AstraZeneca’s inhaled medicine Trixeo Aerosphere has become the first pressurised metered-dose inhaler (pMDI) to be approved in the UK using a next-generation propellant with near-zero Global Warming Potential (GWP). The move marks a significant step toward greener respiratory care and aligns with the UK’s net-zero healthcare goals.
Already authorised for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adults, Trixeo will now be available with a new propellant—HFO-1234ze(E)—which has a GWP 99.9% lower than traditional pMDI propellants. This innovation makes Trixeo’s carbon footprint comparable to inhalers that do not use propellants, like dry powder inhalers.
The UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approved the updated inhaler following a clinical programme that showed the new formulation is bioequivalent to the current version. Safety and tolerability remained consistent with the known profile of the medicine.
Professor Omar Usmani of Imperial College London welcomed the development, saying: “This advancement means patients and doctors no longer need to choose between optimal COPD treatment and environmental responsibility.”
Trixeo Aerosphere, known internationally as Breztri Aerosphere, combines three active ingredients—budesonide, glycopyrronium, and formoterol fumarate—in a single fixed-dose therapy. Regulatory reviews for the next-generation version are also underway in Europe, China, and other global markets.
AstraZeneca executives hailed the UK approval as a milestone in the company’s broader climate strategy. “This is an industry first,” said Ruud Dobber, Executive Vice President of the BioPharmaceuticals Business Unit. “It demonstrates our commitment to both patient health and environmental sustainability in the fight against diseases like COPD.”
Tom Keith-Roach, President of AstraZeneca UK, added: “This approval supports the NHS’s carbon reduction goals and sets the foundation for transforming our entire inhaler portfolio.”
pMDIs are a mainstay in respiratory care, accounting for 70% of all inhaled medicines used in the UK and 78% globally. However, they also contribute to healthcare’s environmental footprint—comprising around 3% of the NHS’s total emissions. AstraZeneca plans to convert its full pMDI portfolio to the low-GWP propellant by 2030 under its Ambition Zero Carbon initiative.
The company intends to begin distributing the new Trixeo inhaler in the UK within months, offering patients an environmentally conscious alternative without compromising treatment outcomes.