Honeywell teams with AstraZeneca to develop next-generation respiratory inhalers

Honeywell yesterday announced a commercial partnership with AstraZeneca to develop and bring to market next-generation respiratory inhalers that use near-zero Global Warming Potential (GWP) propellants to treat asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Honeywell notified in a statement.

AstraZeneca is working to incorporate Honeywell’s Solstice Air (HFO-1234ze cGMP) technology as a medical propellant, reducing the greenhouse gas emissions of the pMDIs by up to 99.9 per cent when compared to current inhaler propellants. Solstice Air is the only non-flammable, near-zero GWP propellant available and in clinical development today for pMDIs, the statement added.

It also said that a recently completed phase-I clinical trial of the propellant HFO-1234ze in a pMDI containing budesonide, glycopyrronium, formoterol fumarate in healthy adults was positive, demonstrating similar safety and tolerability profile and systemic exposure of the active ingredients when compared to Breztri Aerosphere (budesonide/glycopyrronium/formoterol fumarate). AstraZeneca expects Breztri Aerosphere to be the first medicine to transition to the next-generation pMDI platform, subject to regulatory approval.

Following these positive results from the phase-I trial, AstraZeneca will advance a commercial partnership with Honeywell to develop their triple-combination therapy, Breztri Aerosphere, using Honeywell’s near-zero GWP propellant technology, added the statement.

Pascal Soriot, Chief Executive Officer, AstraZeneca, said in the statement, “We are making great progress on our ambition to be zero carbon across our global operations by the end of 2025 and carbon-negative across our entire value chain by 2030.”

“The work we are doing with AstraZeneca developing a respiratory inhaler, with a new near-zero Global Warming Potential propellant, is important for both the environment and patients with respiratory issues,” said Darius Adamczyk, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Honeywell, in the statement. “Our goal is to reduce respiratory healthcare carbon emissions without restricting patient choice or risking improvement in health outcomes. This is just one example of how Honeywell is innovating to help our customers, like AstraZeneca, reach their environmental goals and keep their focus on quality for their customers.”

Solstice Air is a breakthrough for pressurised metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs). A non-flammable and low GWP alternative to hydrofluorocarbons, it is non-ozone-depleting, VOC-exempt (US EPA and CARB), with an ultra-low GWP close to one. It’s the only next-generation HFO-based propellant not currently subject to quota-based allocation under the recent American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) of 2020, the statement notified.

Honeywell has invested a billion dollars in research, development, and new capacity for its Solstice technology, having anticipated the need for lower GWP solutions to combat climate change more than a decade ago. The product line, which helps customers lower their greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy efficiency without sacrifising end-product performance, includes refrigerants for supermarkets, air conditioning for cars and trucks, blowing agents for insulation, propellants for personal and household care and solvents for cleaning solutions, it further mentioned.

It also stated that Honeywell committed to achieving carbon neutrality in its operations and facilities by 2035. This commitment builds on the company’s track record of sharply reducing the greenhouse gas intensity of its operations and facilities as well as its decades-long history of innovation to help its customers meet their environmental and social goals. About half of Honeywell’s new product introduction research and development investment is directed towards products that improve environmental and social outcomes for customers.