Sanofi's inhalable insulin Afrezza new hope for diabetes

[compound26]

Sanofi's inhalable insulin Afrezza new hope for diabetes treatment

www.emaxhealth.com/1/pfizers-inhalable-insulin-afrezza-new-hope-diabetes-treatment

By Susanna Sisson

2015-11-19 19:00

Early in 2015, it was announced that the world’s first viable, inhalable form of insulin, Afrezza, was about to hit the market. Another similar drug, Exubera, marketed by Pfizer in 2005, failed in marketplace showing as well as efficacy due to the enormous size of the delivery device, and was taken off the market within two years.

According to the manufacturer, Mannkind who teamed up with French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi to produce Afrezza, the drug has many benefits over current available hyperglycemic drug options.


Pros of Afrezza

• Approved for both Type 1 and 2 diabetics.

• No needles – Afrezza is powdered insulin that dissolves immediately when inhaled into the lungs, and is then quickly dumped into the bloodstream to start working. The drug is delivered via a tiny inhaler device rather than the standard insulin pen or pump that is meant to be disposed of after 15 days.

• Convenient – The device, called the Dreamboat, is about the size of a human finger thus easy to carry in purse or pocket. Afrezza is available as 4 unit and 8 unit single-use cartridges. Three cartridges are contained in a single cavity of a blister strip. Each card contains 5 blister strips separated by perforations for a total of 15 cartridges. Two cards of the same cartridge strength are packaged in a foil laminate overwrap (30 cartridges per foil package). The perforation allows users to remove a single strip containing 3 cartridges, which can be carried in a pocket or a purse. The company is planning new sizes of the drug in 9 and 12 unit cartridges.[4]

• Rapid acting – Afrezza enters the bloodstream faster than Humalog insulin and has a shorter half-life so it is able to counteract the peak blood level spike of glucose from carbs and is out of the system rapidly enough to prevent lingering low blood sugar levels.

• Reduces hypoglycemic episodes – While doctors and proponents of Afrezza say it does reduce incidence of post-prandial (post meal) episodes of low blood sugar, the FDA would not allow that to be part of the product usage labeling.

• Tighter control - Afrezza can be used after a larger meal to lower blood sugar and bring down highs quickly without the risk of stacking insulin.

• Less weight gain – While some diabetes medications cause weight gain, Afrezza does not appear to have that side effect.

• No munchies – with better blood sugar control, there are fewer episodes of blood sugar drop and the hunger that goes with which may also account for less weight gain.


Cons of Afrezza

• Not a stand-alone insulin therapy and does not replace other hyperglycemic drugs such as injectable insulin. Afrezza is intended for pre-prandial use and post-prandial spikes.

• Contraindicated for patients with any lung disorder such as COPD or asthma or for smokers.

• Not approved for pediatric patients, yet, but the company is seeking FDA approval for pediatric use.

• Not covered by some insurance plans so be sure to check your policy.

Afrezza is fairly also cost effective and comparable to injectable insulin. Walgreen quoted a cost of $334 out-of-pocket cash price for a box of 30 4-unit cartridges or 60 of the 8-unit cartridges.

Insurance companies that currently pay 50% of patient’s insulin costs also cover Afrezza, so, the price would be $130.80 for a box of 60 of the 4-units that should last a month. That is comparable to current insulin prices – and even potentially a bit less than what many pay for a month's worth of Humalog or Novolog.

Resources:

1. www.mannkindcorp.com/

2. www.webmd.com/diabetes/news/20140630/inhaled-insulin-afrezza?page=3

3. www.healthline.com/diabetesmine/welcome-afrezza-inhaled-insulin-gets-real#4

4. www.healthline.com/diabetesmine/holding-our-breath-for-inhaled-insulin-afrezza

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR AFREZZA® (INSULIN HUMAN) INHALATION POWDER

WARNING: RISK OF SUDDEN LUNG PROBLEMS (BRONCHOSPASM) IN PATIENTS WITH LONG-TERM (CHRONIC) LUNG DISEASE

Sudden lung problems (acute bronchospasm) have been seen in patients with asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) using Afrezza®.

Afrezza® is not to be used in patients with long-term lung disease such as asthma or COPD.

[brianrocco]

Terrific summary of benefits! Emaxhealth News is oriented to on-line searchers, and thus might not get broad exposure. However, it's very encouraging to see in public media such a clear discussion of Afrezza's rapid action, possible reduction of hypoglycemic events, and tighter controls.

Thanks for posting.

[mssciguy]

Got over 1000 page views yesterday globally. It is so fascinating to see all of the countries and browsers out there, interest in Mannkind is GLOBAL

prntscr.com/9anf6z (Note to Sanofi: It's time to give the people what they want).

compound26 I'll launch more pages including your emax health (just a copy and paste with a couple of images) -- Monday though. I've noticed that the Europeans seem to mostly browse M-F .. the US is more addicted to internet than elsewhere generally, it seems

Please let me know if you have anything else. I am very fast with blogspot

[compound26]

Dec 5, 2015 11:26:49 GMT -5 mssciguy said:

Got over 1000 page views yesterday globally. It is so fascinating to see all of the countries and browsers out there, interest in Mannkind is GLOBAL

prntscr.com/9anf6z (Note to Sanofi: It's time to give the people what they want).

compound26 I'll launch more pages including your emax health (just a copy and paste with a couple of images) -- Monday though. I've noticed that the Europeans seem to mostly browse M-F .. the US is more addicted to internet than elsewhere generally, it seems

Please let me know if you have anything else. I am very fast with blogspot

mssciguy, again nice job!  In addition to the emax health article, consider also posting the Cleveland clinic article and the ProMedica news reports. 

Note in the ProMedica news reports, the harmacist for ProMedica commented:

But Rocha says so far, so good for the ProMedica diabetic patients that she's worked with. "I don't think I've heard any negative feedback from patients that have started it and that were able to successfully go on it with their insurance company approving it," she said.

And in the Cleveland clinic article, they summarized the benefits of Afrezza as follows:

It decreases risk for hypoglycemia. The onset time is 12 to 15 minutes and it is totally out of your system within 180 minutes.

It is painless, convenient and effective. Once inhaled, the insulin gets released into the body through your lungs and released into tiny airways that help move the insulin into the bloodstream quickly.

Color coding makes the dosages easy to identify. The color coding of the blisters are blue for four units, green for eight units and yellow for 12 units of insulin. This color coding decreases the possibility of errors.

The blister and the inhaling device are small and compact. Both can easily fit into a small purse or pant pocket.

The inhaling device is included with the monthly prescription. The device is changed every two weeks and needs no special care. Simply place the cap back on after use.

It is easy to use. To properly use the inhaling unit, you just place the prescribed blister containing a powder form of insulin into the device. Breathe out, place the device in your mouth and take in a deep breath slowly over the course of three to five seconds. Then breathe normally.

links to the articles can be found here: www.afrezzajustbreathe.com/afrezza-introductory-materials-made-by-physicians/