Inhalon Biopharma

What Inhalon Biopharma does

Inhalon Biopharma is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing inhaled monoclonal antibody therapeutics for acute respiratory infections (ARIs). Founded in 2018 by Sam Lai, Ph.D. of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the company is headquartered in Morrisville, North Carolina and operates with 1-10 employees. Its core platform uses engineered antibodies whose Fc-region glycans trap viruses, bacteria, and fungi in airway mucins, blocking infection locally and clearing pathogens through the body's natural mucus turnover every 30-60 minutes. The antibodies are formulated for delivery via handheld vibrating nebulizers, enabling self-administration at home rather than in infusion clinics.

The pipeline comprises IN-002 for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), IN-006 (a nebulized formulation of Celltrion's regdanvimab) for SARS-CoV-2, IN-007 (an ACE2-Fc decoy with picomolar potency against all tested SARS-CoV-2 strains including Omicron) for pan-SARS treatment, and IN-003 (licensed from the University of Georgia) for human metapneumovirus. A Phase 1b clinical study of IN-006 demonstrated 20-fold higher antibody concentrations in the respiratory tract compared with IV dosing while using up to 90% less antibody, and Mota-MT produced a 4- to 5-log viral-load reduction in the gold-standard RSV neonatal lamb model. Phase 1 data were published in eBioMedicine in February 2025 and a Phase 2a RSV study is planned for 2026.

The business model is pre-revenue and dual-track: future pharmaceutical product sales upon regulatory approval (targeting pediatric, elderly, and immunocompromised ARI patients, plus U.S. military applications) supplemented by technology licensing from UNC and Johns Hopkins University and co-development partnerships such as the Celltrion alliance. To date, the company has been financed primarily through non-dilutive U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC) and NIH grants totaling more than $20 million, alongside approximately $8-9 million in equity from a 2020 Seed round led by Life Science Angels and a 2022 Series A co-led by JSR Life Sciences and Life Science Angels.

Name

Inhalon Biopharma

Legal name

Inhalon Biopharma, Inc.

Website

https://inhalon.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Inhalon Biopharma is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing inhaled monoclonal antibody therapeutics for acute respiratory infections, using a proprietary muco-trapping antibody platform delivered via handheld nebulizer and targeting patients with RSV, SARS-CoV-2, and hMPV.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Inhaled Antibody Therapeutics

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Pulmonology & Allergy Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Respiratory & Allergy Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAH), Infectious Disease Specialty Pharmaceuticals (Non-vaccine) (HLAIACAM)

Keywords

• Inhaled antibody therapeutics
• Muco-trapping antibodies
• Respiratory infection treatments
• Monoclonal antibody development
• Biopharmaceutical drug development

Headquarters

HQ city

Carrboro

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Pharmaceutical Drug Sales: As a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, Inhalon Biopharma's primary revenue model will be derived from the sale of proprietary inhaled antibody therapeutics upon regulatory approval. The company is developing a pipeline of treatments for RSV, SARS-CoV-2, hMPV, and influenza.
2. Licensing and Partnerships: Technology licensing from UNC and Johns Hopkins University, with potential for out-licensing platform technology or co-development partnerships with larger pharmaceutical companies (e.g., Celltrion collaboration for regdanvimab).

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Inhalon Biopharma is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a proprietary muco-trapping antibody platform that delivers inhaled monoclonal antibodies directly to the airways via handheld nebulizers to treat acute respiratory infections (RSV, SARS-CoV-2, hMPV, influenza). The platform enables antibodies to physically trap pathogens in airway mucus for rapid elimination through natural mucus clearance, and the company's pipeline includes IN-002 (RSV), IN-006 and IN-007 (SARS-CoV-2), and IN-003 (hMPV).

