Pharmaceutical Technology

Chiesi champions new inhaler propellant to reduce carbon footprint

Chiesi also purchased carbon credits to compensate for the emissions for its entire UK portfolio of respiratory medicines.

UK-based Chiesi has invested in reducing its carbon footprint, with the development of a new inhaler propellant and the purchase of carbon credits to offset its carbon emissions.

The majority of Chiesi’s portfolio consists of inhalers that have a propellant gas with a high potential to have an impact on global warming. The company hopes to lower that potential and its Scope 3 emissions by changing the propellant, said Harriet Lewis, public affairs and communications director at Chiesi UK & Ireland, in an interview with Pharmaceutical Technology.

The new carbon minimal inhaler will replace the current hydrofluorocarbon propellant (HFC 134a) with the low global warming potential propellant (HFC 152a). Chiesi will also seek regulatory approval for the product with the new propellant, said Lewis.

Chiesi has invested €350m ($372.8m) for the development of the new propellant, as per Lewis. The use of new propellant is expected to reduce the company’s Scope 3 emissions by 90%, compared to those in 2019.

Earlier this month, Chiesi started the Phase III TRECOS clinical study (NCT06264674) for the new carbon-minimal inhaler. The development of the new propellant is part of the company’s plan to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2035.

In recent years, with multiple pharma companies have made net zero commitments. In November 2023, GSK announced plans to start Phase III trials of a low-carbon version of its metered dose inhaler (MDI), Ventolin (salbutamol), using a next-generation propellant. The current propellant accounts for 49% of the company’s carbon footprint, with the new variation expected to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from the use of the inhaler by approximately 90%.

Chiesi has also purchased and retired carbon removal credits to offset the carbon emissions of the company’s entire UK portfolio of respiratory medicines. The company also plans to reduce its Scope 3 emissions through the reevaluation of its supply chain.

“Chiesi has high standards and expects its suppliers to be verified through the EcoVardis verification platform,” said Lewis. She added, “The platform is evolving and the company plans to introduce new standards and competencies for for its suppliers over the next 12-18 months. So, it is not just about us being a responsible manufacturer, we also expect the responsibility to translate and be passed down the value chain.”