In a bold move that could redefine the intersection of climate innovation and respiratory medicine, Lupin Limited has joined forces with industrial technology leader Honeywell to integrate Solstice® Air a next-generation low-global warming potential (GWP) propellant into its pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs). The partnership, announced from New Delhi and Mumbai on May 20, 2025, positions Lupin as the first Indian pharmaceutical company to commercialize pMDIs using Honeywell’s hydrofluoroolefin (HFO-1234ze cGMP) compound.
The move signals a significant stride in India’s pharmaceutical sustainability agenda and sets the stage for a shift in how asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treatments are developed and delivered. With Lupin already a leading respiratory drugmaker and Honeywell investing heavily in cleantech innovation, the collaboration aims to usher in a new era of eco-friendly inhalers without compromising therapeutic quality.
Why Solstice Air could redefine propellant standards in the pharma industry
Solstice Air, Honeywell’s proprietary HFO-1234ze-based propellant, is engineered to have a global warming potential of less than one approximately 99.9 percent lower than traditional hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) propellants like HFA-134a and HFA-227ea. Beyond its environmental benefits, Solstice Air is non-flammable, non-ozone-depleting, and already available at pharmaceutical-grade purity levels compliant with current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) regulations.
By integrating Solstice Air into its inhaler manufacturing, Lupin seeks to align therapeutic outcomes with environmental responsibility. This alignment is becoming increasingly critical amid mounting regulatory pressure in the European Union and the United States to transition away from high-emission inhaler propellants in line with global climate treaties such as the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol.
This partnership provides Lupin a dual advantage: it strengthens compliance readiness for global markets and reinforces the company’s sustainability-led innovation roadmap. With India’s respiratory medicine market expanding and global buyers more conscious of product life-cycle emissions, Lupin is leveraging propellant innovation to boost both climate credibility and export competitiveness.
What India’s adoption of low-GWP inhalers means for global respiratory markets
India is the third-largest producer of pharmaceuticals by volume and a key supplier of generic respiratory drugs worldwide. Yet, pMDIs from Indian manufacturers have continued to rely heavily on HFC propellants, which contribute disproportionately to greenhouse gas emissions. The deployment of Solstice Air represents not only a first for the Indian market but also a potential inflection point for the global pMDI industry.
For Indian regulators and exporters, this could serve as a high-impact proof-of-concept for mainstreaming low-emission pharmaceutical products. It aligns with India’s evolving climate frameworks, such as the National Clean Air Programme and updated climate targets under its Nationally Determined Contributions. As multinational buyers and health systems increasingly demand carbon-conscious therapeutics, this development positions Lupin to lead the way in compliance and differentiation.
Vinita Gupta, Chief Executive Officer of Lupin Limited, described the collaboration as a strategic evolution of the company’s long-standing commitment to quality and sustainability. She emphasized that integrating a climate-safe propellant into Lupin’s respiratory portfolio reflects not only technological leadership but also a broader pledge to support planetary health alongside patient wellbeing.
How Honeywell is deepening its footprint in life sciences and healthcare sustainability
For Honeywell, the Lupin collaboration is part of a broader diversification effort into healthcare and life sciences, sectors that are becoming pivotal to its Energy and Sustainability Solutions business unit. Known for its engineering excellence in aerospace, automation, and advanced materials, Honeywell has in recent years pivoted aggressively into climate technologies spanning refrigerants, insulation, and industrial solvents.
Jeff Dormo, President of Honeywell’s Energy and Sustainability Solutions division, stated that the adoption of Solstice Air by a major Indian pharmaceutical company illustrates how cleantech is gaining traction across historically conservative industries like pharmaceuticals. He described the product as a culmination of Honeywell’s R&D in green chemistry, one that enables compliance with evolving regulatory regimes without sacrificing product performance.
Dormo noted that the collaboration with Lupin demonstrates Honeywell’s expanding relevance in helping industries reduce emissions at the molecular level a strategy that ties industrial process innovation directly to climate impact mitigation.
