RNhale
RNhale GmbH is a preclinical Munich-based pharmaceutical spin-out from LMU developing an inhalable, dry-powder RNA interference delivery platform targeting severe lung diseases, with severe asthma as its lead ARISE program and a B2B out-licensing business model.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2023
- HeadquartersPlanegg, Germany
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What RNhale does
RNhale GmbH is a preclinical-stage pharmaceutical spin-out founded in 2023 and headquartered in Planegg/Munich, Germany (legal entity RNhale GmbH, HRB 289286, Munich). The company was spun out of the pharmaceutical technology chair at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Munich and is built on lung-targeted RNA nanocarrier technology developed and refined over decades at LMU. Its commercial offering is an integrated pulmonary RNAi delivery platform with three core technology layers: (1) a sequence-independent lung delivery platform for siRNAs, ASOs, and miRNAs that targets pathologically overexpressed genes; (2) AI-optimized lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulation tailored per disease profile; and (3) a proprietary Nano-Embedded-Microparticle (NEM) process that embeds LNPs in room-temperature-stable, large-scale-manufacturable dry-powder microparticles. The lead program, ARISE (Advanced RNA Inhalation Solutions anchored in Evolved dry powder technology), applies the platform to develop a needle-free, self-administered dry-powder RNA therapeutic for severe asthma. Company-stated performance metrics are >95% RNA encapsulation, >80% product recovery, 8x cost reduction versus alternatives, and room-temperature stability.\n\nRNhale currently has no commercial products and generates no product revenue. Its near-term business model is non-dilutive grant funding paired with an enterprise/B2B go-to-market aimed at out-licensing, co-development, or strategic partnerships with larger pharmaceutical companies once preclinical and early clinical milestones are achieved. The only disclosed funding to date is a €2.5 million European Innovation Council (EIC) Transition Grant (grant number 101215031, March 2025) earmarked for the ARISE program. The founding team of five — CEO Dr. Benjamin Winkeljann, COO Dr. David Jürgens, CTO Leonie Deßloch, Scientific Advisor Prof. Dr. Olivia Merkel, and Strategic Advisor Dr. Christine Schubert-Wagner — combines LMU pharmaceutical technology expertise with industry operating experience. The customer mix is hybrid: severe asthma patients are the ultimate end-target, while pharmaceutical/biotech partners are the immediate paying customers once out-licensing or co-development deals materialize.
RNhale firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- RNhale
- Legal name
- RNhale GmbH
- Website
- https://rnhale.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2023
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- RNhale GmbH is a preclinical Munich-based pharmaceutical spin-out from LMU developing an inhalable, dry-powder RNA interference delivery platform targeting severe lung diseases, with severe asthma as its lead ARISE program and a B2B out-licensing business model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
RNhale industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Inhaled RNA Therapeutics
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)
- akta.pro primary industry
- RNA Delivery Technologies (LNPs, polymers, conjugates incl. GalNAc, peptides, exosomes) (HLAAADAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- siRNA Therapeutics (gene silencing) (HLAAADAB), mRNA Therapeutics (vaccines, protein replacement, immuno-oncology) (HLAAADAA), RNA Chemistry & Oligonucleotide Engineering (backbones, modifications, stereochemistry) (HLAAADAE)
Keywords
Where RNhale is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Planegg
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
RNhale business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Non-dilutive grant funding (preclinical): RNhale is a preclinical-stage company currently funded by non-dilutive grants such as the €2.5M EIC Transition Grant (ARISE project, grant number 101215031). No commercial product revenue is disclosed. Future revenue is expected from out-licensing, co-development deals, or product sales once clinical milestones are achieved.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
RNhale product offering
Product offeringCore offering
RNhale GmbH is a preclinical-stage biopharmaceutical spin-off from LMU Munich developing inhalable RNA-based therapeutics for pulmonary diseases. Its core offering is a lung-targeted RNAi delivery platform that combines AI-optimized lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) with proprietary Nano-Embedded-Microparticle (NEM) dry powder technology to deliver siRNAs, ASOs, and miRNAs directly to the lungs. The lead program, ARISE, applies this platform to develop a needle-free, dry powder RNA therapeutic for severe asthma and is funded by a €2.5M EIC Transition Grant.
Product overview
RNhale offers a single integrated pulmonary therapeutics platform that combines a core lung-targeted RNA delivery system with proprietary AI-enabled formulation and dry-powder manufacturing technologies. The core "Lung Delivery Platform" enables precision RNAi Delivery (siRNAs, ASOs, miRNAs) to the lungs; the "AI-powered Lipid Nanoparticle Formulation" layer customizes the carrier for each disease; and the "NEM Technology" (Nano-Embedded-Microparticle) embeds those LNPs within stable, inhalable microparticles. The flagship manifestation of this platform is the "ARISE" program — a dry-powder RNA therapeutic for severe asthma funded by an EIC Transition Grant.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ARISE — Advanced RNA Inhalation Solutions anchored in Evolved dry powder technology RNhale's lead therapeutic program applying its combined lung delivery, AI-optimized LNP, and NEM dry powder platform to develop a needle-free, inhalable RNA therapeutic for severe asthma. Backed by a €2.5 million EIC Transition Grant (grant number 101215031), the program is advancing preclinical development toward clinical readiness and is positioned for out-licensing or co-development with pharmaceutical partners.
