Jefferies Expects Exciting 2015 For MannKind

With the initial Afrezza launch recently commencing, MannKind Corporation (NASDAQ: MNKD) has already seen encouraging sales steps despite management stating that sales would initially be "slow and steady." Early feedback from Sanofi SA (ADR) (NYSE: SNY) is that demand has been higher than expected and need more samples.

Despite these positive notes, Jefferies analyst Shaunak Deepak noted, "we continue to believe that the Afrezza launch will take time, as physicians will need to change the way they use mealtime insulin to fully realize Afrezza's potential in insulin-naïve patients."

An inhalable insulin product provides an attractive, yet new alternative compared to other methods such as injection or pumps.

Deepak values MannKind entirely on the Afrezza product, which is proprietary due to its Technosphere Technology. MannKind has targeted other medical therapeutic areas to leverage its Technosphere patent such as pulmonary disease, pain and oncology.

MannKind recently implemented a Afrezza Patient Savings Card, which should help ease financial costs for users. Deepak views this customer reimbursement arrangement plan, along with identifying other possible product pipelines as reasons to maintain MannKind's Buy rating and $10 price target.

Shares of MannKind recently traded down 1.7 percent at $6.80, implying Deepak sees 45 percent potential upside to his own price target.