L’innovazione dei device inalatori: come ottenere una distribuzione omogenea.

Inhalation therapy represents the cornerstone of the pharmacological treatment of asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Inhaled therapy shows more advantages in comparing with systemic therapy, allowing pharmacological agents to achieve directly their target receptors. Effectiveness of inhalation therapy may vary, however, in relation to the different formulation and characteristics of inhaler devices. Pressurised metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs) are one of the most common device types for delivering inhaled therapies, due to their ease of use and wide availability of drugs. However, many patients misuse pMDIs; in addition, with traditional, suspension pMDIs, lung deposition is poor (15-20%) and the compound can settle, thus affecting the delivered dose. The Aerosphere technology was developed with the aim to improve pMDIs efficiency. This technology, formulated using cosuspension delivery technology, combines drugs with porous phospholipid particles creating a stable aerosol characterised by consistent fine particle fraction and an optimal particle size distribution for homogenous delivery to the central and peripheral airways even when multiple drugs are delivered via the same inhaler or in presence of simulated patient handling errors. Overall, Aerosphere technology may offer advantages over traditional pMDI formulations, that may translate in clinical benefits in patients with asthma or COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]