Good news for the Mannkind Corporation (MNKD) this morning as they announced positive results of two late stage studies for their inhaled insulin Diabetes drug, Afrezza. According to the Mannkind website, Afrezza is “a novel, ultra rapid-acting mealtime insulin therapy in late stage clinical investigation for the treatment of adult patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes mellitus for the control of hyperglycemia. It is a drug-device combination product, consisting of AFREZZA inhalation powder pre-metered into single use dose cartridges and the light, discreet and easy-to-use AFREZZA inhaler. Because of its unique pharmacokinetic profile, AFREZZA may be a promising new therapy for patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, as it controls post meal-time glucose levels with less weight gain and lower risk of hypoglycemia.”
When put up against insulin for Type I Diabetes, Afrrezza showed less hypoglycemia, drops in fasting blood glucose levels, and decreases in Alc levels. It also showed to have a weight advantage compared to standard insulin. Compared to oral therapy alone for Type 2 Diabetes, Mannkind noted that Afrezza showed decreases in post-prandial glucose excursions and in Alc levels.
Mannkind stock is up 17% this morning to $8.00, which is a far cry from their 1 year low of $1.82. Mannkind leadership noted that they would submit the drug to the FDA for approval in the fourth quarter of this year.
Mannkind believes that “that AFREZZA has the potential to change diabetes therapy by offering significant benefits to the growing population of patients with diabetes.”
For more news information, please refer to the Mannkind website.