What exactly is the Technosphere® Platform?

One of the largest organs in your body are the lungs. Picture the size of a full tennis court and that is roughly the surface area of both lungs in a typical adult. Running through those lungs are airways whose total length measures 1,500 miles – that’s the distance between Chicago and Las Vegas, New York to Albuquerque, and Los Angeles to Nashville.

Simply put, the lungs create a wonderful platform for effective drug delivery. MannKind’s Technosphere technology recognizes this and provides the distinct advantage of rapid, deep lung drug delivery. The effect is similar to intravenous delivery (I.V.; within a vein) and has the added benefit of bypassing the liver which can be especially helpful in reducing systemic side effects.

Examining it closer, it helps to look at inhalation, air flow travel, and the exhale. When you breathe in, air is drawn into the lung and flows down curving, narrowing airways that end in the air sacs or alveoli. When air is exhaled, the flow is reversed. Between the end of an inhalation and the start of exhalation, the air in the lung is stationary. To reach the deep lung, inhaled particles must be carried by the air stream and have enough momentum to continue through the stationary air to collide with the lung surface.

Particles that can reach the lung have aerodynamic diameters between 0.5 µm and 5-6 µm (1 µm is 1 micro-meter or about 0.00004 inches). Particles that are larger than 6 µm will leave the air stream and hit the back of your mouth and throat; smaller than 0.5 µm wouldn’t have the ability to reach the lungs and would simply get exhaled.

“The average Technosphere particle is about 2-2.5 µm which is in the middle of the respirable range,” explains Marshall Grant, PhD, MSc, Executive Director, Clinical Pharmacology & Research for MannKind Corporation. “The particle size distribution is a major reason Technosphere powders are highly efficient in delivering drug to the lungs than other dry powder inhalers (DPIs).”

The Technosphere particles in FDA-approved Afrezza® (insulin human) Inhalation Powder and Tyvaso DPI™ (treprostinil) Inhalation Powder are manufactured by different processes and possess different characteristics. But both are made up of small crystals of FDKP (fumaryl diketopiperazine), MannKind’s proprietary molecule. FDKP provides high solubility and fast dissolution at physiologic pH – and more importantly – can crystallize and form particles in the range appropriate for optimum delivery to the lungs.

When Technosphere powder reaches the lung surface, the FDKP and drug dissolve. The FDKP is then rapidly cleared from the lung into systemic circulation. The FDKP is not metabolized, but rather excreted primarily in the urine. Another value of Technosphere powders has been their versatility – they are compatible with a wide range of doses with different types of drugs.

MannKind’s Technosphere powders are delivered into the lung’s airstream via an inhalation device or DPI (dry powder inhaler). The breath-powered inhalers (Dreamboat® being the most common version) provide excellent delivery efficiency and are proven to deliver up to 70% of the dry-powder dose deep into the lungs. Our DPI are designed to be simple, easy to use and discreet. For patients, imagine having a drug in the convenient form of an inhaler that fits in the palm of your hand. This approach allows patients to not only take control of their health but do it while going about their day and enjoying life more humann.

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NTM Lung Disease on the Rise

“I cough every morning upon waking, so I don’t feel rested.” “Imagine not being able to breathe.” “Anxiety ruins everything about you – it’s not a normal life.” “You just exist from day to day and week to week.” These are a sampling of comments about the most bothersome symptoms from living with Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) shared in a study from NTM Info & Research, Inc. The statements are unfortunately typical and those with NTM often have unpredictable day-to-day health functioning and reduced quality of life.

NTM lung disease is a serious infection that is caused by bacteria that are common in the environment and can cause lung damage. The reality is that we are all exposed to these bacteria in our day-to-day lives – more than 120 species of mycobacteria have been identified. These common bacteria exist in water and soil particles that are in the air, wet places like hot tubs, steamy bathrooms, dishwashers, and even the dewy ground we walk on at the park. But not everyone is at risk of getting NTM lung disease just because they are exposed.

Those predisposed often have underlying conditions such as asthma, COPD, and bronchiectasis, which makes them prone to NTM infection. NTM is not considered to be contagious. Women over the age of 65 make up the majority of those impacted, with a predominance in those of Caucasian and Asian descent.

A rare disease, NTM can often be difficult to diagnose. Many will experience coughing, fatigue, weight loss and shortness of breath – all of which are common with other lung disease symptoms and other conditions like tuberculosis. With NTM, symptoms often worsen, and that is a marker not to be ignored.

It is estimated that some 86,000 individuals are living with NTM lung diseases, and it is on the rise growing 8% each year. Coastal regions including Gulf States have higher rates of infection accounting for 70% of annual NTM cases.

While no cure is available, treatments to manage NTM are available. Treatment for NTM involves antibiotic and multidrug regimens with duration lasting from months to years with tolerability and adverse reactions to treatment which often leads to a lack of adherence to therapy.

There is a valuable need to develop medicines that are well tolerated and effective that lends to consistent patient use and alleviates symptoms of NTM lung disease. MannKind continues to progress MNKD-101 (Clofazimine) for the treatment of NTM.

