Federal health officials announced Friday they have cleared the way for children with diabetes to use a breakthrough inhaled insulin treatment, eliminating the need for traditional needle injections in younger patients.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s decision allows MannKind Corporation to market its fast-acting inhaled insulin to patients under 18 years old, providing families with an alternative to conventional injection methods.
Following the announcement on May 29, MannKind’s stock price climbed 5% during afternoon market activity.
The regulatory green light creates new possibilities for young diabetes patients who typically need insulin multiple times daily to control their condition, which prevents the body from managing blood sugar properly.
MannKind’s Afrezza product differs from traditional insulin by being delivered through inhalation via a compact device rather than injected under the skin. The treatment helps manage blood glucose during meals and originally received FDA clearance for adult use in June 2014.
According to the company, qualifying patients will be able to obtain Afrezza for $35 monthly or less.
