The end of the road for pMDIs?

22 November 2023

For decades the portable inhaler market has been dominated by two categories of inhaler: pressurised Metered-Dose inhalers (pMDIs) and Dry-Powder inhalers (DPIs). In recent years, other categories have emerged such as Soft Mist Inhalers (SMIs).

pMDIs still make up the majority of inhalers purchased by the NHS, but considering the impending transition away from the high Global Warming Potential (GWP) propellants such as hydrofluoroalkanes (HFAs) that pMDIs currently use, how long will this be the case? The Swedish market, where pMDIs make up only 10% of inhalers, provides evidence that heavy reliance on pMDIs is not essential to meet the healthcare needs of a population. Might we be approaching the end of the road for pMDIs?

In this article we will explore the extent to which the healthcare needs of a population could be covered by combined usage of SMIs and DPIs, and discuss the factors that will impact the continued importance of pMDIs going forward.

pDMIs and their evolution

Since their introduction in the 1950s, pMDIs have been a mainstay in respiratory therapy.1 A key advantage of pMDIs has been their low cost, which is likely a key factor in their widespread use. The drug is stored at high-pressure in a canister in solution or suspension with the propellant(s), and the aerosolisation is generated by releasing the high-pressure propellant through a nozzle.

This method has proven effective in managing respiratory conditions, but it is not without its drawbacks. For example, some patients may find it difficult to coordinate their inhalation with the release of the medication, potentially leading to suboptimal dosing. Some breath-activated pMDIs have been introduced to help resolve this issue, but these come with increased complexity and therefore cost. Furthermore, the relatively fast spray velocity tends to result in a higher than ideal deposition of aerosol particles onto the back of the throat rather than into the deep lung. Use of a spacer (as shown in Figure 1) improves these issues, but they are bulky and so are often neglected, particularly when not at home or in hospital.

Figure 1: A little girl using a spacer for assist inhalation

The main challenge to the on-going dominance of pMDIs is the global warming potential (GWP) of the current propellants.2 Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were originally used in pMDIs, which are not only potent greenhouse gases but also known to be ozone-depleting.3 After the introduction of the Montreal Protocol in 1987, which was designed to regulate the use of ozone-depleting chemicals, a transition was made to using hydrofluoroalkanes (HFAs) instead. However, although these are not known to harm the ozone layer, they are still potent greenhouse gases – the use of which vastly outweighs any environmental impact due to the contribution to global warming (or CO2e) of the materials used in and the manufacture of the device itself.2 The Kigali amendment to the Montreal Protocol aims to reduce the global HFA consumption by 80% by 2047,4 with the even stricter requirement to do so in the EU by 2030.5

It is clear that we are approaching a turning point for pMDIs. The question is: will HFA-powered pMDIs be replaced by lower GWP propellants, or by different devices?

 

Next-generation propellants

Researchers and pharmaceutical companies are already actively searching for alternative propellants to replace the current options. The table below summarises some of the main lower GWP candidates currently being considered compared to some which are currently in use.6

Concerns remain around the new propellants proposed; there are flammability concerns for HFA-152a, particularly during manufacture and process of the drug product,5 and there is a risk that HFO-1234ze(E) could be banned under European REACH PFAS regulations7 – the status of which should be clarified in 2024. The design of pMDI nozzles will also need to be optimized to work effectively with the new propellant(s) to compensate for the different physical properties.

pDMIs face challenging timelines to meet the HFA restrictions deadlines. New formulations will need to be brought to market in the next few years in optimised actuators with low GWP propellants, and these propellants will need to be available at commercially viable prices with the quality and security of supply required for drug delivery devices.

Whilst low GWP powered pMDIs may prove to be technically viable, market pressures may lead to a shift towards a greater market share of alternative devices.

 

Dry Powder Inhalers (DPIs): A proven alternative?

Dry powder inhalers have gained popularity as an alternative to pMDIs, first being introduced slightly later in 1967.8 Unlike pMDIs, DPIs deliver medication in a fine powder form that does not require a propellant, therefore eliminating the concerns regarding greenhouse gas emissions from use. DPIs can effectively treat a similar range of respiratory conditions to pMDIs, provided the medication can be formulated as a dry powder. The powder is often stored in sealed capsules (as shown in Figure 2) to prevent contact with moisture which could interfere with the ability of the powder to disperse effectively.

The Swedish healthcare model is often quoted as an example success story for the DPI: in 2011 approximately 90% of inhaler devices sold and used in Sweden were DPIs, whereas in the UK, approximately 80% were pMDIs.9 This demonstrates that it should be theoretically possible to provide for the healthcare needs of a population with a lower reliance on pMDIs. However, there are practical reasons why healthcare services in countries such as the UK and the US have a preference for pMDIs over DPIs.

