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 Presents New Scientific Data at 12th International Conference on Advanced Technologies & Treatments for Diabetes (ATTD 2019)

02/20/19
PDF Version

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., Feb. 20, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MannKind Corporation (Nasdaq:MNKD) today announced additional positive Afrezza clinical data to be presented in an oral presentation on Thursday, February 21, 2019 and a poster on Wednesday, February 20, 2019 at the 12thInternational Conference on Advanced Technologies & Treatments for Diabetes (ATTD 2019).

“The data to be presented provide additional insight into the pharmacodynamic effects produced by the ultra-rapid pharmacokinetic profile of inhaled Afrezza insulin compared to those associated with subcutaneous rapid acting insulin,” stated Dr. David Kendall, Chief Medical Officer of MannKind. “By delivering a time-action profile closer to that of physiologic insulin action, post-prandial glucose levels and other markers of glycemic control were significantly improved compared to injected insulin in meal-challenge tests in patients with type 2 diabetes.”   

Other data presented at this meeting showed that the pulmonary function of patients with diabetes is more impacted by factors such as high body mass index, elevated HbA1c levels and the time since onset of diabetes than by the effect of inhaled insulin.  Kendall added “we believe that these and other recently published data significantly advance our understanding of the treatment opportunity that Afrezza therapy can offer.”

Oral Presentation Highlights
 
Title:   Ultra-rapid profile of insulin human inhalation powder mimics time-action profile of physiologic absorption of glucose from mixed-meal tolerance tests in type 2 diabetes
ATTD 2019 Thursday, February 21st (Hall M4): 17:20-17:30
     
Presenter:   Marshall Grant, Senior Director, Head of Pharmaceutical Research, MannKind Corporation
     
Description:   This analysis was based on a randomized cross-over mixed-meal tolerance test study in type 2 diabetes and conducted to determine how the ultra-rapid PK/PD profile of Afrezza affects various facets of glucose control
     
Highlights:   Compared to subcutaneous rapid-acting insulin, the ultra-rapid PK profile of Afrezza resulted in:
  • reduced glucagon exposure by 30-35%
  • reduced C-peptide exposure out to 3 hours
  • better early post-prandial glucose control
  • a longer period of tight glucose control with higher doses of Afrezza
  • earlier reductions in free fatty acids and endogenous glucose production
Poster Presentation Highlights
     
Title:   Diabetes Duration, BMI, and HbA1c Have Greater Effects on Pulmonary Function (PF) Than Inhaled Technosphere® Insulin (Encore, previously presented at EASD)
ATTD 2019 Wednesday, February 20th (poster presentation Friday, February 22nd 10:20-10:25 Exhibition Area)
     
Presenter:   Frank Pompilio, PharmD, VP, Medical Affairs, MannKind Corporation
     
Description:   Data from a pulmonary function (PF) study of patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes was utilized to compare the effects of diabetes duration, body mass index (BMI), and HbA1c on baseline PF and changes in PF during 24 months of treatment between patients receiving Afrezza and those receiving usual care.
     
Highlights:   The magnitude of Afrezza’s effect on FEV1 was comparable to those normally associated with diabetes-related factors such as high BMI, elevated HbA1c and long-standing diabetes
  • No effects were clinically significant
  • Afrezza-related decreases in FEV1 were small, non-progressive and reversible after two years of treatment

About ATTD Annual Meeting
 The ATTD is a scientific program that brings leading international experts together to discuss breakthroughs in diabetes treatments, technological innovations and showcase the latest developments in new insulin analogues, delivery systems, pumps, glucose sensors, closed-loop systems and much more.

About Afrezza®
 Available by prescription, Afrezza® (insulin human) Inhalation Powder is a rapid-acting inhaled insulin indicated to improve glycemic control in adult patients with diabetes mellitus.  Afrezza consists of a dry powder formulation of human insulin delivered from a small and portable inhaler. Administered at the beginning of a meal, Afrezza dissolves rapidly upon inhalation to the lung and passes quickly into the bloodstream (in less than one minute). This rapid absorption allows Afrezza to begin reducing blood sugar levels within about 12 minutes of administration.  Afrezza is available in 4-unit, 8-unit and 12-unit single-dose cartridges of insulin powder that can be used, as prescribed by a health care professional, in combination with other diabetes medications to achieve target blood sugar levels.  For Afrezza doses exceeding 12 units, patients may use a combination of existing cartridge strengths. For more information on Afrezza, please visit www.afrezza.com.

About MannKind
MannKind Corporation (NASDAQ:MNKD) focuses on the development and commercialization of inhaled therapeutic products for patients with diseases such as diabetes and pulmonary arterial hypertension. MannKind is currently commercializing Afrezza® (insulin human) Inhalation Powder, the Company's first FDA-approved product and the only inhaled rapid-acting mealtime insulin in the United States, where it is available by prescription from pharmacies nationwide. MannKind is headquartered in Westlake Village, California, and has a state-of-the art manufacturing facility in Danbury, Connecticut. The Company also employs field sales and medical representatives across the U.S. For further information, visit www.mannkindcorp.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
 This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.  Words such as "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "intends," "will," "goal," "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon MannKind'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 various risks and uncertainties detailed in MannKind's filings with the SEC, including its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. 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.

MannKind Contact:
Rose Alinaya
SVP, Investor Relations
818-661-5000
ir@mannkindcorp.com

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Source: MannKind