This inhaler not just helps with COPD but is also climate-friendly
A new inhaler that treats chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and also helps reduce environmental harm has been approved for use in the UK. This inhaler is already available in India.AstraZeneca's Trixeo Aerosphere, known as Breztri Aerosphere in India and other countries, is a triple-combination inhaler used to manage COPD.What makes this significant is that the latest version of the inhaler is now made using a new type of gas (called a next-generation propellant) that does not contribute much to climate change.advertisement
Specifically, it has "near-zero Global Warming Potential (GWP)", which means it releases almost no greenhouse gases into the atmosphere when used unlike older inhalers, which use gases that are harmful to the environment.This change dramatically cuts the device's environmental footprint.The UK's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) gave approval for this improved version of Trixeo after trials showed that the new propellant works just as well as the older one.The new version uses a compound called HFO-1234ze(E), which has 99.9% lower GWP than the traditional propellants used in most pressurised metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs).Ruud Dobber, Executive Vice President of AstraZeneca's BioPharmaceuticals division, said, 'We're addressing the needs of both patients and the environment. Trixeo with the new propellant is just the start.'This move aligns with growing concerns about climate change and the healthcare sector's role in reducing emissions. Inhalers like pMDIs are widely used across the world. While they are crucial for managing respiratory diseases, their traditional propellants contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, pMDIs make up 78% of global inhaler use and account for 3% of the NHS's carbon footprint in the UK.advertisement"Pressurised metered-dose inhalers are essential for millions living with respiratory diseases. The shift to a low-GWP inhaler means patients don't have to choose between the best treatment and protecting the environment," said Omar Usmani, professor at Imperial College London.India, too, has access to this innovation. AstraZeneca Pharma India received approval from the Drugs Controller General of India to import and market Breztri Aerosphere, which has been available in India since January 2025.COPD affects over 55 million people in India and is a leading cause of death. Many patients rely on inhalers for daily symptom management. The introduction of a more sustainable inhaler could benefit both public health and the environment.The company aims to convert all its pressurised inhalers to this next-gen propellant by 2030 as part of its 'Ambition Zero Carbon' strategy. In the UK, the updated inhaler will begin rolling out in the coming months.Better disease control leads to fewer hospital visits and less strain on healthcare systems, ultimately lowering carbon emissions from medical care.With India already having access to this inhaler, it could encourage wider adoption of eco-friendly medicines in the country.
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The Hindu
a day ago
- The Hindu
As COVID-19 cases register an uptick in India, a look at the vaccine stock position
Over the past few weeks, headlines around India and Southeast Asia have centered around a virus that the world has wanted to forget: Covid-19. At first, an uptick in cases in Hong Kong, Singapore and other parts of the region caused concern. Gradually though, India too, witnessed a surge in cases, with numbers as of Thursday, June 5, standing at 4,866, and fatalities at 51. Doctors and experts have said time and again that there is no reason to panic – spikes and dips in Covid-19 cases are expected; the virus they say, is co-circulating with other seasonal infections and no major waves are expected. Misinformation in fact, is harder to battle, they point out. Residents however, are raising questions about the Covid-19 vaccines: it may be recalled that India launched the world's largest Covid-19 immunisation drive in January 2021. To date over 220 crore doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered in the country as per the Co-WIN dashboard. These were primarily of the two vaccines available then, AstraZeneca's Covishield and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin. Also Read: Readiness, not panic: On India and COVID-19 What is the vaccine situation now? Rajiv Bahl, Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the country's nodal scientific body, has said there is absolutely no need to initiate mass booster doses for Covid-19 vaccination at present, and neither is there a direction from the Central government for this. Speaking about the rising number of Covid-19 cases in India, Dr. Bahl however noted that individual doctors could recommend booster doses to patients on a case-to-case basis, depending on the needs of individuals. He further explained that the need for mass vaccination, while not felt at present, could arise, with perhaps a mutation in the virus or its spread. 'For that, India already has the capacity to scale up production and provide for the general public. We have done this before and there is no need to panic,' he said, reiterating that as of now there was no need for individuals to rush in to get a booster vaccine. Since vaccines used in 2021 and 2022 have now fallen into disuse and expired, there are no stocks at present, a government official said, adding however that the government could direct manufacturers to produce more stocks as and when necessary. Most States, including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and West Bengal have no stocks or supplies of the vaccine at present either in the government or private sector. Understanding the variants driving the spike As of now, the variants of Covid-19 doing the rounds in India are descendants of the Omicron variant, first reported in November 2021. The emerging sub-variants - NB.1.8.1 and LF.7 - that are driving the current COVID surge are descendants of JN.1, a sub-lineage of the Omicron BA.2.86 variant. In Kerala for instance, a senior Health Department official said: 'Almost all of the samples sent for whole genome sequencing from the State have shown that the circulating virus variant is LF.1, one of the descendants of Omicron, the immune evasiveness of which is quite well known.' These sub-variants, doctors say, are, so far, causing mild illnesses. P. Senthur Nambi, senior consultant, Infectious Diseases, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, said that most of the Covid-19 patients he had seen so far have done well. 