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Sandoz recently launched AirFluSal Forspiro (fluticasone propionate plus salmeterol), a new twice-daily dry powder inhaler (DPI) for the treatment of COPD.

The company says that Forspiro offers several features that make the device easy to use and aid compliance, including a dose counter; a window showing empty blisters; a tear-off foil strip enabling patients to ensure they have taken two doses per day; and a simple lever arm to load the dose.

Meanwhile, Chiesi’s DPI Fostair NEXThaler (beclomethasone and formoterol) has been granted a licence extension for patients with severe COPD and a history of repeated exacerbations, who have significant symptoms despite regular long-acting bronchodilators.

Again, the manufacturer says the device has several features that improve adherence. For example, Chiesi points out that, “whereas dose counters on other dry powder ICS/LABA combination products record the number of times the device has been primed or loaded, the dose counter on the NEXThaler device decreases only after successful inhalation”.