Innovative formulations for inhalation

Pipeline

InhaTarget Therapeutics is building a dual-platform pipeline focused on high-unmet-need lung diseases:

  • Inhaled chemotherapy via a proprietary Dry Powder for Inhalation (DPI), with our lead product CIS-DPI currently in a Phase I/IIa clinical study in combination with standard-of-care therapies for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

  • A proprietary inhalable lipid nanoparticle (LNP) platform enabling efficient pulmonary delivery of immunomodulators, nucleic acids and other therapeutic payloads to the lungs.

Current pipeline and development status
Product Platform Indication Research Preclinical Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3
Inhaled chemo - DPI Cisplatin-based DPI DPI – inhaled chemotherapy Lung cancer (NSCLC)
Other chemo-DPIs DPI – inhaled chemotherapy Lung cancer (NSCLC)
Inhaled LNP collaborations STING-LNP Inhaled LNP to macrophages Lung cancer (N)SCLC
TLR-LNP Inhaled LNP to macrophages (Oligo) Inflammatory lung diseases (COPD, autoimmune, lung fibrosis, ARDS)
mRNA-cytokine-LNP Inhaled LNP to macrophages (RNA) Inflammatory lung diseases (COPD, asthma, lung fibrosis, allergic rhinitis, ARDS)
CRISPR-Cas9-LNP Inhaled LNP to macrophages (RNA) Squamous NSCLC
VAX-LNP Inhaled LNP to macrophages Infectious lung diseases (Flu, COVID…) Animal Health
CRISPR-like NUC-LNP Inhaled LNP to macrophages (RNA) Lung fibrosis, lung cancer

Inhaled chemotherapy for the treatment of lung cancer

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with NSCLC representing the majority of cases. Despite major advances in targeted therapy and immunotherapy, intravenous chemotherapy is still associated with significant limitations: suboptimal tumor exposure, systemic toxicities, and infrequent dosing schedules.

InhaTarget has developed an innovative pulmonary delivery approach designed to improve the benefit–risk profile of established chemotherapies when combined with immunotherapies. Key advantages include:

  • Higher treatment frequency: up to 5× weekly at-home inhalation vs. every 3 weeks IV.

  • Increased local tumor exposure with reduced systemic toxicity.

  • Patient-centered DPI format enabling safe, non-invasive self-administration.

  • Immunogenic effects that support combinations with immunotherapy (e.g. enhanced dendritic cell activation, CD8⁺ T-cell infiltration, PD-L1 upregulation).

Pipeline

CIS-DPI

Our lead program, CIS-DPI, is a cisplatin-based dry powder formulation for the treatment of lung cancer

Cisplatin-based dry powder formulation

Cisplatin is a platinum-derivative chemotherapy drug intended for use in combination with pembrolizumab or platinum-doublet standards of care.

5 times weekly
administration

Designed for up to 5× weekly at-home administration, CIS-DPI aims to overcome systemic toxicities while enhancing local exposure and immunogenicity in the tumor microenvironment.

Phase
I/IIa

A new Phase I/IIa clinical trial is about to start across centers in Belgium and France. Learn more about the trial

Inhaled chemotherapy for the treatment of lung cancer

Pipeline of additional inhaled chemotherapies

InhaTarget is expanding its inhaled chemotherapy portfolio to address all major NSCLC histologies (squamous, non-squamous, adenocarcinoma) through tailored DPI formulations. Two additional inhaled chemotherapy programs are currently advancing through preclinical development.

Inhaled Lipid Nanoparticles (LNP Platform)

InhaTarget's proprietary inhalable LNP platform is a breakthrough pulmonary delivery technology designed to transport diverse therapeutic payloads directly into the lungs, including nucleic acids, immunomodulators and small molecules.

The platform enables local activity across multiple high-unmet-medical-need indications, while minimizing systemic exposure.

Target indications and applications
Indication Biological target / strategy Example payloads
Lung cancer (NSCLC) Reprogramming of immunosuppressive tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and/or direct targeting of tumor cells STING agonists, oligonucleotides, CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing
Inflammatory lung diseases (COPD, fibrosis, ARDS) Modulation of pro-inflammatory or pro-fibrotic macrophages and fibroblasts TLR modulators, mRNA-encoded cytokines
Respiratory and mRNA vaccines Targeting antigen-presenting cells in the lung for enhanced immune priming STING agonists as adjuvants, mRNA vaccines
Infectious diseases Activation of innate immunity and local antimicrobial activity STING agonists, antivirals, antibiotics

Platform features

  • Broad payload compatibility: STING agonists, oligonucleotides, mRNA, CRISPR-Cas9, small molecules, with high encapsulation efficiency (>80%) and protection against enzymatic degradation.

  • Device flexibility: compatible with nebulizers and soft-mist inhalers, with preserved physical and functional integrity upon aerosolization.

  • Cell-type versatility: LNPs can be engineered for enhanced uptake by alveolar macrophages, TAMs and other lung cell populations, as demonstrated in preclinical models and ex vivo human lung tissue.

  • Local-first design: lung-targeted activity with reduced risk of systemic side effects, including mitigation of cytokine-storm-type events.

STING-LNP, the first program based on this platform, is in preclinical development for NSCLC, with the goal of reprogramming immunosuppressive TAMs via local STING activation and induction of type I interferon responses.

Partnership opportunity

InhaTarget's inhalable LNP platform is positioned as a strategic delivery solution for third-party compounds.

We have established proof-of-concept with 20+ compounds and 4 inhalation devices, and currently maintain multiple active collaborations, with additional partnerships under discussion.

A typical collaboration path includes:

  • Formulation proof-of-concept

  • Non-GLP in vivo studies

  • GLP toxicology

  • First-in-human (FIH) enabling studies

Next steps

Interested in partnering or co-development? Contact us