'Most of them had only an upper respiratory infection. Gone are the days when Covid-19 affected the lungs causing pneumonia and breathing difficulties. These patients were managed based on their symptoms and most of them did not require any Covid-specific antiviral medications. Prior exposure to the infection, the effects of the vaccines taken or a combination of both factors with vaccine-induced antibodies could be playing a protective role,' he explained. Cases this time around have mostly been mild, the ICMR has maintained, with reported symptoms akin to those of the common cold or seasonal flu, including fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, fatigue, body aches, and loss of appetite. 'The key difference with these new strains,' said Sujan Bardhan, consultant (tuberculosis & chest diseases), Narayana Hospital, RN Tagore Hospital, Kolkata, 'is their speed, not their severity. Hospitals are well-prepared and the healthcare system remains under no immediate strain. Nonetheless, the importance of basic preventive measures cannot be overstated.' Are vaccines needed at present? Doctors across the board say that at present, they see no need for a mass vaccination drive. 'By the time Omicron ran its course, almost all of our population had been exposed to the virus. Even when this antibody protection wanes, the long-term immune memory remains. This innate immunity plus the vaccine-derived immunity through good coverage of the initial two doses means that most people have strong hybrid immunity against Covid-19,' the Kerala health department official said, adding that the previous vaccines may not even be very effective against the Omicron variants – they would however, offer protection against serious forms of the disease. Though two indigenously developed nasal vaccines specifically targeting Omicron variant from Bharat Biotech and Indian Immunologicals as well as another indigenous mRNA vaccine for the Omicron variant were made available in the Indian market, the uptake was low, doctors said. Kiran Madala, a Hyderabad-based doctor, part of an international group of genetic epidemiologists under the COVID Treatment Exchange Organisation, said the current World Health Organization guidelines recommend vaccines primarily for individuals above 70 to 80 years of age, those who are immunocompromised, and patients with multiple comorbidities. Children, especially those aged two to six years, do not need vaccination unless they have underlying health issues or are immunosuppressed. Dr. Nambi in Chennai said some patients, those who have travel obligations, have requested the vaccines, but none are available at present. 'But I wish that there was an option of vaccination, not for the general population in large but for two subsets of patient groups in whom the infection could cause problems,' he said. The first group of patients are those who have not received any Covid-19 vaccine due to various factors and had no Covid-19 infection in the past. 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Jacob John, retired professor of clinical virology at Christian Medical College, Vellore also said that the elderly and immunocompromised people needed to be vaccinated again, irrespective of whether they were fully vaccinated (two doses and a booster) or had been exposed to the virus earlier. 'These people are vulnerable even with mild variants as their immune systems are weak, and they are at greater risk of complications.' State governments however have taken a more cautious stance: 'Whether vaccination is required or not depends on many factors, said T. S. Selvavinayagam, T.N. Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine. 'We need to study the epidemiology of the current cases before commenting on the requirement for vaccination now.' Kerala has said it was 'not advocating for or against Covid booster shots' because of the lack of epidemiological data that booster doses offered enhanced protection against emerging immune-evasive variants. Overall, doctors say, there were not many takers for the booster dose offered even during the height of the pandemic: according to the Co-WIN dashboard, 22.74 crore doses of the precaution dose have been administered, far fewer than the first two doses. 'We are doubtful if people would want to get vaccinated now when the situation is not alarming,' said R. Ravindra, managing director of Suguna Hospital, Bengaluru. What next? The Delhi High Court, earlier this week, directed the Central government to submit a thorough status report detailing its actions regarding the policy for sample collection, collection centres, and transportation of samples. The Court also stressed urgency to finalise and implement Standard Operating Procedures. While preparedness of health systems remains crucial, doctors said that at present all individuals should focus on personal protection, with special care being given to vulnerable sections of the population including elderly citizens, young children, pregnant women and those with immune-compromised systems or chronic illnesses. Dr. Bardhan said that these groups should take extra precautions. 'Covid has become just one of many in our spectrum of seasonal infectious diseases, a 'new normal'. We will definitely need to protect our vulnerable population against serious disease, but right now, we are advising only standard precautions to prevent people from contracting Covid/ or transmitting it. Those with symptoms will be tested and treated as per our patient categorisation guidelines. We do however advise the elderly that they take the yearly influenza vaccine to prevent secondary bacterial infections,' said R. Aravind, head of infectious diseases, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram. As the virus continues to adapt, so must we, as Dr. Bardhan pointed out. Staying informed and following trusted health sources, personal protection and hygiene measures such as hand washing, avoiding crowded places when possible or masking up, refraining from going outdoors when ill and maintaining a healthy, well-balanced lifestyle could all help navigate this phase and any more to come. (With inputs from C. Maya in Kerala, Serena Josephine M. in Chennai, Bindu Shajan Perappadan in Delhi, Afshan Yasmeen in Bengaluru, Shrabana Chatterjee in Kolkata and Siddharth Kumar Singh in Hyderabad.)
