Sufferers of asthma and COPD in the United States could soon have access to a digital inhaler device that will alert them when they have not inhaled enough medication as part of their treatment program with medtech company Adherium (ASX: ADR) submitting an FDA application for their device. 

The application is for their Hallie® product, a digital sensor that can be used with AstraZeneca’s Symbicort® aerosol inhaler, commonly carried at all times by asthma sufferers. 

The sensor was specifically designed to enhance patient care with adherence and proper inhaler technique still one of the biggest user-errors tied to treatment problems. 

“Clinicians globally have told us of the importance of building on our core adherence capability to extend the range of clinical data we capture and expand our market coverage of inhaled medications for Asthma and COPD,” said Adherium Chief Technology Officer, Geoff Feakes. 

“Physiological measures were consistently identified as a key data set to improve patient management and importantly, access reimbursement to enable the widest possible patient population to benefit from the technology.” 

Hallie® is also able to create alerts for its users as a reminder to use their inhaler while capturing clinical data that can be used to support patient management. 

Although the approvals process from the US Food and Drug Administration can take up to eight months, Adherium has already flagged plans for additional products in the US where attention to respiratory diseases have heightened in response to COVID-19. 

“As part of Adherium’s market expansion we intend to release a further four new sensors with physiological measures over the next 18 months, taking our anticipated Asthma and COPD medication coverage in the US to over 80% by volume and supporting 18 medications,” said Feakes. 

Outside of the US, Adherium is in active discussions with healthcare systems and commercial partners in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Europe.