Hundreds of millions of plastic, multi-dose inhalers are prescribed annually for conditions like asthma and COPD, creating a significant environmental footprint. Edinburgh-based 1nhaler Ltd is betting that a simpler design, one that folds from a flat piece of cardboard into a three-dimensional inhaler, can address both problems [Archangels, 2024]. The company is positioning its proprietary dry-powder platform as a delivery vehicle for pharmaceutical partners, targeting a wide range of inhaled medicines from respiratory drugs to treatments for epilepsy and depression.
The bet on a flat, single-dose platform
1nhaler's device is credit-card-sized and flat until a patient pops it into its 3D form for a single use [Archangels, 2024]. This format aims to improve portability and adherence for short-course treatments. For pharmaceutical companies, a single-dose, propellant-free platform could simplify drug development and packaging logistics. The technology hinges on a patent-protected membrane dispersion system designed to aerosolize a variety of dry-powder medicines [Archangels, 2024].
A team built for the regulatory path
| Role | Name | Key Prior Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Scientific Officer | Helen Muirhead | Head of GSK's Respiratory Centre of Excellence; development lead for Diskus and Ellipta inhalers [Archangels, 2024] |
| Board Chair | Jane Gaddum | VP, Global Marketing for Emerging Brands at AstraZeneca [Archangels, 2024] |
| Non-Executive Director | Joanne Kelley | VP, Business Development at AstraZeneca [CB Insights] |
Funding a multi-year runway to market
The company has raised approximately £3.5 million (around $4.4 million) across three seed rounds since 2023, all led by the Scottish investment syndicate Archangels [UK Tech News, Nov 2023][Finsmes, Nov 2025]. This capital is earmarked for advancing the device through development and toward a targeted Market Authorization Application (MAA) in Europe by late 2027. Partnerships with contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) like Upperton and Harro Höfliger point to early execution on the supply chain [HARRO, 2022].
The competitive and commercial landscape
- Technical equivalency. The device must demonstrate bioequivalence to existing delivery methods for each drug formulation.
- Partner dependency. Without its own drug pipeline, 1nhaler's commercial future is tied to securing pharmaceutical development partners.
- Market timing. Payer and provider adoption often lags behind environmental intent, especially if cost premiums are involved.
The company's broad target list, spanning asthma, COPD, influenza, anaphylaxis, epilepsy, depression, and Parkinson's, allows them to cast a wide net for partner interest [Archangels, 2024]. The next twelve months for 1nhaler will likely focus on generating the preclinical data needed to secure that first pivotal pharmaceutical partnership.
Sources
- [Archangels, 2024] 1nhaler hires pharma industry leaders for key roles | https://www.scottish-enterprise-mediacentre.com/news/1nhaler-hires-pharma-industry-leaders-for-key-roles-ahead-of-clinical-trials
- [UK Tech News, Nov 2023] Scottish startup raises £2m for single-use inhaler | https://www.uktech.news/medtech/1nhaler-single-use-inhaler-20231127
- [Finsmes, Nov 2025] 1nhaler Raises £1.5M in Funding | https://www.finsmes.com/2025/11/1nhaler-raises-1-5m-in-funding.html
- [Scottish Enterprise, 2024] 1nhaler funding announcement | https://www.scottish-enterprise-mediacentre.com/news/1nhaler-hires-pharma-industry-leaders-for-key-roles-ahead-of-clinical-trials
- [CB Insights] 1nhaler company profile | https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/1inhaler
- [HARRO, 2022] 1nhaler - Passion and patience | https://www.harro-magazine.com/en/13-2022/1nhaler-passion-and-patience/