Glasgow medical technology company Nebu~Flow has secured a £2 million grant from Scottish Enterprise to support development of its next-generation nebuliser platform and prepare the technology for regulatory approval in key international markets.

The funding follows a £4.7 million investment round completed in 2024 and will help the company advance its device towards commercialisation in the UK, Europe and the United States.

Nebu~Flow is developing a patented aerosol-generation technology designed to improve the delivery of inhaled medicines. The company believes its platform could expand the range of therapies that can be administered through nebulisers, including biologics and other advanced medicines that can be difficult to deliver using existing systems.

Nebulisers are widely used to administer medicines directly to the lungs for patients with conditions including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis. However, the underlying technology has changed relatively little over recent decades, limiting the types of medicines that can be delivered effectively by inhalation.

According to Nebu~Flow, its system provides greater control over droplet size and distribution, allowing medicines to be delivered more efficiently and with less stress on fragile therapeutic molecules.

Andrea Cusack, chief executive officer of Nebu~Flow, said: “This support from Scottish Enterprise is a huge moment for our team. It allows us to turn years of Scottish research and engineering into a real product that could make a genuine difference to patients’ lives.

“Our goal is simple: to help people get better, more effective medicines in a way that’s easier, safer and more comfortable for them.”

The company said the grant funding will be used to move the technology from prototype stage to a fully engineered commercial product. Planned activities include finalising device design, conducting performance testing and preparing regulatory submissions required for market approval.

Nebu~Flow was spun out from the University of Glasgow and brings together expertise in engineering, respiratory medicine and pharmaceutical development. The company intends to continue expanding its Scottish workforce as development progresses.

Scottish Enterprise said it has supported Nebu~Flow through several stages of its growth, including participation in the Unlocking Ambition entrepreneurship programme, feasibility funding and investment support.

Nicola Anderson, director of scaling innovation at Scottish Enterprise, said: “Scottish Enterprise has nurtured Nebu~Flow’s ambition to revolutionise respiratory drug delivery over a number of years, from inclusion in our Unlocking Ambition entrepreneurship programme, feasibility grant support, investment in their vision and now with this significant R&D grant award.

“It has been fantastic to follow their journey from university spinout to today where they are poised to bring the technology to market. With this progress, there’s real hope that their work will deliver significant benefits for respiratory patients worldwide.”

Respiratory diseases remain a major healthcare challenge in Scotland. Around 720,000 people are currently treated for asthma, while approximately 241,000 people live with COPD. Public Health Scotland projections suggest COPD cases could increase significantly over the coming decades, placing additional pressure on healthcare services.

Nebu~Flow believes its technology could help support a shift towards more home-based treatment and monitoring by improving access to inhaled therapies. The company is also seeking partnerships with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to explore applications for future medicines designed for lung delivery.

The grant award highlights continued investment in Scotland’s life sciences and medical technology sector, particularly in technologies aimed at improving treatment options for chronic respiratory diseases.