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Release Details

MannKind Corporation Reports 2015 First Quarter Financial Results

05/07/15
PDF Version

VALENCIA, Calif., May 7, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MannKind Corporation (Nasdaq:MNKD) today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2015.

For the first quarter of 2015, total operating expenses were $21.7 million, a decline of 47.5% compared to the similar quarter in 2014. Research and development expenses were $9.4 million, a decline of 64.2% compared to the first quarter of 2014, reflecting the commercialization of Afrezza in the first quarter of 2015 and a reduction in non-cash stock compensation expense. General and administrative expenses were $10.5 million, a decline of 31.2% compared to the first quarter of 2014, mainly reflecting lower non-cash stock compensation expenses.

For the quarter ended March 31, 2015, our portion of the loss sharing arrangement with Sanofi related to Afrezza was $12.4 million, which we financed by way of an advance under the loan facility with our partner. The amount outstanding under the Sanofi loan facility is now $15.4 million. During the three months ending on March 31, 2015, we recorded $7.1 million in Afrezza product shipments as deferred product sales from our collaboration with Sanofi.

The net loss for the first quarter of 2015 was $30.7 million, or $0.08 per share based on 398.9 million weighted average shares outstanding, compared with a net loss of $52.1 million, or $0.14 per share based on 368.8 million weighted average shares outstanding for the first quarter of 2014. The number of common shares outstanding at March 31, 2015 was 409.1 million.

Cash and cash equivalents remained at $120.8 million at March 31, 2015 and at December 31, 2014, respectively. During the first quarter of 2015, we also received a $50.0 million milestone payment related to our collaboration agreement with Sanofi as well as $6.2 million in proceeds from warrant and option exercises. This cash inflow offset our first quarter operating activities, which included building up Afrezza product inventory, purchasing additional machinery and equipment related to the commercialization of Afrezza and the pursuit of new product opportunities. Currently, $30.1 million remains in available borrowings under the amended loan arrangement with The Mann Group.

Conference Call

MannKind management will host a conference call to discuss these results tomorrow, May 8, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. To participate in the call please dial (800) 708-4540 or (847) 619-6397 and use the participant passcode: 3859 3126.  Those interested in listening to the conference call live via the Internet may do so by visiting the Company's website at http://www.mannkindcorp.com. 

A telephone replay will be accessible for approximately 14 days following completion of the call by dialing (888) 843-7419 or (630) 652-3042 and use the participant passcode: 3859 3126#. A replay will also be available on MannKind's website for 14 days.

About MannKind Corporation

MannKind Corporation (Nasdaq:MNKD) focuses on the discovery and development and commercialization of therapeutic products for patients with diseases such as diabetes. MannKind maintains a website at http://www.mannkindcorp.com to which MannKind regularly posts copies of its press releases as well as additional information about MannKind. Interested persons can subscribe on the MannKind website to e-mail alerts that are sent automatically when MannKind issues press releases, files its reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission or posts certain other information to the website.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Words such as "believes", "anticipates", "plans", "expects", "intend", "will", "goal", "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon the Company's current expectations. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, difficulties or delays in obtaining regulatory feedback or completing and analyzing the results of clinical studies, MannKind's ability to manage its existing cash resources or raise additional cash resources, stock price volatility and other risks detailed in MannKind's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and Form 8-K. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and MannKind undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release.

(Tables to follow)

MannKind Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
     
 Three months ended
March 31,
 20152014
     
Revenue  $ —   $ — 
     
Operating expenses:    
Research and development  9,377 26,182
General and administrative  10,479 15,229
Product manufacturing  1,882  — 
     
Total operating expenses  21,738 41,411
     
Loss from operations  (21,738) (41,411)
Other income (expense)  1,413 (5,890)
Interest expense on note payable to principal stockholder  (714) (714)
Interest expense on notes  (9,622) (4,042)
Interest income  3 1
     
Net loss   $ (30,658)  $ (52,056)
     
Net loss per share — basic and diluted   $ (0.08)  $ (0.14)
     
Shares used to compute basic and diluted net loss per share  398,916 368,784
 
MannKind Corporation
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)
   
 March 31, 2015December 31, 2014
     
Assets    
Current assets:    
Cash and cash equivalents $ 120,844 $ 120,841
Receivables from collaboration 4,282 50,436
Inventory 16,789 9,670
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 16,375 20,206
Total current assets 158,290 201,153
Property and equipment — net 193,454 192,127
Deferred product costs from collaboration 6,251 —
Other assets 2,027 1,159
Total $ 360,022 $ 394,439
     
Liabilities and Stockholders' Deficit    
     
Accounts payable $ 3,302 $ 7,394
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 12,381 26,206
Facility financing obligation 73,368 72,995
Senior convertible notes 99,593 99,355
Deferred product sales from collaboration 7,050 —
Deferred payments from collaboration 185,059 197,403
Current liabilities 380,753 403,353
Note payable to related party 49,521 49,521
Other liabilities 26,779 15,335
Stockholders' deficit (97,031) (73,770)
Total $ 360,022 $ 394,439
CONTACT: Company Contact:

         Matthew J. Pfeffer

         Chief Financial Officer

         661-775-5300

         mpfeffer@mannkindcorp.com