There might be a new way to deliver dry powder drugs to patients. And it’s made from an unexpected material: cardboard.
What’s happening:
- Scotland based drug delivery device developer 1nhaler has raised €2M in a seed round
- The round was led by Archangels and also included participation from British Business Investments
The big idea:
- 1nhaler has developed a sustainable single use medical inhaler capable of delivering multiple types of dry powder drugs to patients
- Their inhaler is made entirely of cardboard, is completely recyclable and is able to lie completely flat while it is being stored
- 1nhaler has a patented drug delivery mechanism that features a breathable membrane which can be uniquely tailored depending on the specific type of medication being used
Why it matters:
- Inhalable medicine is currently used to treat conditions such as asthma and epilepsy but delivery devices are relatively limited, largely due to issues with performance and high production costs
- Traditional single use inhalers are expensive to produce due to their size and commonly being made entirely out of plastic
The intrigue:
- Dr. Yusuf Hamaid, who is the non-executive Chairman of Indian pharmaceutical giant Cipla, also participated in the seed round