Novartis and Qualcomm to develop new capabilities for Breezhaler inhaler

Novartis has announced a new digital innovation project with Qualcomm Life to add new capabilities to the company's Breezhaler inhaler device.

Qualcomm Life has been tasked with providing a technology solution to enhance the connectivity of the next generation of the Breezhaler, a device used for the administration of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treatments.

This will enable patients receiving therapies such as Onbrez Breezhaler, Seebri Breezhaler and Ultibro Breezhaler to have access to their own data on the use of their inhaler in near real time.

The small, disposable and low-power module contained within the inhaler device can detect and report usage, the time that the inhaler is used, as well as additional relevant information for patients and physicians.

Data can then be wirelessly transferred to the patient's smartphone and a Novartis COPD mobile application, which sends the information to the cloud, allowing patients and healthcare providers to monitor their disease activity.

David Epstein, head of Novartis Pharmaceuticals, said: "By enabling near real-time data capture from the patient and the connected Breezhaler device, patients can monitor their own adherence to the medication they take, which is vital to their health outcomes."