Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1463386
The International Pharmaceutical Aerosol Consortium (IPAC) was formed in 1989 in response to the mandates of the Montreal Protocol. IPAC and its members collaborated with governments around the world as well as patient and clinician stakeholders, to achieve a smooth transition away from CFC-based pressurized metered dose inhalers (pMDIs) to CFC-free pMDIs. 6 APRIL 2022 Inhalation CROSS-INDUSTRY Organizations e Montreal Protocol phase out of chloro uorocarbons (CFCs) and other ozone depleting substances has been declared one of the most successful international treaties in history. e International Phar- maceutical Aerosol Consortium (IPAC) was formed in 1989 in response to the Protocol's man- dates. IPAC and its members collaborated with governments around the world, including the US EPA, European Commission, UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural A airs (Defra) and others, as well as patient and clinician stakeholders, to achieve a smooth transition away from CFC-based pressurized metered dose inhalers (pMDIs) to CFC- free pMDIs using propellants HFC-134a and HFC-227ea. e transition away from CFC MDIs presented significant technical and logistical challenges. Com- mitments to innovation and collab- oration among stakeholders with a shared mission of patient care were core elements of the successful response to these challenges. While hydro uorocarbons (HFCs) do not contribute to ozone deple- tion, they are considered to be sub- stances with a high global warming potential (GWP) and are therefore included in existing and emerg- ing environmental controls. For instance, in 2016, parties to the Montreal Protocol adopted the Kigali Amendment, which calls for the global phasedown of HFCs. Many countries have rati ed or are ratifying the Kigali Amendment and are also working on policies to regu- late the use and production of HFCs in multiple sectors. IPAC is closely monitoring and engaging in policy discussions on the intersection of sustainability and patient care. ese issues are inextricably linked and it is essential to undertake a holistic, balanced, patient-focused approach to the sustainability journey. Highlights of recent initiatives e year 2021 was intense, as HFC policies continued to evolve around the world. Highlights included: • On World Asthma Day (May 5), IPAC participated in a live panel discussion organized by the European Respiratory Society (ERS). Participants discussed the implications of climate change for asthma patients and high- lighted di erent ways to achieve environmental progress, while simultaneously enhancing patient care. e same day, IPAC pre- sented its white paper titled, "A Multi- Stakeholder Approach to Minimizing the Environmental Impact of Inhaled Therapies and Improving Patient Care" at the Respiratory Drug Delivery Conference. is paper provides context about the continued leg- islative and regulatory issues rel- evant to medical propellants. It emphasizes the need for a holis- tic, patient-centered approach to the environmental aspects of inhaled therapies and the need for policy and regulation that support innovation. • In September, IPAC presented to a diverse audience of industry stakeholders along the pMDI supply chain. Engaging all mem- bers of the supply chain to be innovative and future- looking is essential. IPAC is working to sustain the momentum from this gathering and identifying oppor- tunities to collaborate with other industry organizations, includ- ing the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA). An introduction to the International Pharmaceutical Aerosol Consortium (IPAC) Maureen Donahue Hardwick and John Evans IPAC Secretariat An example of IPAC's public awareness social media campaign in the UK, encouraging patients to return used or surplus inhalers for proper disposal.