16 January 2008

New Inhaler Delivers Simplicity with Enhanced Drug Delivery Performance

A new Dry Powder Inhaler (DPI), designed and developed by Valois Pharma with the support of Team Consulting, was presented for the first time at the recent Drug Delivery to the Lungs Conference in Edinburgh. Whilst offering excellent delivery performance, the Prohaler™ was designed from the outset with the user in mind and is completely intuitive to use.

Inhalers currently on the market present many challenges to the user – devices may require co-ordination of breath and operation, need to be shaken, held in a particular orientation or rely on a sequence of actions for the dose to be successfully taken. The Prohaler™ is a breath-actuated inhaler that simply requires the user to open it, breathe in, and close it again. Critically, the dose is only released when the user inhales, so the device can be opened and closed with no drug wastage, and the powder remains fully protected even if a user breathes into the device.  This makes it particularly suitable for the broadest range of asthma and COPD patients.

Key to the project success was the user-centred approach. A ‘user champion’ on the project team ensured that the user was represented and considered throughout the rigorous engineering design process. Usability trials and task analyses were undertaken from the very beginning to guide early concept development, and repeated throughout the development process. This enabled the project team to refine all aspects of the design with feedback from potential users and healthcare professionals. The intuitive use of the inhaler is seen as a key competitive advantage by Valois Pharma’s partners.

Complementing the device’s user appeal is a unique dispersion technology that gives excellent aerosolisation and high fine particle fraction even when operating at relatively low inspiratory flow rates.
Numerous novel (and patentable) mechanical solutions were generated through this process highlighting the benefits of the Valois Pharma-Team collaboration.

The pure, clean visual language of the design was realised within the demands of design for high-volume, managed component cost and a risk-based assessment of product and processes. The Prohaler™ was designed for worldwide market regulatory compliance and looks set to redefine the standard for DPI user interaction and performance.

Guillaume Brouet, Director - Business Development Pulmonary, comments: “Valois Pharma’s drug delivery device expertise combined with Team’s extensive experience in device development and unique approach to user and usability research have delivered an exciting new inhaler which offers genuine benefits to the user.”