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Even patients with diminished lung capacity can inhale medication from Valois Pharma's Prohaler dry powder inhaler (DPI), according to a new study.

Valois' Prohaler is activated by the user inhaling from the device, which triggers the release of a dose of medication. A counter on the pack then keeps track of how many doses are left.

DPIs are used to dispense respiratory treatments. They do not use propellant and so are more environmentally friendly.

A major study to discover how easy the Prohaler is for people with diminished lung capacity to use has just been completed at Centre Hospitalier Regional et Universitaire (CHRU) in Tours, France.

The study tested 60 patients suffering from asthma or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and found that all were able to trigger the Prohaler device by inhaling.

Eminent respiratory physician and president of the International Society for Aerosols in Medicine (ISAM) Professor Patrice Diot and inhaled-dosage form expert Dr Steve Newman led the study.

Dr Newman delivered preliminary results of the study at the Drug Delivery to the Lungs scientific conference in Scotland last December. The complete study will be published in the coming months.

Valois specialises in the design, development and manufacture of proprietary spray, aerosol and alternative dispensing systems for the pharmaceutical, perfumery and cosmetics market.