St. Pete startup’s inhaler tech to bolster new cancer drug

Mitigating the opioid epidemic is St. Petersburg-based microNeb’s primary focus. However, a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company believes the medical technology startup’s novel inhaler could eliminate the need for chemotherapy treatments.

U.S. Precision Medicine (USPM) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with microNeb to utilize its patented medication delivery solutions. The Gainesville-based pharmaceutical research and development company is currently testing a new drug candidate to treat the most aggressive form of breast cancer.

The medication is halfway through the FDA’s Investigational New Drug process, according to USPM’s website. Brian Artze, co-founder and CEO of microNeb, noted the benefits of offering an alternative to grueling chemotherapy drip sessions.

“I’ve lost multiple family members and friends to cancer one way or another and had to take them time and again to their treatments,” Artze said. “It’s very taxing on you emotionally, and the family, as much as the person getting the treatment.”

Brian Artze, co-founder and CEO of microNeb.

Inhaling the medication from home would reduce monitoring requirements and hospital trips. It would also decrease the need for invasive procedures – and the associated anxiety.

In the announcement, Frederick Fey, co-founder and CEO of USPM, listed specific advantages of utilizing microNeb’s innovative nebulizer to deploy its drug candidate. Those include targeted lung delivery that could enhance effectiveness for respiratory cancers.

The inhaler would eliminate the need for IV delivery methods, which cause catheter-related bloodstream infections in up to 25% of patients. Fey believes it will also help eliminate the strain on hospital resources, minimize systemic side effects and allow for more customizable treatments.

“It has better benefits,” Artze said. “As long as we can prove the concept.”

USPM’s website states that independent research of its new drug candidate to treat triple-negative breast cancer “now confirms significant tumor reduction with no toxicity.” The company now seeks “big pharma partners” to complete the next clinical research stage.

Artze explained that the medical community continues transitioning away from needles and toward inhaled and nasal spray medications. He expects USPM to begin utilizing the local startup’s nebulizers in human trials in roughly nine months.

Artze launched micoNeb in August 2022 with five co-founders. Three are physicians and one is a longtime registered nurse who specializes in opioid use disorder.

Artze met Fey in St. Petersburg through Scott Kelly, founder of Black Dog Venture Partners. While it took a year to formalize, Artze said microNeb’s leadership immediately realized a partnership “just made sense.”

“We knew we had the capacity to, at least, give it a clinical trial and ensure we could prove our concept,” he added. “To be able to deliver some type of cancer medication through inhalation would be huge for the entire market.”

Artze said the potential financial windfall is “in the back of everybody’s minds.” However, he stressed that the partners have a more altruistic motive for achieving success.

“If we’re able to save more than one life a day from cancer, opioid overdoses or fentanyl exposure, then we’ve done our march,” Artze added. “I would hope that other players in the industry would embrace what we’re trying to do, get on board with our concept and collaborate with us.

“Ultimately, it’s for the greater good of mankind, not just the dollar it makes.”

MicroNeb has patented four devices tailored to specific needs.

Opioids and military applications

Most new medications receive patent protection for about 20 years. Manufacturers can then market generic versions, which cost pharmaceutical conglomerates billions of dollars.

Artze explained that changing the delivery method – like utilizing microNeb’s inhaler – protects the patent. That was the impetus for launching the startup.

The co-founders also realized the need for additional tools to combat the opioid epidemic and increasingly lethal drugs like fentanyl. Scientific studies have found that nebulized Naloxone can safely and effectively counteract overdoses.

MicroNeb has patented four devices for specialized scenarios. The Vigil 1 provides “expedited care under fire with enhanced absorption.” It resembles a military-grade nicotine vape pen and includes a pre-dosed, interchangeable capsule system for various scenarios, including fentanyl and other harmful drug exposures.

A more complex system can quickly administer medications that counteract chemical, biological and radiological threats. The “Halo” device was tailored for first responders. A consumer-focused nebulizer can disburse the aerosolized equivalent of vitamins and energy drinks.

“We’re working on adaptive devices that can work with our competitors in the market as a compliment, not as a competition,” Artze said. “If we collaborate, not just compete in a market that needs real-time solutions … everyone wins.”

Artze plans to keep microNeb’s headquarters in St. Petersburg. Most of his co-founders and partners live in the area, and he said the startup has identified manufacturing resources throughout the region.

“Our distribution could even be here now that we have some newer, larger pharmaceutical companies coming into the Tampa Bay market,” Arze added. “Additionally, we actively collaborate with workshops and incubators with local universities, providing students with hands-on experience in their fields of science.”