Product overview

Inhalon Biopharma is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a proprietary inhaled antibody platform for treating acute respiratory infections (ARIs). The core muco-trapping technology enables inhaled antibodies to physically trap respiratory viruses in airway mucus and eliminate them through natural clearance. The platform pipeline includes IN-002 for RSV, IN-006/IN-007 for SARS-CoV-2, and IN-003 for human metapneumovirus. Treatment is delivered via a handheld vibrating nebulizer through the company's test-to-treatment model, designed for self-administration at home.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Muco-Trapping Antibody Platform Inhalon's proprietary platform technology enabling inhaled antibodies to trap respiratory viruses and other pathogens in airway mucus, blocking infection spread and eliminating pathogens through natural mucus clearance every 30–60 minutes. Licensed exclusively from UNC Chapel Hill and Johns Hopkins University, protected by three issued US/EU patents and multiple global patent applications.
• IN-002 (RSV Treatment) Inhaled muco-trapping monoclonal antibody for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Designed for infants, young children, and adults 65+ with at-home test-and-treat potential. Demonstrated 10,000–100,000-fold viral load reduction in RSV-infected neonatal lambs, with most animals showing no detectable virus after treatment.
• IN-006 (SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 Treatment) Nebulized formulation of regdanvimab developed in partnership with Celltrion for COVID-19 treatment. Phase 1 and Phase 1b clinical trials completed, demonstrating safety and 20-fold higher antibody concentrations in respiratory tracts versus IV delivery with up to 90% less antibody used.
• IN-007 (ACE2-Targeting SARS-CoV-2 Therapeutic) Inhaled ACE2-targeting decoy antibody therapeutic engineered as a pan-variant treatment for SARS-CoV-2, designed to be potent against all current and future variants including Omicron. Demonstrated picomolar potencies against all SARS-CoV-2 strains tested.
• IN-003 (hMPV Treatment) Inhaled antibody treatment in development for human metapneumovirus (hMPV), using antibodies licensed from the University of Georgia (developed by Jarrod Mousa, Ph.D.). Addresses a virus causing over 1 million clinical visits annually in the U.S. for which no vaccine or specific antiviral currently exists.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20-fold higher antibody concentrations in respiratory tracts vs IV delivery with up to 90% less antibody
• +4 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of GeorgiacoreTechnology or Integration · 1 November 2023Licensing agreement for a panel of Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV) antibodies. Inhalon plans to select antibody candidates to advance into clinical development for the treatment of hMPV. Developed by Jarrod Mousa, Ph.D., Associate Professor at the Center for Vaccines and Immunology.
• Celltrion, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 July 2021Collaboration to develop nebulized form of regdanvimab (CT-P59) for treating COVID-19 patients at home. Inhalon's muco-trapping platform is combined with Celltrion's anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody which demonstrated efficacy in Phase 3 trials. Study funded by USAMRDC.
• University of North Carolina at Chapel HillcoreTechnology or IntegrationMuco-trapping technology was pioneered by Professor Sam Lai at UNC Chapel Hill and licensed exclusively by Inhalon. UNC is also a research partner through the North Carolina Collaboratory grant program.
• Johns Hopkins UniversitycoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology licensed exclusively from Johns Hopkins University as part of the muco-trapping antibody platform IP portfolio.
• Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC)minorOthersMTEC is a 501(c)(3) biomedical technology consortium that administers USAMRDC awards program. Collaborates with multiple government agencies under Other Transaction Agreement with USAMRDC.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Vir Biotechnology: Clinical-stage immunology company developing monoclonal antibody therapeutics for serious infectious diseases, including sotrovimab for COVID-19 and antibodies for RSV and influenza. Directly comparable to Inhalon in deploying antibody platforms against respiratory pathogens.
• Airway Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech developing AT-100 (rhSP-D) and other therapeutics for respiratory diseases including RSV in preterm infants. Comparable clinical-stage size and respiratory infection focus.
• ReViral: Clinical-stage company developing antiviral therapeutics for RSV (sisunatovir), including both small molecule and antibody approaches. Comparable stage and direct overlap in RSV therapeutic development.
• Atea Pharmaceuticals: Clinical-stage antiviral company developing oral and inhaled therapeutics for RNA viruses including COVID-19 (AT-527) and RSV. Comparable stage and infectious disease respiratory focus, though small molecule approach differs.
• Aradigm Corporation: Specialty pharmaceutical company developing inhaled drug delivery systems for severe respiratory diseases (formerly marketed Arikayce for NTM lung infection). Comparable niche focus on inhaled therapeutics for respiratory infections.

Broad incumbents

• AstraZeneca: Global biopharma with approved RSV monoclonal antibody nirsevimab (Beyfortus, partnered with Sanofi) and broad respiratory/infectious disease portfolio. Represents the established competitor Inhalon must displace in the RSV antibody market.
• Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Major biotech with antibody platform technology and approved infectious disease antibodies including REGEN-COV (casirivimab/imdevimab) for COVID-19. Operates a broader portfolio but shares the monoclonal antibody approach to respiratory infections.
• Alnylam Pharmaceuticals: Established RNAi therapeutics company with growing inhaled delivery programs. While broader and more mature, shares the focus on novel modality biologics delivered via inhalation for lung diseases.

Emerging players

• Arcturus Therapeutics: Clinical-stage RNA therapeutics company with inhaled vaccine programs for COVID-19 and respiratory infections. Comparable in deploying novel modalities (RNA, like Inhalon's antibodies) via inhaled delivery to address respiratory pathogens.
• Cocrystal Pharma: Clinical-stage antiviral company developing inhibitors targeting influenza (CC-42344), norovirus, and coronaviruses. Comparable emerging-stage size with overlapping infectious disease respiratory targets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/inhalon-biopharma

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors5 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Inhalon Biopharma