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Chiesi and Hepha collaborate to develop a digital solution that will improve the use of the inhaler.
FREMONT, CA: Chiesi, a global pharmaceutical business that operates around the entire value chain, and Hepha, a French start-up developing an AI-based digital education platform, recently announced their partnership in developing a digital solution to enable enhanced inhaler use. Patients who have asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) will benefit from the platform, seeking to help them better manage their conditions. In 2022, the application is accessible on Apple and Android.
Inhalers are often used to treat asthma and COPD, and patients must use inhalers daily to ensure that their medicine is administered appropriately. If the patient struggles to use the inhaler or is not yet acquainted to it, errors can occur. According to research, 30-40 percent of COPD patients do not use their inhalers correctly. This can have an adverse effect on how they take the drug, decreasing its effectiveness.
Specialist pulmonologists and general practitioners don't often have time to track inhaler usage in patients or provide detailed advice about using them properly. In addition, when patients pick up their inhaler from a pharmacy, they are not necessarily given clear instructions. As a result, many people are unsure how to properly use their inhaler because they haven't received professional instruction or guidance or completely forget what they've been told.
"Chiesi was already well aware of the need for asthma and COPD patients to be able to use their inhalers effectively, this partnership is further evidence of our commitment to respiratory medicine, a key area for us," said Dr Marie-Ange Peretti, medical director at Chiesi France. "We offer solutions for both dry powder and metered dose inhalers, in order to meet the needs of patients and doctors alike. Chiesi is a family-owned company with a personal touch and a focus on innovation. We have a presence in 26 countries."