AstraZeneca Completes Clinical Testing of its Carbon Neutral Inhaler

Efforts to replace medical inhalers with near-zero emission alternatives have advanced, as AstraZeneca announced the completion of the clinical program for a new propellant with 99.9% lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) than those used in current inhalers. Traditional pressurized inhalers, used to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), contain potent greenhouse gases that contribute significantly to the pharmaceutical industry's emissions. Though inhalers account for just 0.04% of global emissions, they represent a large portion of the carbon footprint for leading pharmaceutical companies.

AstraZeneca partnered with Honeywell in 2022 to develop respiratory inhalers utilizing the low-GWP propellant HFO-1234ze. The pharma giant has now completed clinical trials supporting the regulatory transition of its Breztri/Trixeo Aerosphere, a triple-combination therapy for COPD, to this new propellant. Breztri is set to become AstraZeneca's first pressurized metered-dose inhaler (pMDI) to use HFO-1234ze, marking a significant step towards more sustainable respiratory treatments.

Omar Usmani, Professor of Respiratory Medicine at Imperial College London, emphasized the importance of transitioning to low-emission inhalers, particularly for vulnerable populations, while maintaining patient safety and clinical outcomes. AstraZeneca plans to submit its results to regulatory authorities in Europe, the UK, and China by the end of 2024, with further transitions in its pMDI portfolio expected in the future.