Who we are
Welcome to the Inhaled Respiratory medicine Innovation and environmental Sustainability (IRIS) group.
We are a small group of experts dedicated to advocating for:
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the importance of inhaled respiratory medicines,
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continued access to these medicines, and
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preserving patient and physician choice of inhaler while promoting long-term environmental sustainability.
Our aim is to safeguard the right of every patient around the world to access inhaled therapy, providing long-term clinical benefits and protecting the environment.
Pressurized metered dose inhalers (pMDIs), are the most widely used inhalers globally, and use propellants to deliver drugs deep into the lungs.[1, 2] In recent years, currently used pMDI propellants, called fluorinated gases (F-gases), have come under the environmental spotlight due to their high global warming potential (GWP).[3]
As a result, pMDIs with next generation propellants are being formulated. These next generation propellants include two new propellants with 90-99% less GWP.[3, 4] Unfortunately, the European F-gas Regulation limits the use of one of these next generation propellants, HFC-152a, due to its GWP.[3, 5] Meanwhile, the other promising alternative, HFO-1234ze, which has a GWP close to zero, is currently under assessment by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) as part of the Universal PFAS Restriction Process.[4, 6]
Restrictions on the use of chemicals used as propellants in pMDIs will have a detrimental impact on the health of millions of people around the world who rely on these devices
Our call to action
We call on governments and policy makers to recognize the importance of continued access to essential life-saving inhaled medications for millions of people worldwide living with chronic respiratory conditions.
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We further call for the exclusion of greener, next generation propellants used in pMDIs from the scope of the PFAS restriction proposal.
Disclaimer
The IRIS steering committee contribute on a voluntary, unpaid basis. The Independent Secretariat is supported financially by AstraZeneca. The financial sponsor does not have a role in the organisation, management or other day-to-day running of the Secretariat, which has been undertaken by L.E.K. Consulting.
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