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Under-engineering a DPI Device for Tuberculosis Treatment: Facilitating Access to Inhaled Therapies Among Disadvantaged Groups in India

Ranjan R, Pandya S, Gupta A, Sachan M, Devi H, Singh R, Misra A.

RDD Asia 2014. Volume , 2014: 67-74.

Abstract:

High costs associated with inhalers are considered to be a major barrier for patient access to treatment in developing economies. There is an unmet need in India for an alternative inhalation device that is both familiar to disadvantaged groups and inexpensive to produce and distribute, which would reduce costs to the end-user. The “chilam” (or “chillum”) is a device used for inhalation of vapors/aerosols for ritual and recreational purposes across much of South Asia. Because of the familiarity of the fired clay chilam with people in these areas, coupled with the fact that it can be manufactured by local artisans, it was used as the basis for the development of a dry powder inhalation device for the delivery of a spray-dried formulation containing anti-tuberculosis agents.