GR106642X: a new, non-ozone depleting propellant for inhalers

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Abstract
Metered dose inhalers are the most popular choice of drug delivery system for treating asthma and chronic airflow limitation. Unfortunately, they contain chlorofluorocarbon propellants, which contribute to the depletion of stratospheric ozone.1 The Montreal Protocol of 1987 has therefore called for a gradual phasing out of manufacture of chlorofluorocarbons in all developed countries by 1996. Inhalers containing chlorofluorocarbons have been given a temporary exemption, but there remains considerable environmental pressure for their early withdrawal. GR106642X (1, 1, 1, 2-tetrafluoroethane) is a new propellant which does not deplete ozone. It has been used alone, with no other excipients, to reformulate salbutamol. We investigated the safety and efficacy of the new non-ozone depleting formulation for salbutamol in a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled, crossover comparison with the traditional salbutamol inhaler containing chlorofluorocarbons 11 and 12 (Ventolin, Allen …