
5 Things to Know About Afrezza
The current issue of Evidence-Based Diabetes Management explores studies and patient access issues surrounding this closely watched inhaled insulin.
The current issue of
Here are 5 things to know about Afrezza:
1. It’s not the first inhaled insulin
Pfizer brought a product called
2. Evidence shows Afrezza acts quickly
An abstract presented in June at the American Diabetes Association showed that Afrezza acts in 12 to 15 minutes; the profile is described in
3. Many reports on social media are positive
For many patients, Afrezza has been a phenomenon; social media users often post copies of A1C results, accompanied by comments like “best ever,” along with comments about improvements in quality of life due to fewer hassles with injections or adjustments during the day.
4. But there are many barriers to access
Because the drug is inhaled, the FDA requires spirometry before a prescription and at intervals afterward to weed out patients with lung problems. Some physicians won’t prescribe it as
5. As a result, the first launch of Afrezza failed
MannKind, the maker of Afrezza, had a marketing agreement with Sanofi that was canceled in January 2016. MannKind regained control of the product and is in the midst of a relaunch that is being closely scrutinized by Wall Street. The company is trying to get more favorable formulary treatment—especially in Medicare—based on recent studies and its lack of price increases. The company plans different pricing strategies and a label update.
Newsletter
Stay ahead of policy, cost, and value—subscribe to AJMC for expert insights at the intersection of clinical care and health economics.