Orbital® Dry Powder Inhaler

Orbital Dry Powder Inhaler (DPI) convenient delivery of high drug doses to the lungs.

Orbital multi use

The Orbital technology allow powder payloads of up to 400mg or more to be inhaled by patients in divided doses without the need to reload.  This unique platform was originally developed as a life cycle extending product for the Pharmaxis cystic fibrosis drug Bronchitol®(mannitol). However, it also meets an increasing global need to deliver high doses of other drugs, such as antibiotics, to the lungs.  

The Orbital Inhaler is an innovative device that eliminates the need for manual reloading of multiple powder-containing capsules needed for a single dose of drug.  This can deliver improvements in the patient experience, compliance, market share and also effectively extend patent life of drugs that use the device.  The prototype developed by Pharmaxis has been tested in phase 1 studies where it performed well.

Status

In August 2022 Pharmaxis announced that Aptar Pharma, a global leader in drug delivery systems, services and active material science solutions, has exercised the option to acquire the worldwide rights to Pharmaxis’ proprietary inhaler Orbital, a unique device designed to deliver high payload dry powder to the lungs. The exclusive option agreement was announced on August 17, 2021 and gave Aptar 12 months to evaluate the Orbital technology.

Aptar Pharma paid Pharmaxis US$2.5m to exercise the option to the Orbital technology and immediately exercised its subsequent right to outright acquire the technology by payment of a further US$2.5m.

Pharmaxis retains the rights to devices containing Orbital intellectual property used to deliver inhaled mannitol.  

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