New colour for Soprobec (beclometasone dipropionate) 200micrograms inhaler

New colour for Soprobec (beclometasone dipropionate) 200micrograms inhaler

Watford, England, March 11, 2021: Glenmark Pharmaceuticals is changing the colour of its Soprobec (beclometasone dipropionate) 200mcg inhaler device in order to avoid any potential confusion with inhalers delivering a lower dose of the same asthma medication.

The light brown actuator and cream dust cap of the current Soprobec 200mcg inhaler will be replaced by a pink actuator and red dust cap. Apart from this colour change the device will remain exactly the same, with identical contents and method of use.

The change has been agreed with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and applies only to the Soprobec 200mcg device. Other Soprobec inhalers delivering 50mcg, 100mcg and 250mcg beclometasone dipropionate per actuation will remain unchanged.

“The decision to change the device colours was made as there was considered a potential for confusion between our Soprobec 200 and another beclometasone dipropionate inhaler currently on the UK market which could have led to potential patient safety concerns,” said Martin Imms, General Manager of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals UK.

The outer carton of the new colour device will have a flash across the top corner with the message ‘New actuator colour’ and ‘200 micrograms’ highlighted in pink on the side. There will be no change in the way prescriptions for the product are written.

The changes are being implemented in the manufacture of new batches and will be phased into the UK supply chain so it is possible that both colour schemes will be on the market at the same time.

“If the patient and/or care giver has used Soprobec 200 before, then we would ask dispensers to highlight the colour change and to reassure them that the inhaler is exactly the same as before and is used in exactly the same way. It is just the colours of the plastic that have changed,” said Mr Imms.

“As before, patients should be reminded to clean their inhaler once a week and keep track of when they start using their device to make sure they have an uninterrupted supply of medication.”

Soprobec is indicated for the maintenance treatment of asthma, when the use of pressurised metered dose inhaler is appropriate.