The ideal inhaler: design and characteristics to improve outcomes.

Inhalation therapy is Likely to continue to dominate asthma treatment. The pressurised metered dose inhaler (pMDI) accounts for most of the inhaler market world-wide, but is inefficient and difficult to use. Dry powder inhalers (DPIs) have several advantages over MDIs. They are breath-activated, easy and convenient to use and environmentally friendly. The Turbuhaler is the most widely used DPI, offering good deposition with sufficient inspiratory flow, but it provides no confirmation of dosing, exhibits high dose variation, has a high intrinsic resistance, and inspiratory flow profile-dependent drug deposition. The Novolizer (VIATRIS, Frankfurt, Germany) is a new DPI which has several characteristics of an 'ideal' inhaler. It is convenient and easy to use, demonstrate and teach, provides accurate and consistent drug delivery and provides patients with feedback of dose taken. The Novolizer is a promising new delivery system for inhalation therapy.