Honeywell has 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).

AstraZeneca is working to incorporate Honeywell's Solstice^®  Air (HFO-1234ze cGMP) technology as a  medical propellant, reducing the greenhouse gas emissions of the pressurized metered dose inhalers (pMDIs) by up to 99.9 percent 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. 

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.