Accelerating sustainable healthcare product development

In partnership with Loughborough University, Kindeva (formerly, 3M Drug Delivery Systems) is developing ways to enhance the performance, cost-effectiveness and green credentials of respiratory inhalers.

According to Asthma UK, 5.4 million people in the UK are currently being treated for asthma.

In addition, the British Lung Foundation estimates that 1.2 million people are living with diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Many of these people regularly use an inhaler.

Having led the transition from CFC-based pressurised metered dose inhalers (pMDI) in the 1990s, Kindeva is now at the vanguard of studies to develop pMDI propellants with even greater environmental benefits and less global warming potential (GWP) than those currently used.

The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with the University is developing novel computational techniques that model inhalation drug delivery to the lungs to support the creation of these next-generation products.

The aim is to enhance the design of both the inhaler device and formulation to improve delivery and performance.

It is hoped that the new greener products will broaden the range of respiratory diseases that can be treated with inhalers, extending their clinical use to deliver preventative medications and treatments for an enhanced range of conditions.

The current collaboration builds on a previous KTP that focused on an innovative nasal-to-brain drug delivery system that the company is now ready to take into laboratory and proof-of-concept trials.

It also demonstrated that computational modelling helps to speed product design while reducing time to market and the number of clinical trials required.

Aaron Mann, CEO of Kindeva, said:

We are leading the industry in the development of next generation low-GWP propellants. The KTP with Loughborough University is exciting – potentially strengthening our position as a leader not only in healthcare, but also sustainability.

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