Propeller Health and Boehringer Ingelheim Collaborate on COPD, Asthma Tools for Better Health

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals and Propeller Health are partnering to use digital health tools and services to help patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to better cope with their condition.

Under the terms of the commercial agreement, people with asthma and COPD who are currently taking a Boehringer Ingelheim drug prescription approved for use in the company’s Respimat inhaler, can enroll at selected U.S. health systems in a new program that aims to determine how Propeller’s new platform for the Respimat inhaler impacts patient engagement and adherence rates.

Last year, the FDA granted 510(k) clearance to market Propeller’s platform with the Respimat inhaler. With proprietary sensor technology, software, and services, Propeller’s platform remotely monitors the use of inhaled rescue and controller medications in asthma and COPD, analyzes patient trends, and provides regular feedback.

The FDA-approved Propeller system increases adherence to therapy, predicts oncoming exacerbations, and help reduce the frequency of symptoms and exacerbations in asthma and COPD patients.

Respimat, the platform inhaler for Boehringer Ingelheim respiratory therapies, actively delivers a slow-moving mist that helps patients inhale the medication. The device delivers medication independent of inspiratory effort. As with all inhaled drugs, the actual amount of drug delivered to the lung may depend on the patient, such as coordination between actuation of the inhaler and inspiration through the delivery system. The duration of inhalation should be at least as long as the spray duration (1.5 seconds).

“We are excited to work with Boehringer Ingelheim to bring Propeller to people with asthma and COPD at health systems across the U.S. Together, we believe that digital tools can complement the use of respiratory medications and encourage more appropriate and effective management of chronic respiratory disease,” David Van Sickle, CEO of Propeller, said in a press release.

“As a committed partner to the respiratory community for nearly a century, Boehringer Ingelheim is proud to embark on this industry-leading partnership with Propeller with the goal of improving the care of people living with COPD and asthma,” said Ruchin Kansal, executive director and head of Business Innovation at Boehringer Ingelheim.

The Propeller Health system has been used by patients with asthma or COPD in more than 40 commercial programs in the U.S., including major payers, healthcare systems, employers, and other commercial partners. The system is well-suited with other inhaler devices used by patients with asthma and COPD such as controller and reliever dose-metered inhalers, dry powder inhalers, and soft mist inhalers.