Mundipharma and Vectura announce plans to reformulate flutiform® (fluticasone propionate/formoterol fumarate) pressurised metered-dose inhaler (pMDI) as a commitment to reducing the product’s carbon footprint
April 16 2024 - 5:00AM
Business Wire
For Medical and Trade media only
- The two companies have entered into a collaboration agreement
to continue the development work of incorporating an
environmentally friendly propellant into the formulation of
flutiform® (fluticasone propionate/formoterol fumarate) used in a
pressurised metered-dose inhaler (pMDI).
- The aim is to achieve a near-zero-emissions product with a
significantly lower impact on global warming, which aligns with
European Union regulation on fluorinated greenhouse gases.1
- Steps have already been taken to reduce the level of
propellant; thus, the product currently has a reduced carbon
footprint compared to when it was originally launched.2
Mundipharma and Vectura will now progress development of the
reformulation of flutiform® (fluticasone propionate/formoterol
fumarate) following long-term collaboration, planning and lab-scale
development work. The reformulation will ultimately ensure a
comparable effective product for patients and further reduce its
impact on the environment.
This press release features multimedia. View
the full release here:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240416962162/en/
The product is an established pressurised metered-dose inhaler
(pMDI) for the treatment of asthma, where the use of a combination
product is appropriate, and has been available on the market for
more than a decade.3
It currently uses the approved apaflurane hydrofluoroalkane 227
(HFA-227), a type of fluorinated greenhouse gas, as its
propellant.3 European Union regulation on these types of gases aims
to reduce their use, and therefore their emissions, by two-thirds
by 2030.1
Work is already under way to source an alternative to the
HFA-227 gas used in fluticasone propionate/formoterol fumarate
pMDI. This new collaboration will revitalise the efforts to
identify and switch to a more environmentally friendly propellant.
If successful, this will result in a significantly lower impact on
global warming and alignment with European Union regulation on
fluorinated greenhouse gases.1
With more than 262 million people living with asthma globally,
the reformulation of some asthma treatments to reduce carbon
emissions could have a significant impact on the global carbon
footprint.4,5
“We are dedicated to positively influencing the life of asthma
patients across the globe. 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,” said Yuri
Martina, Chief Development and Medical Officer at Mundipharma.
“At Vectura, our priority is to ensure that patients prescribed
fluticasone propionate/formoterol fumarate pMDI can continue to
have access to this treatment. Using Vectura’s expertise and
extensive track record in the development of inhaled prescription
medicines and devices, we believe the collaboration with
Mundipharma will enable us to meet our environmental
responsibilities and enable patients to use fluticasone
propionate/formoterol fumarate pMDI in the years to come,” said
Geraldine Venthoye, Chief Scientific Officer, Vectura.
®: FLUTIFORM is a registered trademark of Jagotec AG used under
licence by Mundipharma.
References
- Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 of the European Parliament and of
the Council of 16 April 2014 on fluorinated greenhouse gases and
repealing Regulation (EC) No 842/2006 Text with EEA relevance.
Available at:
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=uriserv:OJ.L_.2014.150.01.0195.01.ENG
(last accessed March 2024)
- flutiform® pMDI emissions manufacturing data, Q4 2022 – Q4
2023. Data on file.
- flutiform® Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC). Last
updated 13 April 2022. https://www.emcpi.com/pi/26954. (last
accessed April 2024).
- Global burden of 369 diseases and injuries in 204 countries and
territories, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden
of Disease Study 2019. Lancet. 2020;396(10258):1204-22
- NHS England, World Asthma Day: tackling climate change and
improving respiratory care. Available at
https://www.england.nhs.uk/blog/world-asthma-day-tackling-climate-change-and-improving-respiratory-care/
(last accessed March 2024)
*ENDS*
Job code: SciA-FLU-2400001| Date of preparation: April 2024
Notes to Editors
About flutiform® (fluticasone propionate/formoterol
fumarate):
flutiform® is an inhaler (a pressurised metered-dose inhalation,
suspension) which contains two active ingredients, fluticasone
propionate and formoterol fumarate dihydrate.3 This fixed-dose
combination of fluticasone propionate and formoterol fumarate
(flutiform®) is indicated in the regular treatment of asthma where
the use of a combination product (an inhaled corticosteroid and a
long-acting β₂ agonist) is appropriate for the management of asthma
symptoms.3
About Mundipharma:
Mundipharma is a global healthcare company with a presence
across Africa, Asia Pacific, Canada, Europe, Latin America and the
Middle East.
Mundipharma is dedicated to bringing innovative treatments to
patients in the areas of respiratory, pain management, infectious
disease as well as other severe and debilitating disease areas. Our
guiding principles, centred around Integrity and
Patient-Centricity, are at the heart of everything we do. For more
information visit www.mundipharma.com.
About Vectura:
Vectura is a specialist inhalation contract development and
manufacturing organization (CDMO) that provides inhaled drug
development solutions to help customers bring their medicines to
patients. With 25 years’ experience, it provides a combination of
formulation science, device technology, and inhaled development
expertise. Vectura is a member of the Vectura Fertin Pharma group
of companies. For more information visit www.vectura.com
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240416962162/en/
Liana Del Medico Global VP Communications & Corporate
Affairs, Mundipharma E: media.relations@mundipharma.com
Lesley Ferguson White Chief Communications Officer, Vectura
Fertin Pharma E: lesley.ferguson-white@vecturafertinpharma.com
Gurjit Chahal Senior Director, Public Relations, Makara Health,
a Precision Value & Health Company M: +44 (0) 7917 796 836 E:
gurjit.chahal@precisionvh.com