Company Insight

Open-Inhale-Close: A multidose dry powder inhaler platform device built for scale and speed

Developing a dry powder inhaler that is easy for patients to use, is robust enough for commercial scale, and can be brought to market quickly remains a significant challenge for pharmaceutical companies.

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Phillips Medisize’s Open-Inhale-Close (OIC) dry powder inhaler (DPI) is a pre-metered, multidose platform designed around three simple user steps: open, inhale, close. With proven performance, usability, and commercial scale manufacturing, OIC accelerates development and can help to reduce risks when entering the DPI inhalation market.   

The OIC device offers a flexible platform that can meet the needs of a diverse product range as a pre-metered multidose system with a fully integrated blister strip and dose counter. The use of advanced blister technology provides an effective moisture barrier between the dry powder formulation and the external environment, improving shelf-life and in-use stability. Multiple lactose-based formulations have demonstrated performance and stability quality attributes in the market today. 

This device platform provides versatility to accommodate diverse formulation requirements, offering multiple dose presentation options. Single indexing allows for the sequential presentation of individual blisters, while double indexing enables simultaneous presentation of two blisters. Double indexing allows blisters to be filled with the same or different formulations. The device is suitable for both daily uses, with up to 60 blisters in each device, or occasional use, where fewer doses may be needed. These possibilities showcase the flexibility of the platform to meet the needs of diverse indications, including “triple” API formulations. 

The device's modular platform design allows it to meet customer needs and provide optimal presentation for patients. This includes options for increasing the total number of doses and incorporating enhanced aerosolization features to provide superior performance for other types of formulation. The device also has the option for sensor technology that can measure patient compliance and adherence, which can be either removable or integrated.

The user interface is intuitive, requiring three simple steps to ensure the patient receives the dose: open-inhale-close. This helps reduce risk from user error and supports adoption across a broad patient population, as has been reflected in multiple human factors evaluations.

The OIC device represents the newest advancement in a series of effective multidose DPIs, featuring enhanced blister indexing and piercing to create a dependable and durable platform device. The OIC achieves high functionality with only 10 components, making this device simple to assemble, validate and maintain. Phillips Medisize offers comprehensive expertise and resources to integrate formulation and device development into a unified product development program. This experienced resource exists from the development stages right through to clinical manufacturing and beyond.

Manufacturing readiness at commercial scale means pharmaceutical companies can benefit from Phillips Medisize’s fully automated device assembly and commercial filling capacity. Our U.S. facility supports rapid scale-up from pilot to commercial production with predictable timelines and consistent quality.

Why Choose Phillips Medisize?

  • Protected IP: The platform is supported by robust intellectual property protections, giving partners a commercial advantage.
  • De-risking development: Scalable processes deliver concepts from feasibility through clinical development to market with cross-functional expertise at all stages.

  • Faster time to market: Pre-validated mechanisms, simplified assembly, and commercial filling capacity to accelerate scale-up.

  • Patient-focused: Proven human factors outcomes reduce program uncertainty, e.g., minimal user steps and clear dose indication to support adherence and reduce error.

  • Proven manufacturing and regulatory support: Decades of global device manufacturing, IND/CTA experience and regulatory submission and approvals for inhalation of products.


Phillips Medisize works collaboratively with our customers to define the right configuration for specific formulations and commercial objectives. Our teams offer integrated expertise in formulation, analytics, device design and manufacturing to develop inhalable drug-device products for patients. For combination product developers seeking a scalable DPI route, our OIC device offers a springboard to faster market entry. 

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  1. Biffa internal savings data, average saving (January - August 2023)
  2. Nisbets internal savings data, average saving (January – September 2023)
  3. Compliance365 internal data, average  savings
  4. HEINEKEN UK data, Calculations based on SmartDispense® active accounts each year since 2015 with 10 lines
  5. Independent test results based on subterranean and ground floor pub cellars of varying sizes
  6. Independent test results based on subterranean and ground floor pub cellars of varying sizes