1nhaler raises £2m to develop single-use dry powder inhaler

1nhaler, a Scotland-based drug delivery device developer, has raised £2 million to develop its single-use dry powder inhaler (DPI).

Inhalable medicines are already widely used to treat conditions such as asthma, epilepsy, allergies and Parkinson’s but, to date, delivery options have been limited due to user accessibility, cost, performance and impact on the environment. 1nhaler has developed a way of enabling different dry powder drugs to be readily delivered in its device.

Other inhalers are typically made from bulky plastic and are expensive to manufacture and distribute. 1nhaler’s sustainable DPI is cardboard-based with the same dimensions as a credit card. The platform includes a breathable membrane which can be tailored to deliver individual drugs to patients.  

Investment will allow 1nhaler to work with companies to bring new and existing drugs to patients, in what the company says is a more efficient and affordable way.

The funding round was led by Archangels with support from Dr Yusuf Hamied, British Business Investments (BBI) and seed investors. Dr Hamied, non-executive chairman of Indian pharmaceutical firm Cipla, is known for the manufacture of affordable drugs for developing countries to fight AIDS and other life-threatening diseases.

Based in Edinburgh, the company was founded by Don Smith and Lisa McMyn in 2017. They have assembled a team of industry experts, with decades of experience taking inhaled products to market, including chief scientific officer Helen Muirhead who had responsibility for GSK's blockbuster respiratory portfolio, including the Diskus and Ellipta inhalers.

Lisa McMyn, founder and chief executive officer at 1nhaler, said: “Our DPI has the potential to become the simplest, most convenient single-dose, disposable inhaler on the market, revolutionising the delivery of critical drugs, without the cost and environmental impact of existing devices.

“Securing funding from Archangels is invaluable for the next steps in the 1nhaler’s development. Their life sciences expertise and patient capital approach are exactly what we’re looking for in a funding partner.”  

Dr Sarah Hardy, director and head of new investments at Archangels, added: “Don, Lisa and the team at 1nhaler have developed a truly innovative technology platform with a clear route to market and opportunity to positively disrupt the status quo of single-dose medicine delivery.

“We’re proud to add 1nhaler to our portfolio of Scotland’s leading life sciences and technology businesses and look forward to working with them to increase the availability of life-saving drugs affordably and sustainably.”