Accentia to begin shipping MD Turbo, first inhaler with breath-activated delivery, dose-counting capabilities

By E. Janene Geiss

Philadelphia, April 11 - Accentia Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.'s specialty pharmaceuticals subsidiary Teamm Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has received initial inventory of MD Turbo, a patented advance in respiratory delivery, from its development partner, Respirics Inc.

In preparation of its launch to health care professionals, Teamm said it will begin shipping into distribution channels over the next month, according to a company news release.

MD Turbo is the first and only available product that transforms many of the most commonly prescribed metered dose inhalers into breath-activated, dose-counting inhalers. MD Turbo will be available at pharmacies in May, officials said.

"Metered-dose inhalers are most often used as rescue medications during acute attacks. Improper dosing and other misuses can lead to negative outcomes, such as the exacerbation of symptoms and even hospitalization," Gary Cantrell, Teamm executive vice president of sales and marketing.

According to three independent studies spanning more than 10 years, greater than 50% of patients using traditional press-and-breathe inhalers to control asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease cannot successfully coordinate the press-and-breathe action necessary for drug delivery to the lungs, officials said.

At least one additional study showed that more than 70% of inhaler users do not know the number of doses remaining in their inhalers at a given time.

More than 40 million metered-dose inhalers are prescribed each year in the United States alone, officials said. MD Turbo will be available by prescription only.

Respirics is a pulmonary drug delivery and development company based in Raleigh, N.C.

Accentia is a Tampa, Fla., biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of late-stage clinical products in the therapeutic areas of respiratory disease and oncology.

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