The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved expanded use of MannKind’s inhaled rapid-acting insulin in children with diabetes, offering patients under 18 a needle-free treatment option, the company said on Friday.
Shares of the company were up 6% in afternoon trading.
The approval broadens treatment options for younger patients who require insulin, often several times a day, to manage diabetes.
According to Jennifer Segrist, mother of 15-year-old Taisie Segrist, who was part of MannKind’s research study, her daughter initially needed several injections a day, which was traumatizing.
But switching to inhaled insulin had been "life changing," making her more independent in managing the condition.
"It really does make a huge difference… diabetes is not such a huge weight on her shoulders anymore," Segrist said.
Unlike conventional injected insulin, MannKind’s Afrezza is inhaled through a small device to help control blood sugar levels at mealtimes.
It was first approved by the FDA for adults in June 2014.
The drug, approved for children aged 6 and above with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, has a rapid onset and short duration. The company said eligible patients can access Afrezza for $35 or less a month.
However, Afrezza can cause serious side effects such as sudden lung problems.