What regulatory shifts are driving pharma to decarbonize delivery systems?
Environmental policy bodies such as the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have made it clear that pharmaceutical emissions particularly those from inhaler propellants must be urgently addressed. The transition from HFC-based pMDIs to low-GWP alternatives is now viewed as essential for companies that wish to remain viable exporters and licensees in these markets.
Pharmaceutical-grade hydrofluoroolefins like Solstice Air are being seen as compliance enablers, offering manufacturers a low-friction path to futureproof their product portfolios. For a high-volume, export-oriented producer like Lupin, integrating climate-aligned inputs before they become mandatory offers both risk mitigation and reputational upside.
India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has also stepped up its alignment with global climate goals. Policies promoting green manufacturing, clean air initiatives, and emission reduction strategies have increased scrutiny on industries such as pharma, which are high-volume contributors to indirect greenhouse gas emissions.
Can this partnership catalyze a shift across the Indian pharma ecosystem?
The partnership between Lupin and Honeywell could set a precedent for other Indian pharmaceutical manufacturers that are watching international regulatory landscapes evolve. With climate reporting increasingly integrated into pharmaceutical procurement, especially from global institutional buyers like the UK NHS or European hospital systems, pMDIs that lack low-GWP compliance may face eventual phase-out or market restriction.
Analysts tracking the global respiratory market, valued at over $30 billion and projected to cross $40 billion by 2030, point to the dual opportunity of product and process innovation. While therapeutic differentiation has historically been a driver of market share, environmental differentiation is now emerging as a complementary axis of competitive advantage.
Other Indian drugmakers with significant respiratory portfolios, such as Cipla, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, and Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, may now face added pressure to evaluate their own climate strategies especially if Lupin successfully executes a scalable rollout.
What are the next steps in scaling India’s first low-GWP inhaler?
The announcement notes that commercial terms are still being finalized, with both Lupin and Honeywell working toward definitive agreements. Implementation will involve extensive coordination across regulatory, manufacturing, and technical divisions. This may include formulation adjustments, facility retrofits, and global dossier filings for modified pMDI products.
Lupin’s robust manufacturing and R&D footprint spanning 15 global plants and seven R&D centers gives it significant in-house capability to adapt production lines and navigate regulatory requirements for international markets. However, success will depend on seamless technology transfer, stability testing, and multi-market approvals.
From a regulatory standpoint, early engagement with the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), European Medicines Agency, and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be critical in enabling market access.
How Lupin’s green inhaler strategy could reshape India’s pharma exports and climate credibility
The decision by Lupin to adopt Honeywell’s Solstice Air in its inhaler production chain marks a transformative moment in climate-resilient pharmaceutical manufacturing. It signals a shift from compliance as a burden to sustainability as a strategic asset, particularly in export-dependent sectors like respiratory generics.
As environmental impact becomes a defining criterion in both regulation and reputation, Lupin’s green inhaler initiative could shape the contours of future pharma innovation. With Honeywell’s green chemistry innovation providing the fuel, and Lupin’s manufacturing muscle offering the platform, this partnership underscores a new playbook for environmentally conscious drug delivery.
What are the key takeaways from the Lupin–Honeywell green inhaler collaboration?
- Lupin Limited becomes India’s first pharmaceutical company to announce commercial adoption of Honeywell’s Solstice Air (HFO-1234ze cGMP) propellant in pMDIs.
- Solstice Air offers a global warming potential under 1, marking a 99.9% reduction compared to conventional HFC propellants.
- The move aligns Lupin with global regulatory expectations in Europe and the U.S. under the Kigali Amendment and emerging low-emission pharma guidelines.
- Honeywell expands its presence in life sciences, positioning Solstice Air as a cornerstone of its industrial cleantech strategy.
- Implementation will involve finalization of commercial terms, regulatory submissions, and manufacturing scale-up across Lupin’s global facilities.
- The partnership could catalyze broader industry movement in India toward low-GWP inhalers amid rising climate accountability pressures.
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