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 Announces $160 Million Debt Financing

07/01/13
PDF Version
MannKind Announces $160 Million Debt Financing

VALENCIA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul. 1, 2013-- MannKind Corporation (Nasdaq:MNKD) announced today that it has entered into a secured financing with affiliates of Deerfield Management Company L.P. (“Deerfield”), who have committed to purchase up to $160 million in senior secured notes.

Under the terms of the financing, Deerfield committed to provide up to four tranches of $40 million each on the following schedule: at closing; following the release of certain results in MannKind’s two current Phase 3 clinical studies of Afrezza®; concurrently with repayment of MannKind’s 3.75% Senior Convertible Notes due 2013; and following FDA approval of Afrezza. The notes will accrue interest at a rate of 9.75% per annum until maturity in 2019. A portion of the principal amount of the loan facility may be convertible into shares of MannKind’s common stock at the Deerfield’s option after a specified period following the release of data from the aforementioned clinical trials. The conversion price will be determined by the volume weighted average price of the common stock during the 20 trading days immediately preceding the conversion date. If the conversion price exceeds $6.67, no more than 6 million shares may be issued upon conversion; if the conversion price is less than $3.33, no more than 12 million shares may be issued upon conversion; and if the conversion price is between these dollar amounts, no more than $40 million worth of common stock may be issued upon conversion. As part of the transaction, Deerfield received from MannKind milestone rights that provide for the payment of up to $90 million upon the occurrence of certain strategic and sales milestones.

“We are encouraged by Deerfield’s confidence in the potential of AFREZZA,” commented Alfred E. Mann, Chief Executive Officer of MannKind Corporation. “We worked with Deerfield to structure a facility that aligns with our near- and long-term strategy to achieve important development, commercial and strategic milestones while minimizing near term dilution.”

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

About MannKind

MannKind Corporation (Nasdaq: MNKD) focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of therapeutic products for patients with diseases such as diabetes. Its lead product candidate, AFREZZA®, is in late stage clinical investigation for the treatment of adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes for the control of hyperglycemia. MannKind maintains a website at 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.

About Deerfield

Deerfield is a leading investment management firm, committed to advancing healthcare through investment, information and philanthropy. For more information, please visit www.deerfield.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding MannKind’s expectations with respect to the expected gross proceeds from the financing, 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 these risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks associated with market conditions, the progress, timing and results of clinical trials, difficulties or delays in seeking or obtaining regulatory approval, the manufacture of AFREZZA®, competition from other pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies, MannKind’s ability to enter into any collaborations or strategic partnerships, intellectual property matters, stock price volatility and other risks detailed in MannKind’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2013. 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.

Source: MannKind Corporation

MannKind Corporation
Matthew Pfeffer
Chief Financial Officer
661-775-5300
mpfeffer@mannkindcorp.com