The technosphere insulin inhalation powder (TI) is a non-invasive insulin inhalant that is used to help decrease blood glucose following meals in both type 1 and 2 diabetes patients....

 

It has been shown to reduce patient's HbA1c levels similarly to subcutaneous rapid acting analog (RAA) insulin.

 

A trial was conducted for 24 weeks in the US, Brazil, and Ukraine where TI Gen2 inhaler (n=174) was compared to RAA (n=171). These were used with the addition of basal insulin in type 1 diabetic patients whose HbA1c level was between 7.5-10%. The treatment with TI did not differ significantly with RAA in reducing HbA1c (-0.21% vs. -0.4%; 95% CI -0.02-0.36). Patients have improved fasting plasma glucose when using TI compared with RAA (95% CI -56.2 to -14.5). Hypoglycemia events were lower with TI than RAA at all HbA1c levels (p<0.0001).

 

A 24 week, double blind study was also performed to compare the effects of TI (n=177) vs placebo (n=176) on type 2 diabetic patients whose HbA1c levels were between 7.5-10%. These were used with the addition of metformin or more than two oral anti-diabetic drugs. More patients achieve better HbA1c reduction of less than 7% with TI when compared to placebo group (p<0.0021). The total number of severe hypoglycemia was not statistically significant when TI was compared with placebo. Fasting plasma glucose decrease from baseline were 11mg/dL with TI and 4mg/dL with placebo.

 

Innovations like the technosphere inhalant have provided effective glycemic control to patients with non-invasive means of treatment. Both studies have shown the effectiveness of the inhalant on the HbA1c levels, fasting plasma glucose, as well as decreased risk of hypoglycemia.

 

A government advisory committee last month recommended approval of this form of insulin that is inhaled rather than injected. The endorsement could lead to a new option for millions of Americans with diabetes and vindication for the persistent billionaire who spent a large amount of his fortune to develop the product. Members of the committee, which advises the FDA, suggested that the inhaled insulin -- called Afrezza and developed by the MannKind Corporation -- would be useful for some patients, even if it might not be quite as effective as injected insulin.

 

Practice Pearls:

The technosphere insulin inhalation powder (TI) is a non-invasive insulin inhalant that is used to help decrease blood glucose following meals in both type 1 and 2 diabetes patients.

TI is comparable to rapid acting analogs (RAA) insulin with similar reduction in HbA1c levels.

It is effective in reducing HbA1c levels and fasting plasma glucose with less severity in hypoglycemic risk.

 

Presented at the American Diabetes Association 2014 Scientific Sessions; June 17, 2014

 

Source:

Diabetes in control