There is provided an inhaler article (10) having an upstream end (1) and a downstream end (2). The inhaler article comprises an upstream section (3) which comprises an end plug (5). The inhaler article comprises a downstream section (4) located downstream of the upstream section and spaced apart from the upstream section. The downstream section comprises a filter segment (6). The resistance to draw per unit length of the filter segment is greater than 0 millimetres of water per millimetre and less than about 3 millimetres of water per millimetre. The inhaler article comprises a cavity (7) defined between the upstream and downstream sections, and configured to be in fluid communication with the exterior of the article. The inhaler article comprises a capsule (9) containing an inhalable material, and located in the cavity. There is also provided an inhaler system (100) comprising such an inhaler article and a holder (120).

Various exemplary drug delivery devices with on-board drug destruction, drug products utilizing the same, and methods of using drug delivery devices with on-board drug destruction are provided. In general, a nasal drug delivery device configured to dispense a drug therefrom into a nose includes a destruction mechanism configured to destroy drug contained in the drug delivery device. The destruction mechanism can be configured to destroy the drug before a first actuation of the drug delivery device to deliver the drug therefrom such that the destruction mechanism destroys substantially all of the drug contained in the drug delivery device. Alternatively or in addition, the destruction mechanism can be configured to destroy the drug after a first actuation of the drug delivery device to deliver the drug therefrom such that the destruction mechanism destroys substantially all of the drug remaining in the drug delivery device.

An inhaler for inhalation of an inhalable dry powder is provided. The inhaler has (a) an outer shell having a first shell part and a second shell part; (b) a capsule holder having a chamber for holding a capsule, a capsule breaker for breaking open a capsule held within the chamber and a trigger for causing the capsule breaker to break open a capsule; (c) a support for supporting the capsule holder; and (d) an outlet for passage of dry powder from the capsule into a user. The capsule holder is positioned in the first shell part which has an aperture through which the trigger protrudes. The aperture has a cut-out in the rim of the first shell part and through which the trigger may pass when the capsule holder is removed from the first shell part. The support has one or more first mating parts for mating with one or more second mating parts on the first shell part, the first and second mating parts preventing outward movement of the walls of the first shell part when the first and second mating parts are mutually engaged.

An electronic system (1) comprises an electronic device (2) for gathering data from an inhaler (3) which is configured to dispense doses of a pharmaceutical formulation stored in a medicament reservoir. The system (1) further comprises an evaluation unit (9) being configured to receive and evaluate the gathered data in order to determine adherence to prescription data and/or to determine the number of doses having been dispensed or remaining in the inhaler (3) and a display (8) for visualizing the evaluated data. The electronic device (2) comprises a wireless interface (4) for receiving wireless data from the inhaler (3) via a wireless connection an input interface (5) for receiving manual input data and an acoustic or visual interface (6, 7) for receiving acoustic or visual data of the inhaler (3). The evaluation unit (9) is configured to identify the gathered data as wireless, acoustic, visual or manual input data, identify the inhaler model from which the data was gathered across different manufactures, process and evaluate the gathered data and visualize the processed data on the display (8).

This invention relates to a fixed-dose dry powder inhalation formulation comprising fluticasone propionate and albuterol sulfate, together with an α-lactose monohydrate carrier. In the formulation, the albuterol sulfate stabilises fluticasone propionate.

The present invention is based, in part, on the unexpected discovery that particles for pulmonary delivery of a therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic agent that comprise a phospholipid and a sufficient amount of leucine can produce sustained effect of the agent. Specifically, particles for pulmonary delivery of a therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic agent that contain a phospholipid or combination of phospholipids, wherein the phospholipid or combination of phospholipids is present in the particles in an amount of about 1 to 46 weight percent; and leucine, wherein leucine is present in the particles in an amount of at least 46 weight percent, can contribute to sustained effect of the agent. Particles that comprise at least 46 weight percent leucine but that do not contain phospholipids do not exhibit these same sustained effect properties.

A piercing device (150) contains a recessed piercing element (160) and is configured to receive a distal end (118) of an inhaler article (110). The piercing element pierces or punctures a single hole into a capsule contained within the inhaler article when the inhaler article is seated into an inhaler article cavity (157) of the piercing device. The piercing device includes a marking element (170) extending into the inhaler article cavity from the housing inner surface (152). The marking element is configured to mark an outer surface of an inhaler device when the inhaler device is received within the inhaler article cavity. The marking element extends orthogonally to the piercing element longitudinal axis.

A holder (150) for an inhaler article (110) includes a housing (151) defining an inhaler article cavity (154). A piercing element (160) is fixed to and extends into the inhaler article cavity. A sleeve (180) is disposed within the inhaler article cavity and is configured to retain an inhaler article. The sleeve is movable along the housing longitudinal axis. A spring element (200) is configured to bias the sleeve toward the open proximal end (156) of the housing.

A vapor-generating system includes a cartridge, a vapor-generating device and a piercing element. The cartridge includes a cartridge housing configured to hold a solid vapor-forming substrate within the cartridge housing interior, a liquid storage housing configured to hold a liquid vapor-forming substrate within the liquid storage housing interior, and a frangible seal on the liquid storage housing. The vapor-generating device includes a device housing at least partially defining a cavity, an electric heater, and a power supply. The piercing element is configured to pierce the frangible seal of the cartridge to expose the liquid storage housing interior to be in fluid communication with the electric heater based on the vapor-generating device coupling with the cartridge such that the device housing at least partially receives the cartridge into the cavity. The electric heater is located externally from the piercing element.

A method of treating disorders in a human or animal subject may include heating a material containing a compound to a first temperature to form a heated volume of the material. The method may additionally include heating the heated volume to a higher second temperature to form a dose of vapor including the compound. The method may also include administering the dose of vapor to the subject to treat disorders such as pain. The method may further include pre-heating the material to a preliminary temperature prior to the heating to the first temperature. The heating and pre-heating may be performed with a capsule including two covering layers, each including an electrically conductive material, configured to hold the material therebetween and to generate heat by resistive heating.