MannKind, United Therapeutics expand collaboration for second inhaled therapy

MannKind Corporation (MNKD) announced that United Therapeutics Corporation (UTHR) has exercised its option-granted under the companies’ 2018 license and collaboration agreement-to develop a second dry powder inhalation therapy. The original agreement, which led to U.S. FDA approval of Tyvaso DPI in May 2022, included an option for United Therapeutics to expand the license to include additional active ingredients. Under the terms of the expanded agreement, MannKind will formulate a second investigational molecule using its proprietary Technosphere platform, and United Therapeutics will conduct preclinical and clinical development. Under the terms of the expanded agreement, MannKind will receive an upfront payment of $5M and is eligible to receive up to $35M in development milestones and 10% royalties on net sales of any resulting product. Formulation and development activities for the new investigational molecule will begin immediately.