Novartis announced a collaboration with Qualcomm Incorporated through its subsidiary, Qualcomm Life, Inc., in digital innovation with the Breezhaler inhaler device to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Under this collaboration, Qualcomm Life will provide the technology solution for the connectivity of the next generation of the Breezhaler inhaler, a device used for Novartis' portfolio of COPD treatments of Onbrez Breezhaler, Seebri Breezhaler, and Ultibro Breezhaler, the leading LABA/LAMA treatment.

This next generation of the Breezhaler inhaler will enable patients to have access to their own data on the use of their inhaler in near real time. The small, disposable and low power module contained within the inhaler device can detect and report usage, the time that the inhaler is used, as well as additional relevant information for patients and physicians. The module then wirelessly sends the data to the patient's smartphone and a Novartis COPD mobile application, which sends the data to the cloud, allowing patients and potentially their healthcare providers to monitor their COPD. The connected device will be ready for use by patients, with no assembly required.

"Novartis supports patients being empowered to make it easier for them to manage their chronic conditions," said David Epstein, head, Novartis Pharmaceuticals. "By enabling near real time data capture from the patient and the connected Breezhaler device, patients can monitor their own adherence to the medication they take which is vital to their health outcomes."

Novartis aims to be the first company in respiratory medicine to offer a completely integrated, connected delivery device to provide a seamless, easy to use and simple experience for patients.

Ultibro Breezhaler 110/50 mcg is a once-daily LABA/LAMA dual bronchodilator approved in the European Union (EU) as a maintenance bronchodilator treatment to relieve symptoms in adult patients with COPD2. Clinical trials have shown that it offers statistically significant improvements in bronchodilation compared to treatments widely used as current standards of care, including SFC 50/500 mcg and open-label tiotropium (18 mcg). Ultibro Breezhaler is currently approved for use in over 80 countries worldwide, including countries within the EU and Latin America, Japan, Canada, Switzerland and Australia. In the US the treatment is approved as a indacaterol 27.5 mcg/glycopyrrolate 15.6 mcg administered twice daily, known as Utibron Neohaler.

COPD affects an estimated 210 million people worldwide and is the third leading cause of death. It is progressive (usually gets worse over time), and can be a life-threatening disease. COPD makes it difficult to breathe, with symptoms that have a destructive impact on patients' function (i.e. activity limitation, decreased mobility) and quality of life. It is often considered to be a disease of later years but estimates suggest that 50 per cent of those with COPD are now less than 65 years old, resulting in increases in absenteeism, premature retirement and reductions in workforce participation.