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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded approval for insulin inhalation powder for use in children and adolescents aged 6 and older living with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, according to the product manufacturer’s press release. Previously, the inhaled insulin was only approved for adults. The oral inhaler device and insulin inhalation powder deliver insulin into the bloodstream through the lungs, enabling rapid absorption of insulin into systemic circulation. Marketed as Afrezza, the product is an ultra-rapid-acting insulin, and it may help clinicians better match therapy to patient lifestyles, allowing for dosing at mealtimes without the need for proactive planning.
Similar to injected insulin: Approval was based on results of a clinical trial published in Diabetes Care that found the inhaled product was safe over 26 weeks without affecting pulmonary function and was associated with greater treatment satisfaction. Full prescribing information for providers is available from manufacturer MannKind on its website.