MannKind Shifts Research to Coronavirus Treatment

MannKind Corp. on Tuesday announced it is adjusting its pipeline research to focus on respiratory viral infections such as coronavirus. The Westlake Village company originally worked on developing products to treat serious lung disease. Now, MannKind will pool its pipeline resources into a collaboration with Immix Biopharma Inc. to create a dry powder treatment for “acute respiratory distress syndrome, a complication of COVID-19,” the company said in a statement. First, the collaborative team will focus on creating a prototype powder, which will then be assessed for its therapeutic potential. MannKind’s flagship product Afrezza, designed to treat diabetes in adults, uses an inhalable insulin powder. Immix is a Los Angeles-based biotech company focused on developing cancer therapies. MannKind is exploring other collaborations, the company said in its statement. Shares of MannKind (MNKD) increased 21 cents, or 24.8 percent, on Tuesday to close at $1.05 on the Nasdaq.