Ayrton Saunders

What Ayrton Saunders does

Ayrton Saunders (legal entity: Ayrtons Saunders Ltd.) is a UK-based, privately held specialty pharmaceutical company founded in 1868 and headquartered in Liverpool, operating as an integral part of parent group OBG Pharma. The company develops and commercialises aerosol-based pharmaceutical products across four therapeutic areas: respiratory (AYR 005, a generic US Metered Dose Inhaler), cardiac (Glytrin Spray, a 400µg GTN oro-mucosal spray for acute angina), wound/skin (Betadine Dry Powder Spray, a pressurised Povidone Iodine aerosol), and a redeveloped VOKE inhaler featuring a reusable device with refill canisters. Underlying technology spans liquid and powder aerosol drug delivery for oral inhalation, nasal, topical and oro-mucosal administration, supported by a supply chain capable of producing up to 18 million units per annum for VOKE.

The business model is asset-light and partnership-driven: Ayrton Saunders develops products in-house, secures regulatory approval (including multi-jurisdiction roll-outs), and then monetises through one-time licence/asset sales and royalty agreements with pharmaceutical partners. The company maintains an extensive inward and outward distributor and licensing network across more than 30 countries, actively soliciting in-licensing, out-licensing and co-development opportunities. Customers are exclusively enterprise pharmaceutical firms, including a top 10 global generics company and multiple specialty pharma counterparties.

Go-to-market relies on direct business development outreach, partnership enquiries via the company website, and a focused B2B channel rather than consumer marketing. Revenue mechanics combine upfront licence/asset sale transactions (e.g., Betadine turnaround and resale, Glytrin multi-jurisdiction rollout to an EU specialty firm, AYR 005 to a top 10 generics firm) with ongoing royalty streams on partner-led commercialisation. No revenue, pricing, or capital figures are publicly disclosed.

Name

Ayrton Saunders

Legal name

Ayrtons Saunders Ltd.

Website

https://ayrtons.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1868

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Ayrton Saunders is a UK specialty pharmaceutical company developing and licensing aerosol-based drug delivery products (Glytrin Spray, AYR 005, Betadine Dry Powder Spray, VOKE) for respiratory, cardiac and wound/skin indications, monetising through licence and asset-sale partnerships with global pharma firms across 30+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aerosol Pharmaceutical Development & Licensing

NAICS

Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Nasal Drug Delivery Devices (Sprays/Powder Devices) (HLAHAIAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cardiology & Vascular Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAG), Pulmonology & Allergy Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAF), Cardiometabolic Pharmaceuticals (Cardiovascular/Diabetes/Obesity) (HLAIAAAE)

Keywords

• Aerosol drug delivery
• Pharmaceutical contract development
• Inhaled drug formulation
• Specialty pharma products
• Pharmaceutical licensing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Runcorn

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Licensing and Co-development: Through strong inward and outward distributor and licensing partnerships, Ayrtons creates value by bringing existing and new products to expanding markets internationally. The company offers IP portfolios, approved Marketing Authorisations, and supply chain for sale or licence.
2. Product Development and Sale: Ayrton Saunders develops aerosol products in-house (Glytrin Spray, AYR 005, Betadine Dry Powder Spray, VOKE) and commercialises them through sale of assets to pharmaceutical partners after regulatory approval and market roll-out.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Ayrton Saunders develops and commercialises aerosol-based specialty pharmaceutical products for respiratory, wound/skin, cardiac, and systemic treatments, including Glytrin Spray (oro-mucosal GTN spray for angina), AYR 005 (generic US Metered Dose Inhaler), Betadine Dry Powder Spray (Povidone Iodine wound spray), and VOKE (reusable inhaler with refill canisters). The company monetises these through licensing of IP and Marketing Authorisations, one-time asset sales, and co-development ventures with pharmaceutical partners across more than 30 countries.

Product overview

Ayrton Saunders is a speciality pharmaceutical company focused on the development and partnering of aerosol-based treatments. The company offers a portfolio of trusted products including Glytrin Spray (oro-mucosal angina treatment), AYR 005 (generic metered dose inhaler), Betadine Dry Powder Spray (wound treatment), and VOKE (reusable inhaler device). The company develops, commercialises, and partners aerosol products for respiratory, wound/skin, cardiac and systemic treatments, as well as high value generics for new markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Glytrin Spray: A 400µg per metered dose oro-mucosal (sublingual) spray solution of Glyceryl Trinitrate (GTN) for the treatment of acute angina pectoris.
• AYR 005
• Betadine Dry Powder Spray
• VOKE

Products and services

• Glytrin Spray
• AYR 005
• Betadine Dry Powder Spray
• VOKE

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% reduction in retail price for VOKE through redeveloped reusable device

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• EU Speciality Pharma CompanyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLicensed Glytrin Spray asset to EU speciality pharma company after Ayrtons undertook regulatory approval roll-out to multiple jurisdictions.
• Top 10 Global Generics FirmcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLicensed inhouse development of generic US Metered Dose Inhaler (AYR 005) to a top 10 global generics firm.
• Globally Operating Speciality Pharma CompanyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPurchased UK rights for Betadine Dry Powder Spray from EU speciality pharma company, improved commercial proposition and sold to globally operating speciality pharma company.
• International Distribution and Licensing PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExtensive network of inward and outward distributor and licensing partnerships vital to maintaining and building strong working collaborations for successful development and marketing of aerosol and high value niche products internationally.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Catalent: Large global CDMO with inhalation capabilities among a much broader service portfolio. Comparable as an inhalation drug delivery provider serving pharma partners, but at significantly larger scale and scope.
• Recipharm: Global pharmaceutical CDMO offering inhalation and nasal spray development and manufacturing services. Overlaps with Ayrton Saunders' specialty aerosol CDMO positioning though operating at broader scale.
• 3M Drug Delivery Systems: Division of 3M providing inhalation and transdermal drug delivery devices to global pharma. Comparable as an inhalation drug delivery specialist though operating as part of a much larger industrial conglomerate.

Emerging players

• Kind Consumer: Original developer of the VOKE inhaler IP that Ayrton Saunders later acquired and redeveloped. Highly comparable as a niche inhalation product company, though substantially smaller in scale.
• Iconovo: Swedish developer of dry powder inhaler platforms working with generic and specialty pharma partners on inhalation products. Comparable as a small-to-mid inhaler-focused developer leveraging licensing and partnership models.

Direct peers

• Hovione: Contract development and manufacturing organization with explicit inhalation and nasal spray capabilities. Comparable to Ayrton Saunders as a mid-sized pharma CDMO serving global partners with specialty drug delivery.
• Vectura Group: Inhalation drug delivery specialist developing inhaled therapeutics and device platforms. Directly comparable as a specialty inhalation CDMO/developer working with global pharma partners across respiratory indications.
• Nanopharm (an Aptar Pharma company): Specialist in smart inhalation and nasal drug delivery development, providing device and formulation services to pharma partners. Closely comparable niche focus on aerosol drug delivery partnerships.
• H&T Presspart: Manufacturer of metered dose inhaler components and drug delivery devices serving global pharma partners. Directly comparable to the device-side manufacturing capability underlying Ayrton Saunders' MDI products such as AYR 005.

Others

• Copley Scientific: Provider of aerosol and inhaler testing equipment used in pharmaceutical development and quality control. Comparable as an enabling participant in the aerosol drug delivery value chain rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ayrton-saunders-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Ayrton Saunders