Collaboration develops digital inhaler for COPD

Novartis is to collaborate with Qualcomm Life on the next generation of digital inhaler devices to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Under this collaboration, Qualcomm Life will provide the technology solution for the connectivity of the next generation of the Breezhaler inhaler, a device used for Novartis' portfolio of COPD treatments.

This Breezhaler inhaler will enable patients to have access to their own data on the use of their inhaler in near real time according to Novartis.

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

The module then wirelessly sends the data to the patient's smartphone and a Novartis COPD mobile application, which sends the data to the cloud, allowing patients and potentially their healthcare providers to monitor their COPD.

The connected device will be ready for use by patients, with no assembly required.

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."   

Novartis has said it plans to launch the next generation of the the next generation connected Breezhaler in 2019.