InhalPlus GmbH Founded as a Spin-off of Fraunhofer ITEM
InhalPlus GmbH was founded in Hannover on August 27, 2026, as a spin-off of the Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine ITEM. Since signing the license agreement with the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft in September, we use the underlying patent portfolio under an exclusive license.
The technology was developed at Fraunhofer ITEM over more than two decades. It addresses a problem that has so far limited inhaled therapy in premature infants on respiratory support: the aerosol is diluted in the breathing circuit, deposits in the tubing or is lost through leaks. Given the very small tidal volumes of premature infants, the dose that reaches the lungs is hard to predict and often too low.
The InhalPlus Bypass System delivers the medication directly at the nasal interface, without the detour through the breathing circuit, while respiratory support continues without interruption. A clinically suitable prototype was made possible by the infrastructure and expertise of Fraunhofer ITEM and by funding from the Fraunhofer AHEAD program and EXIST Research Transfer (Phase I).
Next, the system is to be used in premature infants for the first time in a clinical proof-of-concept study at specialized neonatal centers. The study is funded through the state program zukunft.niedersachsen and was selected for funding by the Institute for Biomedical Translation Lower Saxony (IBT). Market entry in Germany, Austria and Switzerland is planned from 2029 through selected reference centers.