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
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India Today
a day ago
- India Today
UK watchdog warns of pregnancy risks linked to weight-loss drugs
Women are being advised to use effective contraception while on these medications. () UK health authorities recently cautioned against weight-loss drugs during pregnancy Mounjaro may reduce effectiveness of oral contraceptives Serious risks include acute pancreatitis with severe stomach pain Women using popular weight-loss and diabetes injections, also called "skinny jabs" are being warned to take extra care with contraception and pregnancy plans in the UK. Health authorities say these medicines should not be taken if you're pregnant, planning to get pregnant, or breastfeeding. If someone becomes pregnant while on these medicines, they should speak to a doctor immediately and stop using the medicine. This warning comes from the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and includes well-known medicines like Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, Saxenda and Victoza. These drugs are known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, which help reduce hunger and control blood sugar levels by copying a natural hormone released after eating. Some newer medicines like Mounjaro act on a second hormone that also helps with appetite and blood sugar control. While they are approved for treating type 2 diabetes, and in some cases for weight loss, they are not meant for cosmetic or quick weight-loss purposes. The MHRA said Mounjaro may reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives such as the pill in people who are overweight, and that women taking the medication should use barrier contraceptives such as condoms, according to a report in The Guardian. The UK watchdog said it had received 26 pregnancy-related reports for Mounjaro. "These are powerful medications meant to treat serious medical conditions. They should not be used casually or bought from unregulated sources like beauty salons or social media," said Dr Alison Cave, Chief Safety Officer at MHRA. Women are being advised to use effective contraception while on these medications and in some cases for up to two months after stopping them. This is because there isn't enough data to confirm if these drugs are safe for the baby during pregnancy. Forms of contraception include: Oral contraceptives (the pill) Non-oral methods like condoms, the coil, or implants However, Mounjaro may reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives in people who are overweight. That means women using Mounjaro should also use a non-oral method of contraception, especially in the first four weeks of treatment or after a dose increase. Another rare but serious risk of GLP-1 medicines is acute pancreatitis, which is inflammation of the pancreas. A warning sign of this is severe stomach pain that moves to the back and doesn't go away. Anyone who feels this should get emergency medical help. The MHRA also reminds users: These medicines must be prescribed by a healthcare professional. Do not buy them online or from beauty clinics, it is illegal and dangerous. Talk to your doctor before starting the medicine to understand risks and benefits. Let your doctor know if you're using one of these medicines before any surgery. Report any side effects through the Yellow Card scheme, which collects safety information on medicines in the UK. The watchdog also warned against extracting leftover medicine from used syringes. Dispose of them safely after completing the recommended doses, the statement read. These reminders come amid rising concerns that many people may be misusing these injections without knowing the full risks, especially women who may become pregnant. Staying informed and cautious is key to using these medicines safely. Women using popular weight-loss and diabetes injections, also called "skinny jabs" are being warned to take extra care with contraception and pregnancy plans in the UK. Health authorities say these medicines should not be taken if you're pregnant, planning to get pregnant, or breastfeeding. If someone becomes pregnant while on these medicines, they should speak to a doctor immediately and stop using the medicine. This warning comes from the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and includes well-known medicines like Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, Saxenda and Victoza. These drugs are known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, which help reduce hunger and control blood sugar levels by copying a natural hormone released after eating. Some newer medicines like Mounjaro act on a second hormone that also helps with appetite and blood sugar control. While they are approved for treating type 2 diabetes, and in some cases for weight loss, they are not meant for cosmetic or quick weight-loss purposes. The MHRA said Mounjaro may reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives such as the pill in people who are overweight, and that women taking the medication should use barrier contraceptives such as condoms, according to a report in The Guardian. The UK watchdog said it had received 26 pregnancy-related reports for Mounjaro. "These are powerful medications meant to treat serious medical conditions. They should not be used casually or bought from unregulated sources like beauty salons or social media," said Dr Alison Cave, Chief Safety Officer at MHRA. Women are being advised to use effective contraception while on these medications and in some cases for up to two months after stopping them. This is because there isn't enough data to confirm if these drugs are safe for the baby during pregnancy. Forms of contraception include: Oral contraceptives (the pill) Non-oral methods like condoms, the coil, or implants However, Mounjaro may reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives in people who are overweight. That means women using Mounjaro should also use a non-oral method of contraception, especially in the first four weeks of treatment or after a dose increase. Another rare but serious risk of GLP-1 medicines is acute pancreatitis, which is inflammation of the pancreas. A warning sign of this is severe stomach pain that moves to the back and doesn't go away. Anyone who feels this should get emergency medical help. The MHRA also reminds users: These medicines must be prescribed by a healthcare professional. Do not buy them online or from beauty clinics, it is illegal and dangerous. Talk to your doctor before starting the medicine to understand risks and benefits. Let your doctor know if you're using one of these medicines before any surgery. Report any side effects through the Yellow Card scheme, which collects safety information on medicines in the UK. The watchdog also warned against extracting leftover medicine from used syringes. Dispose of them safely after completing the recommended doses, the statement read. These reminders come amid rising concerns that many people may be misusing these injections without knowing the full risks, especially women who may become pregnant. Staying informed and cautious is key to using these medicines safely. Join our WhatsApp Channel
