Scottish drug delivery innovator 1nhaler has secured £1.5 million in new seed funding to accelerate development of its cardboard-based dry powder inhaler, a device designed to make inhalable medicines more sustainable, affordable and accessible.

The funding round was led by Archangels, with additional support from Scottish Enterprise and BBB Investments. It follows a £2 million raise in 2023, also led by Archangels, and brings total investment in the company to £3.5 million.

The latest backing will support 1nhaler’s push towards its first Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA), targeted for late 2027. The company plans to use the funding to produce clinical materials for regulatory studies and refine large-scale manufacturing processes.

Based in Edinburgh, 1nhaler is developing a single-use, dry powder inhaler (DPI) made largely from recyclable cardboard. About the size of a credit card, the device unfolds into a three-dimensional inhaler and can deliver a range of dry powder drugs. Its patent-protected membrane system eliminates the need for the bulky plastic casings found in conventional inhalers.

The company says the platform can match the performance of leading multidose DPIs, while significantly cutting cost and environmental impact. Its lead product has already demonstrated comparable delivery efficiency, and 1nhaler is now in commercial discussions with potential partners across multiple therapeutic areas, including respiratory and neurological disorders.

Lisa McMyn, co-founder and Chief Executive of 1nhaler, said the new funding reflects growing investor confidence in the company’s approach.

“This additional funding represents strong continued confidence in our technology platform and progress towards commercialisation,” she said. “Our platform has the potential to become the simplest, most convenient single-dose disposable inhaler on the market, transforming drug delivery without the cost or environmental burden of current devices.”

1nhaler has manufacturing partnerships with Upperton for clinical-scale production and Harro Höfliger for large-scale process development. The company’s leadership team includes industry veterans such as Helen Muirhead, former Head of GSK’s Respiratory Centre of Excellence, and Jane Gaddum, previously Vice President for emerging brands at AstraZeneca, who joined as Board Chair last year.

Dr Sarah Hardy, Director and Head of New Investments at Archangels, said:

“1nhaler has made strong technical progress and is building meaningful partnerships across multiple therapeutic areas. Its more sustainable approach to drug delivery addresses a critical healthcare need, and we’re excited to support its next steps toward regulatory approval and commercialisation.”

1nhaler’s founders, McMyn and Don Smith, say their goal is to bring to market a new generation of low-cost, low-impact inhalers that maintain clinical performance while addressing both patient accessibility and environmental sustainability.