Lupin to develop near-zero global warming inhalers

Eco-friendly inhalers aim to reduce environmental impact

Lupin Healthcare UK Ltd has announced plans to reformulate its pMDI inhalers with a near-zero global warming potential propellant as part of their commitment to achieving net-zero status by 2045.

This development aligns with European and UK regulatory requirements and aims to reduce the environmental impact of inhalers used for managing asthma and COPD.

Ben Ellis, UK General Manager of Lupin Healthcare, commented, “If our product developed with the new propellant succeeds, we expect development work to complete in 2026 and regulatory filing to commence shortly after. This will be a key milestone for us on our carbon reduction journey, and ensure long-term options for patients and prescribers.”

Vinita Gupta, CEO of Lupin, emphasized the company’s dedication to sustainable healthcare innovation, stating, “We are committed to making a positive impact in the lives of asthma patients worldwide.

Our focus is on patient-centric sustainable healthcare innovation, ensuring that those who receive our pMDIs have reliable access to effective treatments with minimal impact to the environment.”

Mona Bafadhel, Director of the King’s Centre for Lung Health and Professor of Respiratory Medicine at King’s College London, added, “The ideal inhaler is the one that a patient can and will use. The advent of pMDIs with greener propellants will allow us to continue to prescribe these devices whilst having less impact on the environment.”

Inhalers are essential for improving the quality of life for the estimated 300 million asthma patients and 328 million COPD patients worldwide.

However, the current propellants in pMDIs contribute to climate change, accounting for approximately 3% of the NHS’s carbon footprint in the UK.

A study from Asthma + Lung UK highlighted that most patients want the environmental impact of inhalers to be a consideration in treatment choices.