Afrezza Now Available in U.S.

Afrezza Inhalation Powder, an inhaled insulin indicated to control high blood sugar in adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, is now available by prescription at retail pharmacies in the United States, according to a press release from Sanofi and the MannKind Corporation.

The product is a drug–device combination that is composed of human insulin powder delivered by an inhaler. Afrezza is rapid-acting and is designed to be administered at the beginning of a meal. Peak insulin levels are achieved within 12 to 15 minutes after administration.

Afrezza is currently available in 4-unit and 8-unit single-dose cartridges of insulin powder. The inhaler is disposable can be used for up to 15 days.

The product received FDA approval in June 2014.

“Many people living with diabetes are not able to control their blood sugar on their current medications and may benefit from using insulin. 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,” Janet McGill, MD, Professor of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, said in the release.