Designing a DPI for multiple constituencies

Designing a simple, easy-to-use DPI that also satisfies the needs of regulators and manufacturers presents a major challenge because solutions that satisfy one constituency often clash with solutions that satisfy the other. For example, a breath activated passive device may make coordination of inhalation and activation easier for the patient, but the inspiratory effort applied may result in inconsistent aerosolization, making it more difficult for manufacturers to demonstrate consistent dose delivery.

3M Drug Delivery Systems recently took on the challenge of designing a DPI that meets the competing needs of both pharmaceutical companies and patients. In the process, the team elicited some surprising information from patients and discovered innovative uses for technologies that had never before been applied to inhaler design.