Sandoz launches AirFluSal Forspiro inhaler in UK

Sandoz has announced the UK launch of its innovative inhaler AirFluSal Forspiro as part of the product’s ongoing global rollout.

The inhaler is designed for use in the treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) via a combination of salmeterol, a long-acting inhaled beta 2-agonist, and the inhaled corticosteroid fluticasone propionate.

It was developed by Sandoz’s global respiratory centre of excellence in Germany in collaboration with UK-based Vectura, taking the patient feedback into account throughout the design process.

The intuitive design of the inhaler earned it a Red Dot product design award in 2011. To date, it has been approved in more than 30 countries and commercially launched in 22 of these.

Stephen Eder, head of Sandoz in the UK and Ireland, said: “We believe AirFluSal Forspiro has the potential to have a positive impact not only for patients, but to generate savings for the NHS.”

COPD is the second most common cause of emergency admissions to hospital in the UK, and it is thought that many of these could be prevented by reducing the risk of exacerbations through improving treatment adherence to inhaler medicine.