Miist: Vape to Quit Smoking & Relieve Migraines

Addressing Smoking and Migraines with Rapid-Release Inhalation Technology

Dalton Signor, while a university student, observed a concerning prevalence of smoking and vaping among his peers, including family members like his grandmother and a 14-year-old sister.

Signor recognized a limitation in current smoking cessation aids – patches, gums, and lozenges – due to their relatively slow onset of action. He noted that relief typically takes around 30 minutes, while the average person experiences relapse within just 11 minutes, as reported to TechCrunch.

The Genesis of Miist Therapeutics

Driven by this observation, Signor began developing a withdrawal-inhibitor inhaler three years ago. This approach leverages the lungs’ capacity for rapid absorption of medication into the bloodstream, offering quicker relief.

He subsequently left university to fully dedicate himself to this endeavor, establishing Miist Therapeutics. He was joined by Jeff Schuster, a physicist with extensive experience in inhaled medicine development and numerous patents, who serves as CTO and co-founder.

Eric Ezerins, a long-time friend and biomedical engineer, was brought on board as the head of Research and Development, completing the core founding team.

Securing Seed Funding

Recently, Miist announced the successful completion of a $7 million seed funding round. Key investors included Refactor Capital, 1517 Fund, and Freeflow Ventures.

Impressive Phase I Trial Results

Initial skepticism from investors, such as Refactor’s Zal Bilimoria, was quickly dispelled by the results of Miist’s Phase I clinical trial. Bilimoria, formerly of Andreessen Horowitz, was immediately convinced of the technology’s potential.

The study demonstrated that participants using Miist’s inhaler experienced a 92% reduction in cravings within just two minutes. This represents a tenfold improvement compared to existing standard treatments, and was described by Bilimoria as “game-changing.”

Technology Behind the Rapid Relief

Signor explained that Miist’s technology generates particles that are 50% smaller than those produced by conventional inhalers.

This smaller particle size allows for deeper deposition within the lungs, specifically reaching areas where the lining is only one cell thick. This facilitates faster absorption of the medication into the bloodstream.

Mimicking the Smoking Experience

Despite being an inhaler, Miist’s device is designed to resemble a vaping device. Signor believes this familiarity can address the psychological aspects of quitting smoking.

He highlighted that individuals often miss the ritual of a smoke break and the dedicated time it provides. To address this, Miist delivers the medication over seven puffs, even though it could be administered in a single inhalation, to replicate the smoking behavior.

Expanding Applications to Migraine Treatment

The potential of rapid drug delivery extends beyond nicotine addiction. Miist has also initiated a program focused on migraine relief.

For individuals experiencing a migraine, the speed of medication absorption can be critical. Faster relief can not only alleviate immediate pain but also potentially prevent a more prolonged and intractable attack.

While nasal inhaler formulations for migraine drugs are currently available, Miist anticipates that its oral inhaler will demonstrate superior efficacy.

Future Development and Clinical Trials

Miist is preparing to commence a Phase II trial for its smoking cessation technology, utilizing the active ingredient found in standard nicotine replacement therapies, such as Nicorette.

The company is also conducting laboratory testing with triptans, a class of medications commonly used to treat migraines. Signor envisions the inhaler eventually being used to deliver medications for a wider range of conditions, including anxiety.

Competition in the Rapid-Release Delivery Space

Miist is not alone in pursuing vape-like devices for smoking cessation and migraine treatment. Qnovia has secured over $35 million in funding, with an estimated valuation of $350 million, from investors including Blue Ledge Capital, DG Ventures, and Vice Venture, as reported by Forbes.

Like Miist, Qnovia requires FDA clearance before its device can be marketed in the U.S. Approval would mark the first prescription-approved smoking cessation treatment to reach the market in nearly two decades.

Challenging Conventional Pharmaceutical Approaches

Some may perceive vaping as an unconventional method for drug delivery. However, Refactor’s Bilimoria argues that the demonstrated effectiveness should outweigh any reservations.

He expressed his surprise that the pharmaceutical industry has not yet fully explored this opportunity, stating, “It’s unbelievable to me that the pharma industry has overlooked this opportunity.”