Tobramycin inhalation powder simply termed as (TOBI Podhaler) seems to be a quick and convenient inhaled therapy for patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Apparently the European Union has approved the usage of TOBI Podhaler as a suppressive therapy. This therapy can be seemingly employed for treating chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) infections in CF patients aged six years and older.
The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), which reviewed the therapy, claims that TOBI Podhaler provides the same efficacy as TOBI (tobramycin solution) with a comparable safety profile. It was pointed out that TOBI is the most widely used inhaled antibiotic for chronic Pa infections in CF. This dry powder formulation is believed to produce particles that are light and porous for deep delivery into the lung. TOBI which is administered with a nebulizer may have met a better alternative that is a portable, patient-friendly device.
“TOBI Podhaler combines a number of innovations that significantly improve the delivery of tobramycin, which is an established effective treatment for Pa lung infection in patients with cystic fibrosis. This therapy should help patients to lead more independent lives – an important factor considering the relatively young age of many people with this disease,” said Professor Stuart Elborn, Professor of Respiratory Medicine at Queens’ University, Belfast, and President of the European Cystic Fibrosis Society.
Having scrutinized the data, scientists claim that TOBI Podhaler using patients complete their tobramycin treatment in five to six minutes instead of 20 minutes with TOBI. So a 72 percent reduction in time spent can apparently be achieved through the employment of newly approved therapy. TOBI Podhaler appears as a time saving therapy because unlike nebulized treatments it does not require assembling, disinfection, refrigeration of the active compound and a power source for the delivery device.
David Epstein, Division Head of Novartis Pharmaceuticals, remarked, “TOBI Podhaler shows how we are applying innovative technologies to better meet the needs of patients and their families. TOBI Podhaler also underscores our long-term commitment to improving the quality of care for patients with diseases such as cystic fibrosis and helping them to lead longer and more active lives.”
Treatment satisfaction was probably greater in patients treated with TOBI Podhaler as compared to those subjected to TOBI. Anti-Pa treatment seems to have many complexities and therefore, patients’ fail to remain committed to their therapy. Also patients don’t clean nebulizers leading to possible contamination. Since the inhaler device with TOBI Podhaler is disposable, dry formulation eliminates chances of bacterial contamination.