A new hand-held inhaler designed to revolutionise how cystic fibrosis (CF) sufferers take life-saving antibiotic medicine has been launched.
Ireland has the highest incidence of CF in the world, with one in 19 people carrying the altered gene responsible for the disease.
The Podhaler is a portable hand-held device that will replace the need for people with the condition to spend more than 20 minutes twice a day at home hooked up to a mains-powered nebuliser.
It delivers a powdered blast of the antibiotic drug that suppresses the risk of chronic lung infections in five to six minutes.
Patient Tomas Thompson believes the pocket-size inhaler will make life much easier for half of Ireland’s 1,300 CF sufferers who will be suited to using it.
“It’s great, you can take it to school, college or work,” said the 33-year-old from Galway. “It will free up time and make it easier if you are travelling or going away.”
Ireland has three times the prevalence of CF per head of population compared to the average rate in the EU and the United States.
It is a life-threatening genetic disease that clogs internal organs with thick, sticky mucus notably within the lungs and digestive system, making it hard to breathe and digest food.
The average lifespan for people with CF in Ireland is just 33.4 years.
Philip Watt, of the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland, revealed sufferers spend two hours every day managing all aspects of the condition.
“People with CF have a very difficult and time-consuming regimen of treatments and physiotherapy every single day, so the time that appropriate patients save using this new device is significant,” he said.
“The availability of the Podhaler is likely to help people with CF to more easily fit treatment into their day.”
Manufacturers maintain it is also likely to reduce the risk of patients picking up a dangerous bacterial infection from contaminated nebulisers.
Dr Greg Hays, medical director for Novartis Ireland, said the Podhaler uses innovative technology to offer people with CF more convenience in their lives.
“Because the Podhaler is portable, people will not need to be confined to their house in terms of using it,” he added.
“This new drug delivery system is also quicker to use. Using inhaler technology saves patients approximately 28 minutes each day compared to a nebuliser, which is something which we believe patients deemed suitable by their doctors for this new treatment option will also welcome.”
PA