May 29 (Reuters) – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved expanded use of MannKind’s inhaled rapid-acting insulin in children with diabetes, offering patients under 18 years of age a needle-free treatment option, the company said on Friday.
Shares of the company were up 5% in afternoon trading.
The approval broadens treatment options for younger patients who require insulin, often several times a day, to manage diabetes, a condition where the body cannot properly regulate blood sugar levels.
Unlike conventional insulin, which is injected subcutaneously, MannKind’s Afrezza is inhaled through a small device to help control blood sugar levels at mealtimes. It was first approved by the FDA for adults in June 2014.
The company said eligible patients can get access to Afrezza for $35 or less a month.
(Reporting by Siddhi Mahatole, Sahil Pandey and Sriparna Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Diti Pujara)
