Low-Emission Clinical Inhalers

AstraZeneca's HFO-1234ze-Based Inhaler Produces 99% Less Emissions

References: greenbiz & astrazeneca

AstraZeneca is currently putting its new sustainable inhaler through clinical trials in order to determine its market suitability and safety. The inhaler is based on Honeywell's 'HFO-1234ze' propellant, which allows the inhaler to use far fewer greenhouse gasses. Most inhalers provided to patients use a small portion of greenhouse gasses in the propellant in order to effectively deliver medicine. These emissions add up quickly, leading to AstraZeneca looking into far more sustainable alternatives.

The current culmination of this research is an inhaler that uses glycopyrronium, budesonide, and formoterol fumarate. The preliminary testing showed that these inhalers were very similar in efficacy in reducing symptoms in adults when compared to traditional inhalers while also boasting a 99% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. This innovation is part of AstraZeneca's commitment to becoming carbon-neutral across its global operations by 2025.