Afrezza. As per the collaboration agreement, Sanofi is responsible for global commercial, regulatory and development activities.

The company advised that do not use Afrezza as a substitute for long-acting insulin; Afrezza must be used in combination with long-acting insulin in patients with type 1 diabetes. It also advised that do not use Afrezza to treat diabetic ketoacidosis. Afrezza is not recommended in patients who smoke or who have recently stopped smoking.