23 Dec 2024
Cipla received regulatory approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) for exclusive marketing and distribution.
Afrezza is the only non-injectable powdered insulin for type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus patients. MannKind Corporation USA created the drug and received FDA approval in June 2014. Cipla will procure Afrezza from MannKind and distribute and market it in India.
Sanofi bought worldwide marketing and distribution rights in 2016 but dropped due to poor sales.
Afrezza is a rapid-action insulin deliverable through an inhaler at the beginning of a meal. Taken orally, it begins working within 12 minutes and dissolves quickly into the lungs, delivering insulin directly to the bloodstream. It helps reduce the spike in post-meal blood sugar levels. The effect lasts 2-3 hours and resembles the body’s response to insulin.
Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, and Sanofi currently control the insulin market in India. Insulin costs between ₹1,000 - ₹5,000, with a single injection available for around ₹150. Afrezza’s price is yet to be determined.