EDINBURGH-based 1nhaler has secured £2.2 million in follow-on funding to progress its novel pop-up cardboard inhaler towards first regulatory approval.
Unlike conventional inhalers typically made from bulky plastic, 1nhaler’s single-dose DPI is made predominantly from cardboard and is the size and shape of a credit card. The solution transforms into a three-dimensional inhaler for patient use and, with few components including the patent-protected membrane-based system, is designed to be simpler and more affordable to manufacture at scale.
The funding round was led by Archangels with support from Scottish Enterprise and BBB Investments. The investment will facilitate late-stage development of 1nhaler’s lead product, 1nhaler Salbutamol, which combines the novel device with salbutamol, a well-established asthma medicine.
Lisa McMyn, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer at 1nhaler, said, “This investment takes us to one of the most important milestones in our journey – taking our own lead product into the clinic. The continued backing of Archangels, Scottish Enterprise and BBB Investments reflects the technical and commercial progress we have made over the past year.”
Dr Sarah Hardy, director and head of new investments at Archangels, added, “Having backed 1nhaler since 2023, we see this latest round as a reflection of our confidence in the team and its novel inhaler device that has the potential to disrupt the global market for inhaled medicines. We are particularly excited by the commercial traction and interest from potential partners across a broader range of drugs than we initially anticipated, highlighting the platform’s versatility and market potential. Taking this product into a clinical study is a significant milestone towards demonstrating its performance in patients. Working alongside our co-investors, we look forward to supporting 1nhaler through its next stage of growth as it builds towards regulatory approval and commercialisation.”
Derek Shaw, director of company funding and investment at Scottish Enterprise, said, “This investment highlights our dedication to supporting the growth of ambitious businesses in Scotland. By helping these companies scale, we aim to empower them to compete and lead in global markets. Scotland has distinct global strengths in industries such as human health and fostering the development of companies such as 1nhaler is key to sustaining their success and driving future growth.”
