Hovione Receives Patent Approval for XCaps DPI

The European Patent Office has granted a patent for Hovione's dry powder inhaler (DPI). The device is an inexpensive, easy-to-use capsule-based DPI with high efficiency powder dispersion and has the versatility to treat a range of pulmonary diseases including asthma, COPD as well as infection, which usually requires large-dose delivery.

Lung fractions in excess of 70% have been achieved from a device that only requires two steps to inhalation and only has two components plus a dust cover. XCaps is suitable for inhalation applications where minimal training of patients is desirable.