
The struggle to quit smoking is a familiar one, often fraught with relapses and ineffective methods. Dalton Signor, a university student at the time, witnessed this struggle firsthand, even within his own family. He recognized a critical flaw in existing cessation aids: their slow action. Patches, gums, and lozenges can take up to 30 minutes to provide relief, while cravings often strike much sooner. This realization ignited a quest to develop a more effective solution.
Signor’s vision was a withdrawal-inhibitor inhaler, delivering medication directly to the lungs for rapid absorption and immediate relief. This pursuit led him to drop out of university and found Miist Therapeutics. He assembled a team of experts, including Jeff Schuster, a physicist specializing in inhaled medicine, as CTO, and Eric Ezerins, a biomedical engineer, as head of R&D.
Three years later, Miist Therapeutics has emerged with promising results, securing $7 million in seed funding from notable investors like Refactor Capital, 1517 Fund, and Freeflow Ventures. This success is grounded in compelling Phase I clinical trial data, demonstrating a remarkable 92% reduction in cravings within just two minutes of using the Miist inhaler – a tenfold improvement over current standards.
The key to Miist’s innovation lies in its particle size. The inhaler produces particles 50% smaller than conventional devices, allowing deeper penetration into the lungs where absorption is optimized. This rapid delivery system has the potential to revolutionize how we approach smoking cessation.
While termed an inhaler, Miist’s device shares similarities with vaping devices in both appearance and function. Signor suggests this resemblance could be advantageous, addressing the psychological habits associated with smoking. The device delivers medication over seven puffs, mimicking the ritual of smoking and potentially easing the transition away from the habit.
Beyond smoking cessation, Miist is exploring the application of its technology to migraine relief. For those suffering from migraines, rapid-acting medication is crucial. Miist believes its oral inhaler will offer superior delivery compared to existing nasal inhalers, providing faster relief and potentially preventing debilitating attacks.
Miist is currently preparing for Phase II trials for its smoking cessation technology, utilizing the same active ingredient found in traditional nicotine replacement therapies. Simultaneously, they are conducting lab tests on triptans, a class of migraine drugs. Signor envisions a future where the inhaler can be adapted to deliver medication for a range of conditions, including anxiety.
Miist is not alone in this pursuit. Qnovia, another startup developing similar devices, has garnered significant funding. Both companies await FDA clearance before their products can be marketed in the U.S. If approved, they could usher in a new era of prescription smoking cessation treatments.
While the use of vaping-like devices for drug delivery might raise eyebrows for some, investors like Zal Bilimoria of Refactor Capital emphasize the importance of efficacy. He questions why the pharmaceutical industry hasn’t explored this approach sooner.
Miist Therapeutics represents a promising new direction in the fight against smoking addiction and migraine. Their innovative technology and focus on rapid relief offer hope for millions seeking effective solutions to these pervasive health challenges.