Figure 2: Dry power capsules

Economic pressures

A key reason for the widespread use of pMDIs is their low cost per unit. Analysis presented in 2019 assessed the potential cost to England’s NHS of a wholesale swich from using pMDIs (currently pMDIs account for approximately 80% of inhaler devices) to DPIs.10 The study concluded that there would be a £ 127M rise in prescribing costs per annum, representing around an additional 10% cost of respiratory therapy. The estimate was dependant of the ratio of branded products to generics employed, and it was suggested that a cost saving could be made if only generic DPIs were used.

However, given the investment that will be needed to transition pMDIs to new propellants, it is to be expected that their unit-cost may increase, reducing the perceived benefit of pMDIs compared to DPIs.

Usability concerns

DPIs work by relying on the patient’s own inhalation to deliver and disperse the powdered medication into the lungs, which ensures that the medication is released only when the patient inhales correctly. This eases the need for careful coordination compared to pMDIs, but conversely, the sharp intake of breath required may not be possible for some patients, particularly those with the types of chronic lung conditions often treated with inhaled medications.

Hence, there may be a subset of a population for which DPIs are simply not suitable such as children, the elderly, and those with severe respiratory conditions. This could mean there is an ongoing need for pMDIs for some users, even if diminished – or could alternative options over this gap?

 

Soft Mist Inhalers (SMIs): A gentle approach

SMIs have been a recent and successful addition to the inhaler options available, with the Boehringer Ingelheim Respimat being the first Soft Mist Inhaler (SMI), marketed in 2004.8 As Spiriva, a successful drug for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is also beginning to come off-patent across the globe, several companies have designs for generic alternatives in the pipeline, from Merxin to Softhale,11 and we should expect other novel soft mist device platforms to follow.

SMIs generally work by forcing liquid through a small nozzle to generate a fine aerosol mist, although different mechanisms have been explored, including impinging jets (Respimat – mist shown in Figure 3) and Rayleigh break-up (Medspray). A spring or other mechanical system is used to generate the required pressure instead of any form of propellant, therefore also removing the issue of emissions from use.

The aerosolized drug solutions are expelled in a slow-moving jet, which reduces undesired oropharyngeal deposition and makes it much easier to successfully perform the sequence between actuation and inhalation,11 compared to a pMDI. The aerosol fine droplet fraction from the Respimat is reported to be approximately double that of a pMDI,12 meaning half the dose with a Respimat is able to achieve the same therapeutic outcome as the full dose administered by pMDI. The soft mist delivery format is also well-suited for patients who struggle with the generating the required inspiratory force for DPIs (as discussed earlier).

However, soft-mist inhalers are not suitable in all applications. As the medication is typically forced through a very small nozzle (sometimes less than 5 µm), the current technologies cannot be used with drugs in suspension, because the particles could either block the nozzle or be filtered out in the filter typically employed upstream of the nozzle.

Soft-mist inhalers are also currently significantly more complex and expensive than pMDIs, but there is active interest in the market to identify new, simpler soft-mist mechanisms, with the goal to bring the cost-per-unit closer to that of pMDIs. If this could be realised, the usability benefits of the SMI will provide strong competition to the pMDI.

Figure 3: Mist spray from the Respimat

Future pharmaceutical trends – Biologic delivery

There has been growing interest in recent years about the potential advantages of delivering biologic drugs via inhalation.13 The inhalation route is non-invasive and suitable for both local and systemic delivery, and inhalers have advantages for unassisted use in non-clinical environments.

When considering the delivery of biologics via oral inhalation, discussion of devices generally focus on the varies merits and demerits of DPIs, nebulisers and SMIs, neglecting pMDIs.

pMDIs are not easily compatible with biologic drugs due to the inherent temperatures and pressures involved in delivery and the risk of denaturisation on aerosolization.14 There is concern over the interaction between the propellant used in pMDIs and the biologics, which can lead to denaturing of the proteins and peptides.15 Poor solubility of biologics in the propellants also limits the dose range that can be delivered per actuation.16

This is a growing market sector where pMDIs appear to be being left behind – a further indicator that their days may be numbered.

 

Final thoughts

So, are the next few years the end of the road for pMDIs?

pMDIs will have a future if new formulations can be brought to market in the next few years in optimised actuators with low GWP propellants that:

  1. Have acceptable flammability (a concern for HFA-152a)
  2. Meet PFAS regulations (a concern for HFO-1234ze), and
  3. Are available at commercially viable prices with the quality and security of supply required for drug delivery devices.

However, if those criteria are not met, then we should expect dry powder inhalers and soft mist inhalers to take increasing market share in all markets in the years to come.

Contact Heather or Finn to find out more.

Written by Heather Jameson and Finn Heraghty and featured in OnDrug Delivery. 

 

References:

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