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

Afrezza® (insulin human) Inhalation Powder Approved in Brazil

06/03/19
PDF Version
Afrezza® is the only orally inhaled ultra rapid-acting mealtime insulin approved by ANVISA in Brazil. The innovative delivery system reduces injections while improving glycemic control in adult patients with diabetes

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. and BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil, June 03, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MannKind Corporation (Nasdaq:MNKD) and BIOMM SA (BVMF:BIOM3) today announced that Afrezza® (insulin human) Inhalation Powder, an ultra rapid-acting mealtime insulin to improve glycemic control in adult patients with diabetes mellitus, has been registered by the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA). The commercialization of Afrezza in Brazil is expected to begin in the fourth quarter this year, subject to the pricing registration process by Câmara de Regulação do Mercado de Medicamentos (CMED).

“The regulatory approval of Afrezza in Brazil is an important milestone for MannKind and our partner Biomm. It not only represents our first international approval of Afrezza, but more importantly, we now have the opportunity to bring a novel mealtime insulin therapy to patients in a country with one of the highest prevalence of diabetes in the world, according to the International Diabetes Federation,” said Michael Castagna, Chief Executive Officer of MannKind Corporation.

Afrezza is an ultra rapid-acting orally inhaled insulin therapy indicated to improve glycemic control in adult patients with diabetes mellitus. Afrezza consists of a dry powder formulation of human insulin delivered using a small, discreet and easy-to-use inhaler. Administered at the start of a meal, Afrezza dissolves rapidly upon inhalation to the deep lung and passes quickly into the bloodstream (in less than one minute). Glucose-lowering effects are achieved within minutes of administration, and clinical data with Afrezza demonstrates proven efficacy and safety in the treatment of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

“Insulin was first isolated and purified for clinical use in 1923 and now, almost 100 years later, we are excited that patients in Brazil are expected to soon have access to Afrezza, the only non-injectable oral insulin available in the market,” said Heraldo Marchezini, President Director/CEO of Biomm SA. “We believe that Afrezza, with its distinct time-action profile and route of administration, will address many of the unmet needs for mealtime insulin therapy and has the potential to change the way that diabetes is treated. As a pioneering biotechnology company, we are proud to leverage our portfolio of diabetes products and offer another option to treat the significant and growing numbers of patients with diabetes in Brazil.”

Currently, diabetes mellitus affects 425 million adults worldwide, including more than 12 million in Brazil, according to the International Diabetes Federation. Diabetes mellitus is characterized by the body's inability to regulate levels of blood glucose properly. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, normally regulates the body's glucose levels, but in people with diabetes mellitus insufficient levels of insulin are produced or the body fails to respond adequately to the insulin it produces.

ABOUT MANNKIND CORPORATION
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 orally inhaled ultra 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 and research facility in Danbury, Connecticut. The Company also employs field sales and medical representatives across the U.S. For further information, visit www.mannkindcorp.com.

ABOUT BIOMM SA
Biomm's mission is to develop, produce and market global competitive biomedicines with quality and accessibility. The company's focus is developing biological products, aiming to guarantee national self-sufficiency. Due to its innovator DNA, the company is pioneer in biotechnological drugs in Brazil. Founded in 2002, Biomm’s headquarters and factory are in Nova Lima (MG), with capacity to produce 20 million vials of insulin per year, based on advanced and innovative technologies that guarantee the medicines quality. The company is listed on the Brazilian stock exchange (BVMF: BIOM3). For further information access www.biomm.com.

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 MannKind’s and Biomm’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, the risks detailed in MannKind’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. 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 neither MannKind nor Biomm undertakes any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release.

MannKind Corporation
Rose Alinaya
Investor Relations
818-661-5000
ir@mannkindcorp.com

Biomm S/A
Bruna Sales - +55 11 3147 7423 | c: +55 11 94836 6956
bruna.sales@maquinacohnwolfe.com

Raquel Tomacelli - +55 11 3147-7906 | +55 11 98048-8022 
raquel.tomacelli@maquinacohnwolfe.com

Nancy Campos - + 55 (11) 3147-7900| + 55 11 97574-9149
nancy.campos@maquinacohnwolfe.com

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Source: MannKind