Biotech startup Miist Therapeutics accelerates ultra-fast drug delivery with $7m investment

Miist Therapeutics, a biotechnology company pioneering instant drug absorption through inhaled medicines, has raised $7 million in seed funding to accelerate the development of its breakthrough therapies for migraine relief and smoking cessation. Investors including Refactor Capital, 1517 Fund, Freeflow Ventures, Entrepreneur First, and the California Innovation Fund participated in the funding round, reinforcing industry confidence in Miist’s approach to ultra-fast drug delivery.

The company’s innovative technology centres on peripheral lung drug absorption, which enables nearly instant symptom relief compared to conventional oral medications. Miist’s lead candidates—MST-01 for smoking cessation and MST-02 for migraine relief—are positioned to transform treatment standards for millions of patients worldwide.

Why Is Instant Drug Absorption a Game-Changer in Medicine?

Speed is a critical factor in treating conditions like migraines and nicotine withdrawal, where delays in medication efficacy can prolong suffering. Miist Therapeutics has developed a novel inhaler technology that delivers 2-micron drug particles directly to the peripheral lung, where absorption into the bloodstream occurs in under 30 seconds—a process approximately 100 times faster than standard oral medications.

The company’s ultra-fast drug delivery system is designed to outperform existing treatments, which often require extended periods to take effect. In a Phase 1 smoking cessation trial, Miist’s MST-01 demonstrated 92% symptom relief within just two minutes of dosing, offering an unprecedented speed of action in nicotine withdrawal treatment.

How Does Miist Therapeutics’ Technology Work?

Unlike traditional inhalers or vapour-based delivery methods that rely on heat or chemical reactions, Miist’s approach uses ultrasonic vibration to create a sterile, water-based aerosol. This aerosol, composed of only water and the active pharmaceutical ingredient, penetrates deep into the peripheral lung, where the blood-air barrier is 100 times thinner than a human hair, allowing for instant drug absorption into the bloodstream.

This innovative mechanism bypasses the digestive system, ensuring higher bioavailability and rapid therapeutic effect. By eliminating the delays associated with pill absorption, Miist’s technology has the potential to set a new standard for acute symptom management.

What Are the Potential Applications of Ultra-Fast Drug Delivery?

The implications of instant drug absorption extend far beyond migraine relief and smoking cessation. Miist’s proprietary technology has the potential to redefine treatment protocols across multiple therapeutic areas, including pain management, emergency medicine, and neurological disorders. Patients suffering from acute pain conditions could experience faster relief compared to traditional opioids or NSAIDs. Rapid drug absorption could prove crucial for conditions requiring immediate intervention, such as anaphylaxis or asthma attacks. Neurological conditions like cluster headaches or seizures could also be managed more effectively with instant symptom relief.

The company’s scalable inhaled medicine technology paves the way for new therapeutic applications, expanding the potential impact of its drug delivery platform.

What Industry Experts Say About Miist’s Innovation

The biotech industry has taken notice of Miist Therapeutics’ rapid progress. According to CEO and co-founder Dalton Signor, the demand for ultra-fast drug delivery is evident in patient behaviour.

“So many standard treatments rely on slow-acting oral medications, forcing patients to wait,” said Signor. “For someone suffering a severe migraine attack, waiting an hour for relief isn’t an option. Our technology is designed to deliver instant relief precisely when it’s needed.”

Refactor Capital General Partner Zal Bilimoria, one of Miist’s leading investors, underscored the disruptive potential of the company’s approach.

“The Miist team has successfully advanced from early-stage R&D to clinical validation,” said Bilimoria. “With their Phase 1 results confirming rapid absorption and multiple active programs underway, there’s a clear opportunity to set a new standard in drug delivery.”

What’s Next for Miist Therapeutics?

With this latest funding round, Miist is now positioned to accelerate its pipeline and expand clinical trials. The company aims to secure regulatory approvals and bring its inhaled therapies to market, targeting the nearly 100 million patients worldwide who could benefit from instant drug absorption.

Miist’s founding team brings together experts in inhalation drug delivery and biopharmaceutical innovation. Dalton Signor, CEO, launched Miist in London through Entrepreneur First before expanding to the U.S. Eric Ezerins, Head of R&D, specialises in ocular biotherapeutic drug delivery and leads research efforts. Jeff Schuster, CTO, a Berkeley Physics PhD and aerosol drug delivery expert, developed Miist’s proprietary inhaler technology.

By advancing its technology, Miist Therapeutics is poised to transform patient care through ultra-fast drug delivery, setting the stage for a new era in instant drug absorption across multiple medical conditions.