The present invention relates to an elongate carrier with microdepressions containing finely divided powder. The elongate carrier is formed by providing a web comprising a plurality of microdepressions in a major surface of the web. The microdepressions have a depth of about 5 to 500 microns but less than the thickness of the web and an opening at the surface of the web of about 10 to 500 microns in width and continuously feeding the web to and through a powder filling stage. At the powder filling stage, filling the powder into the microdepressions on the surface of the web is performed by using a driven roller, wherein the roller is rotating about an axis generally transverse to the direction of web movement, while the surface speed of the roller and the web speed are different and wherein the roller and web are positioned relative to one another, such that between the upper surface of the web and the outer surface of the roller there is a gap. From the surface of the web excess powder not filled within the microdepressions and remaining on areas of the surface between the depressions is removed. Subsequently, the web is optionally slit and/or cut in predetermined widths and/or predetermined lengths. The powder is fed either onto the web upstream of the roller of the powder filling stage or to the roller of the powder filling stage and comprises a biologically active substance and the biologically active substance is suitable for administration by inhalation.
