The NovaRapid insulin is an analog, which only means it isn't found naturally. What they have done is engineer an insulin chain where they replaced a Proline amino acid in the insulin chain with an Aspartic acid residue.
This change affects the way the insulin combines with other insulin molecules to form dimers and hexamers. It doesn't change the way the insulin interacts with a cell to do it's job though.
By interfering with the insulins natural tendancy to for dimers and hexamers, it is available to do its job as a monomeric insulin molecule much faster than current insulin analogs.
While much faster than current insulins, it's still much slower than Afrezza. I saw where in one trial with Type 1's it took 40 min. to reach maximum serum concentration. Compare this to Afrezza at 12 to 17 min.
