MannKind Corp. on Wednesday reported positive results from a mid-stage clinical study of its lead experimental device, an insulin delivery system that would allow some diabetics to inhale insulin rather than inject it.

The Valencia-based biotech company’s study focused on patients with Type 1 diabetes and was designed to test whether inhaling insulin using the company’s Technosphere Insulin System was as safe and effective at controlling blood sugar levels as injecting a rapid-acting insulin.

The company, which released the study during its Investors Day presentation, said patients on both regimens achieved a statistically significant improvement in controlling blood sugar levels.

“This is the first study that demonstrated that patients with Type 1 diabetes using Technosphere Insulin can achieve comparable levels of control in HbA1c as patients treated with an injected rapid-acting insulin analogue,” said Dr. Peter Richardson, the company’s chief scientific officer. HbA1c is an average measure of blood sugar over a period of between three and four months.

Technosphere won’t be the first product of its type on the market but supporters say early indications are that it may be more effective, safer and easier to use than its first-to-market competitor. Pfizer Inc.’s Exubera received U.S. regulatory approval in January.

MannKind shares was down 2 percent to $20.53 on Wednesday.