UK asthma inhalers to be discontinued in November

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has announced that two beclometasone dipropionate inhalers will be discontinued at the end of November. The affected products are the Clenil Modulite 50 micrograms/dose and 250 micrograms/dose inhalers, which are used for the maintenance treatment of asthma in both adults and children.

Community Pharmacy England (CPE) stated that beclometasone dipropionate (Soprobec) 50 micrograms/dose and 250 micrograms/dose inhalers remain available to support potential increases in demand. Additionally, Clenil Modulite 100 micrograms/dose inhalers and CFC-free pressurised metered dose inhalers (pMDIs), such as Qvar and Kelhale, will also remain available.

This discontinuation follows the recent approval by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) of new lower-carbon inhalers. These include the Clenil Modulite 100 micrograms and 200 micrograms versions, which utilize next-generation propellant HFA-152a to reduce environmental impact. The MHRA expects these new inhalers to be available in the UK later this year.