MannKind Corporation announced that it has signed a deal with Cipla for marketing and distribution of Afrezza inhaled insulin in India. Cipla will be responsible for getting regulatory approval in India and will pay MannKind $2.2 million up front, plus milestone payments, minimum purchase commitment revenue and royalties on sales in India.
Cipla Ltd. Global CEO Umang Vohra commented, “Cipla is committed to providing access to innovative medicines and newer drug delivery systems to the patients. Afrezza, an inhaled insulin, is a cutting-edge product which will increase patient convenience. The innovative drug delivery system will revolutionize the diabetic care in India. This partnership with MannKind is another step from Cipla to cater to the unmet needs of the patients.”
MannKind CEO Michael Castagna, said, “Our partnership agreement with Cipla for Afrezza provides us with a long-term partner with a wealth of knowledge and experience in diabetes. Cipla is a leader across therapies in India with an established sales, marketing and distribution network. With this partnership, Cipla will leverage its strength in inhalation and extend it to diabetes therapy/portfolio. The International Diabetes Federation estimates that 425 million people are currently living with diabetes worldwide, including 73 million in India.”
Castagna added, “This agreement with Cipla, our second international partnership agreement for Afrezza, extends the potential opportunity for approximately 1 out of 4 people of the worldwide population with diabetes to manage their disease with our novel mealtime insulin, when combined with our earlier agreement in Brazil and our own efforts in the United States.”
Read the MannKind press release.
