MannKind Corporation (NASDAQ:MNKD) recently announced plans to donate its Afrezza insulin drug to diabetes patients affected by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.
The biopharma made the announcement last week revealing that Afrezza would be donated as part of the mission to help people Puerto Rico to rebuild after the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria. The firm revealed that the insulin would be made available to diabetes patients in the island through the American Family Airlift (AFA). The latter is a relief organization that was initiated by Dr. Cesar Sierra and Hector Hoyos. Both are Puerto Rico natives whose passion is to offer relief to those in need.
AFA has teamed up with numerous hospitals and organization to work towards airlifting the medical supplies so that they can make sure that they reach those in need of them as quickly as possible. Afrezza is an ideal drug for relief purposes because it is an inhalable insulin. This makes it easier for use by diabetes patients who are on the move in their rebuilding efforts.
“It is our duty to help. Hundreds of thousands of residents have been significantly impacted by Hurricane Maria, many of them with diabetes. With so many people unable to gain access to their medical supplies, having access to an inhaled insulin such as Afrezza, can provide support to adults living with diabetes in the affected communities,” stated MannKind CEO, Michael Castagna.
Castagna also pointed out that Puerto Rico is one of the places with the highest number of Diabetes patients in the U.S. Afrezza is exclusively available as a prescription and it is ideally used to enhance glycemic control in diabetic adults. The recent announcement also means that this is the second time that the company has donated Afrezza over the past two months following the recent string of devastating hurricanes. The CEO also stated that the biopharma hopes that its contribution will help to provide relief to diabetic people in Puerto Rico as they embark on the rebuilding process.
MannKind stock closed the latest trading session on Friday at $5.28 after tanking by 3.47 percent compared to the value of the stock during the previous close.
