They aim to achieve a near-zero-emissions asthma inhaler with a significantly lower impact on global warming
Global healthcare company Mundipharma and Vectura, an inhalation contract development and manufacturing organization, have entered into a collaboration agreement aimed at reformulating an asthma inhaler as part of their commitment to reducing the product’s carbon footprint.
The companies will be working together on incorporating an environmentally friendly propellant into the formulation of flutiform, a pressurised metered-dose inhaler (pMDI) used for asthma treatment, to achieve a near-zero-emissions product.
Currently, the product uses the approved apaflurane hydrofluoroalkane 227 (HFA-227), a type of fluorinated greenhouse gas, as its propellant.
The European Union's regulation on these types of greenhouse gases targets a two-thirds reduction in their usage and subsequent emissions by 2030.
In a joint statement, companies revealed that work is already in progress to find an alternative to the HFA-227 gas.
Yuri Martina, Chief Development and Medical Officer at Mundipharma, said: “This is the first step in our long-term plan to develop a near-zero-emissions asthma inhaler.
“We are determined to achieve this before the European Union ban of HFA (hydrofluoroalkane) gases comes into effect, and our collaboration with Vectura demonstrates this, as well as our aim to an overall commitment to sustainable healthcare innovation.”
Geraldine Venthoye, Chief Scientific Officer at Vectura, expressed confidence that their collaboration with Mundipharma will enable them to meet their environmental responsibilities while ensuring patients can continue using the pMDI in the future.
Considering the global population of over 262 million individuals affected by asthma, the reformulation of certain asthma treatments to decrease carbon emissions could have a significant impact on the overall global carbon footprint, the companies said.
