The Afrezza inhaler could revolutionize the way diabetics take their medication. Recently approved by the FDA, it is a stepping stone into a new age where needles are obsolete, replaced with airborne drugs that are easy, convenient and pain-free. Granted, the Afrezza inhaler is similar to Exubera, which was introduced by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer in 2006. Yet it is smaller and less complicated.
Developed by California-based MannKind Corporation, the Afrezza inhaler is currently not meant to replace insulin injections. Instead, it is "an alternative to them at meal times given the powder's short-term effects that kick in within what the company says is between 12 to 15 minutes," according to The Verge. Studies are still required to track its long-term effects.
What's Driving This Trend
- Needle-free Medication
- The development of insulin-delivering inhalers could disrupt traditional needle-based medication administration, creating opportunities for more pain-free and convenient treatment options.
- Short-term Effect Medication
- The short-term effects of inhalable insulin could lead to new opportunities for treating diabetes alongside traditional medication options.
- Compact Inhalation Technology
- The development of smaller, more compact inhaler devices could create opportunities for more discreet medication administration in various industries outside of healthcare.
Who This Affects Most
- Pharmaceuticals
- Pharmaceutical companies have an opportunity to invest in and develop needle-free insulin delivery alternatives, increasing their value proposition to diabetic patients, healthcare providers and payers.
- Medical Devices
- The medical device industry could create fully integrated inhaleable insulin delivery systems, providing a more seamless and user-friendly experience for diabetic patients.
- Wellness
- Inhalable insulin could have applications in wellness industries, such as fitness and weight-loss, where snacking and early diabetes cases may require on-demand insulin supplementation without the need for needles.
