Nebulizer maker HCMed, in partnership with several other OINDP-related organizations, has organized a new pitch day called RespireX that will debut in March 2026. Aimed at providing early stage start-ups or academic groups with support for development of innovative technology in respiratory drug delivery, the one-day event will award seed funding of at least $100,000 to the group with the winning pitch. In addition, each of the contestant groups will get access to mentoring from industry experts, organizers say.
Applications for the pitch day will be reviewed by representatives from the event sponsors, and reviewers will select 8-10 groups to pitch their technology in front of a live panel of OINDP experts. Announced panel members include HCMed CEO Jason Cheng; University of Parma Associate Professor Francesca Buttini, Virtual Pharma Alliance CEO Russell Spencer, and Cormica CEO Mark Hammond.
Hammond comments, ”Whilst the UK and Europe are still driving world leading research across respiratory sciences, not enough of it progresses into commercial opportunities. This is often due to the scale of early-stage funding, or more acutely, an awareness of where and how to access funding or connect within the respiratory ecosystem to experts who can help define and build a viable product development strategy. I am happy to support events like RespireX, which aim to give early stage start ups access not only to a prize fund and an incubator lab, but to mentors and a network for their future development needs’’
HCMed UK Executive VP of Business Development Chris Vernall explains, “Even some young start-up companies who have got some funding and are developing an asset or technology, sometimes they struggle due to lack of access to the whole eco-system that you would need to develop an inhaled product.” Many of these researchers have no background in inhalation at all, he notes, and they are unsure how to proceed. So, he says, RespireX aims to create a forum where these groups will have the opportunity to connect with experts from across the industry who could provide them with direction and possibly funding.
According to Vernall, the panel of experts will judge the pitches on a set of criteria that evaluate each group’s 1) scientific rationale; 2) potential for clinical / regulatory success; 3) commercial / market potential; 4) unmet need and differentiation from current therapies; and 5) the team and its capability. While only one group will take home the RespireX funding, he points out, other groups could still attract funding from investors and Pharma companies who will attend the event.
Applications will be accepted until December 19, 2025. RespireX is a not-for-profit event, and the winner will be free to use the funding however they like while keeping ownership of their IP, Vernall says. Applicants must be in the early stages of development; with development no further along than Phase 1. Application information is available on this page.
For companies wishing to join as sponsors, RespireX has limited availability remaining and offers tiered options. Information about participation and sponsorship is available on this page.
