AstraZeneca Wraps Up Clinical Trials for Near-Zero Emission Inhalers

A breakthrough in the race to create near-zero emission medical inhalers has been made, as pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca announced the completion of its clinical program for a new propellant. This innovative propellant has a Global Warming Potential (GWP) that is 99.9% lower than those used in conventional inhalers, marking a significant step in reducing the environmental impact of respiratory medicines.

Pressurised inhalers, widely used for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), rely on potent greenhouse gases and contribute a considerable share to the pharmaceutical industry's overall emissions. Although inhalers account for only around 0.04% of global greenhouse gas emissions, they represent up to 50% of the carbon footprint for some leading pharmaceutical companies.

In response, the industry is racing to develop low-emission alternatives that can maintain patient safety while drastically cutting emissions. In 2022, AstraZeneca, in collaboration with engineering giant Honeywell, began developing respiratory inhalers using the propellant HFO-1234ze. This new propellant has a GWP that is up to 99.9% lower than that currently used in inhalers.

Today, AstraZeneca confirmed it has wrapped up the clinical trials necessary for regulatory filings to transition its Breztri/Trixeo Aerosphere, a triple-combination therapy for COPD, to this eco-friendly propellant. This makes it the first product in its portfolio to switch to HFO-1234ze.

"Respiratory medicines delivered in pressurised metered-dose inhalers are essential for millions of people living with respiratory disease worldwide, including specific vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly," said Omar Usmani, Professor of Respiratory Medicine at Imperial College London and co-ordinating study investigator. "Transitioning to inhaled respiratory medicines using a propellant with a carbon footprint similar to non-propellant-based inhaled medicines is critical for planetary health in reducing the carbon footprint while addressing patient needs and healthcare professionals' ability to achieve optimal clinical outcomes."

The results from the Breztri clinical trials using the new propellant will soon be shared with regulatory authorities. Initial submissions are planned for Europe, the UK, and China before the end of 2024. These filings mark the beginning of AstraZeneca's broader efforts to transition its entire pressurised metered dose inhaler (pMDI) portfolio to the low-emission propellant.

This shift is expected to play a pivotal role in AstraZeneca's Ambition Zero Carbon strategy. The company aims to cut its entire value chain carbon footprint by 50% by 2030 and, based on 2019 levels, achieve a 90% absolute reduction in emissions by 2045.

This development follows rival pharma giant GSK's announcement last year that it had entered Phase III trials for a new inhaler formula designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 90%.