French pharmaceutical company Sanofi and MannKind Corporation have revealed that the Afrezza Inhalation Powder, which is human inhalable insulin, is now available in the U.S. market.
On Tuesday, Feb. 3, both the companies announced that the only inhaled insulin is now available in the U.S. via prescriptions in pharmacies across the nation. Afrezza has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for controlling high blood sugar in adults, who suffer with type 2 or 1 diabetes.
In August 2014, Sanofi and MannKind announced a worldwide licensing agreement for the development and commercialization of Afrezza.
"Afrezza is a further addition to our growing portfolio of integrated diabetes solutions. It is uniquely positioned to provide patients with another insulin therapy option to manage their diabetes but does not require multiple daily injections," said Pierre Chancel, Sanofi Senior Vice President Diabetes Division, in August 2014.
Thousands of people suffer with diabetes in the U.S. and many of these patients cannot control the blood sugar level in their body with existing medication but benefit from insulin. Only injectable insulin is currently available and the launch of Afrezza gives another insulin administration option to diabetic patients.
Afrezza is a drug-device combination product, which consists of a dry insulin powder that is delivered to the patient via a small inhaler to control blood sugar levels. Afrezza is promising as it acts fasts and relatively easier to administer in comparison to traditional injectable insulin. The inhalable insulin is administered at the beginning of a meal.
Sanofi reveals that patients suffering with chronic lung disease like asthma should not use Afrezza. The inhalable insulin is also not recommended for patients who have recently stopped smoking or who still smoke.
Afrezza is priced at $7.54 for a daily dose of 12 units, which is more than double the cost of injectable insulin Apidra available for $3.14. Industry experts suggest that Afrezza will generate sales of $182 million a year by 2019.
Afrezza is estimated to give stiff competition to other companies that make traditional injectable insulin. However, it is not the first time that an insulin inhaler has been made available in the U.S. market. Previously, Pfizer launched its inhalable insulin called Exubera but soon withdrew it from the market. Medical experts also question about the risk associated with breathing powered form of insulin.
It remains to be seen how Afrezza will be welcomed in the diabetic patients community.
