A review of the value of innovation in inhalers for COPD and asthma.
BACKGROUND
Appropriate use of inhaled therapies for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is critical to ensuring good patient outcomes, efficient use of healthcare resources and limiting the effects of high-morbidity. The appropriate choice of inhaler and active therapy, incorporating patient preferences, can help improve treatment adherence and long-term outcomes. Despite this, many current inhalers are non-intuitive to use, and require extensive training.


METHODS
In this review, an expert panel considers the evidence for the use of inhaler devices in management of COPD and asthma. The panel also evaluates the value of innovation in inhaler technologies, which optimise the use of existing molecules from a clinical, economic and societal perspective.


CONCLUSIONS
The panel conclusion is that there remains a substantial unmet need in inhaler technology and that innovation in inhaler devices can provide real-world health benefits to patients. Furthermore, we recommend that these innovations should be supported by healthcare systems through appropriate pricing and reimbursement mechanisms.
Department of Pneumology/Intensive Care Medicine, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany.
Johann Christian
JC
Virchow
Christine Kühne-Center for Allergy Research and Education (CK-CARE), Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF), University of Zurich, Davos, Switzerland.
Cezmi A
CA
Akdis
Department of Teoria Econòmica, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Josep
J
Darba
Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Richard
R
Dekhuijzen
Department of Respiratory and Critical Care, Otto Wagner Hospital, Vienna, Austria.
Sylvia
S
Hartl
European Health Economics, Mulhouse, France.
Gisela
G
Kobelt
Allergy Unit, University Hospital Germans Trias I Pujol, Badalona, Spain.
Albert
A
Roger
Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Steven
S
Simoens
Department of Public Health, University of Marseilles, Marseille, France.
Mondher
M
Toumi
NHS Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group, Bolton, UK.
Ben
B
Woodhouse
TEVA Pharmaceuticals Europe B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Adam
A
Plich
TEVA Pharmaceuticals Europe B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Saku
S
Torvinen
Asthma; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; adherence; dry powder inhaler; innovation; medication errors; metered dose inhaler; patient compliance; patient preference; value