Global pharmaceutical company Teva (Amsterdam, Netherlands) worked in close collaboration with styrenic materials supplier Styrolution (Frankfurt, Germany) to develop its Spiromax dry-powder inhaler. Judicious material sourcing played a significant role in the success of the inhaler, says Teva. Styrenics will showcase the inhaler among other applications at the medical manufacturing show Compamed this week in Düsseldorf, Germany. Compamed is co-located with Medica, the largest medical trade show in the world.
To differentiate its Spiromax inhaler from competing products in the marketplace, Teva developed a simple and intuitive inhaler design. The materials contributed to the functionality and aesthetics of the device.
Styrolution's Novodur HD, a specialty acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) polymer, was selected for the inhaler's shaft because the material combined high surface quality, dimensional stability, heat resistance, and robustness. The inhaler's unique shade of white results from Styrolution's customized color development on behalf of Teva.
For the mouth piece, the company chose Styrolution's transparent Terlux HD, a methyl methacrylate acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (MABS) polymer. The material's inherent impact strength and chemical resistance contribute to accurate and consistent dosing and an overall better patient experience, says Teva. Furthermore, Terlux lends itself well to self-coloring, making it possible to offer consumers an array of color options.
Both Novodur HD and Terlux HD are supported by Styrolution's HD Service Package, which includes the tailor-made color development the company performed for Teva. Offering fixed formulations and long-term notification of change, Styrolution's HD Service packages help customers save time and money, so they can focus their resources on product vision and design instead of regulatory requirements.
