Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Limited, the research-led global integrated pharmaceutical company announced the launch of “Digihaler – India’s first Digital Dose Inhaler.” This next-gen inhaler provides accurate digital dose counter along with low dose warning indicator to enable asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients to track adherence to their therapy.

As per WHO estimates in 2007, there are 300 million people currently suffering from asthma globally, and it is expected that could increase by further 100 million by 2025. There have been 2,50,000 deaths per year globally and 57,500 deaths per year in India.

Today, there are about 35 million asthmatics in India and about 40 per cent patients have an uncontrolled asthma and over 60 per cent have partially controlled asthma.

According to estimates, 50 to 70 per cent of asthma patients in India do not adhere to prescribed treatment regimen, and suffer in the long run.

It is a known fact that, patient’s compliance is worldwide challenge in any chronic disease treatment, especially in Asthma and COPD condition, where daily preventative medication is crucial for its treatment. Implication of non-adherence leads to poor control symptoms, worsening the quality of life, high mortality rate which further increases health care expenditure and so on. Globally over 50 per cent of patients have asthma that is not well controlled. In India about 40 per cent patients have an uncontrolled asthma and over 60 per cent have partially controlled asthma.

On the occasion of the launch, Sujesh Vasudevan, president and head of India Formulations & Africa Region, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, said, “We feel digital revolution will play a central role in the industry. Especially in Asthma and COPD disease, were patient’s non-adherence to treatment regimen age old challenge worldwide, and also one of major reason for inadequate control of asthma and COPD across age groups. Digihaler is “India’s first Digital Dose Inhaler (DDI)”, aims to address this age old challenge, the device will enable the patients to track the number of doses that have been consumed and prominently placed indicator provides a low dose warning which is beneficial to patients. This will further enable the doctors to determine patient’s adherence to the prescribed therapy regime.”