Asthma and lung disease treatment firm Vectura is to collaborate with a US tech firm to develop a range of innovative inhalers.
The Chippenham firm, which makes inhalable dry-powder drugs that treat lung conditions such as asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis, has agreed a partnership with Propeller Health to use its intelligent sensor technology. 
Propeller's platform helps individuals and their physicians improve the management and control of respiratory disease. It is used by more than 40 leading healthcare organisations across the US.
The collaboration will initially focus on developing an add-on sensor for Vectura's lever-operated multi-dose inhaler (LOMI).
Patients with a Propeller-connected LOMI device will be more engaged with their care and better equipped to understand their disease and improve self-management. range of pre-metered foil blister-based dry powder inhalers developed to meet patients' needs in inhalation therapy.
The companies are also discussing additional connected strategies for other proprietary respiratory devices in Vectura's pipeline. Vectura was part formed from a spin-out from the University of Bath.
Vectura CEO James Ward-Lilley said: "This announcement demonstrates Vectura's commitment to develop next generation inhalation devices that can help patients manage their respiratory diseases better.
"Adherence to therapy is one of the major issues driving poor maintenance management of these chronic conditions. There is increasing evidence of the value of intelligent sensor technology significantly enabling a reduction of symptoms, including exacerbations and long term healthcare utilisation costs. This collaboration is a first step towards Vectura embracing a connected solution for all our devices"
Propeller Health CEO David Van Sickle added: "Digital health has the potential to make respiratory therapies more personal, powerful and convenient for every patient. We are excited to work with the team at Vectura to realise these benefits in a new generation of inhalers."
Pictured: Propeller Health's mobile platform. Picture courtesy of Propeller Health