Quantifiable outcome
- >95% RNA encapsulation
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use RNhale
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
RNhale technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature4 records
RNhale partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Munich — Pharmaceutical Technology ChairflagshipRNhale was founded in 2023 as a spin-off from the highly decorated pharmaceutical technology chair at LMU Munich. The core technology underpinning RNhale was developed and refined over decades at LMU, and the founding team maintains deep academic ties — including Prof. Dr. Olivia Merkel serving as Scientific Advisor. The spin-off leverages LMU's regulatory knowledge, market access expertise, and process scalability know-how.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
RNhale competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals: Alnylam is the leading commercial RNAi therapeutics company (Onpattro, Givlaari, Oxlumo, Amvuttra) and has expanded into pulmonary indications through partnerships. While broader than inhaled therapeutics, it defines the competitive RNAi delivery landscape and is the most relevant incumbent comparator.
- Vectura Group (Philip Morris International): Vectura is an established inhaled therapeutics formulation and development company, now part of Philip Morris International. It provides broad inhaled delivery infrastructure and licensing partnerships, comparable as the dominant incumbent in pulmonary drug delivery technology.
Emerging players
- Krystal Biotech: Krystal Biotech commercializes an inhaled/topical gene therapy (Vyjuvek) for dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa and is expanding into pulmonary gene therapy. It is comparable as a platform inhaled genetic medicine company and a relevant public-market benchmark for inhaled nucleic acid–based therapies.
- Pulmatrix: Pulmatrix develops inhaled therapeutics for pulmonary diseases using its iSPERSE dry powder delivery technology. It is comparable to RNhale in its emphasis on dry-powder inhaled formulations for lung disease, though Pulmatrix works with small-molecule antifungals and anti-inflammatories rather than RNAi.
- Avalyn Pharma: Avalyn Pharma is a clinical-stage company developing inhaled formulations of approved medicines for pulmonary diseases (e.g., IPF, pulmonary hypertension). It shares RNhale's focus on patient-friendly inhaled therapeutics for severe lung disease but works with reformulated small molecules rather than RNAi.
Direct peers
- ReCode Therapeutics: ReCode Therapeutics is developing mRNA and gene correction therapeutics for genetic respiratory diseases (e.g., primary ciliary dyskinesia, cystic fibrosis) using a proprietary lipid nanoparticle delivery platform. It is a direct competitor in lung-targeted RNA delivery and a strong comparable on platform strategy and partnership trajectories.
- Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals: Arrowhead is a clinical-stage RNAi therapeutics company with lung-targeted programs (e.g., ARO-MUC5AC for muco-obstructive lung diseases). It directly competes in pulmonary RNAi delivery and offers a benchmark for RNAi out-licensing deal structures.
- Translate Bio (Sanofi): Translate Bio (acquired by Sanofi in 2021 for ~$3.2B) developed an LNP-based platform for mRNA delivery to the lungs, including for cystic fibrosis. It is the most directly comparable company to RNhale: lung-targeted nucleic-acid delivery via lipid nanoparticles, partnered with a major pharma.
- Ethris GmbH: Ethris is a Munich-based biotech developing stabilized mRNA therapeutics for respiratory diseases, including lung-targeted delivery via SNIM® RNA technology. It is a direct local and technological peer to RNhale: Munich-based, lung-targeted RNA therapeutics, similar stage, and similar B2B partnership-oriented commercialization model.
- Arcturus Therapeutics: Arcturus develops RNA-based therapeutics including inhaled/saRNA programs for cystic fibrosis and other lung diseases. It is a direct competitor in lung RNA delivery and shares RNhale's reliance on LNP and dry-powder formulation technologies.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
RNhale social profiles
Digital presenceRNhale financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
RNhale leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
RNhale funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
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RNhale M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about RNhale
What does RNhale do?
RNhale GmbH is a preclinical-stage biopharmaceutical spin-off from LMU Munich developing inhalable RNA-based therapeutics for pulmonary diseases. Its core offering is a lung-targeted RNAi delivery platform that combines AI-optimized lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) with proprietary Nano-Embedded-Microparticle (NEM) dry powder technology to deliver siRNAs, ASOs, and miRNAs directly to the lungs. The lead program, ARISE, applies this platform to develop a needle-free, dry powder RNA therapeutic for severe asthma and is funded by a €2.5M EIC Transition Grant.
Is RNhale a public or private company?
RNhale is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was RNhale founded?
RNhale was founded in 2023. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is RNhale based?
RNhale is headquartered in Planegg, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does RNhale make money?
One revenue line is on record: non-dilutive grant funding (preclinical).
Who are RNhale's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and Vectura Group (Philip Morris International). Emerging players are Krystal Biotech, Pulmatrix and Avalyn Pharma. Direct peers are ReCode Therapeutics, Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Translate Bio (Sanofi), Ethris GmbH and Arcturus Therapeutics.
Does RNhale have an API?
No public API is recorded for RNhale.
What industry is RNhale in?
RNhale's product category is Inhaled RNA Therapeutics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAADAD, RNA Delivery Technologies (LNPs, polymers, conjugates incl. GalNAc, peptides, exosomes), with a secondary code of HLAAADAB, siRNA Therapeutics (gene silencing). Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 2834.