New partnership targets needle-free fertility treatment

RMIT University and Melbourne-based biotechnology company GonGlobal have joined forces to develop a new drug-delivery system to replace repeated injections of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatments with inhaled medicines.

The collaboration will advance Ovulair, an inhaled drug-delivery system designed to administer IVF medicines through the lungs rather than by injection, offering patients a less invasive alternative during what can be a physically and emotionally demanding treatment journey.

The partnership comes as demand for assisted reproductive treatment (ART) continues to grow. The latest Australian and New Zealand Assisted Reproduction Database (ANZARD) report, developed by UNSW Sydney, recorded almost 114,000 IVF treatment cycles in 2024, resulting in more than 20,900 babies. One in five initiated cycles led to a live birth.

RMIT University Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation, Distinguished Professor Calum Drummond AO, said “Transformative research doesn’t happen in isolation – it happens when universities, industry and government bring their complementary strengths together.”

GonGlobal has secured an exclusive global licence to deliver IVF drugs using RMIT University’s patented Hydra inhalation technology, which has demonstrated the ability to safely and selectively deliver liquid medicines deep into the lungs through a nebuliser. The Ovulair project has attracted a $1 million investment, with RMIT University and Innovation Victoria each contributing $500,000 towards its development and commercialisation.

GonGlobal Co-Founder and CEO Ellen Gonda said, “I know firsthand how challenging it can be for patients experiencing infertility and navigating IVF. The physical, emotional, logistical and financial tolls can be overwhelming.”

She further added, “Our mission is simple; to radically improve the IVF patient experience and success rates by making treatments less painful, more precise and far more joyful. Working with RMIT gives us the opportunity to develop Ovulair to improve infertility treatment for millions of patients.”

The ANZARD data also highlights the challenges patients can face in achieving a successful outcome. After three complete IVF cycles using their own eggs, women aged under 30 recorded the highest cumulative live birth rate, at 71%. The rate fell to 21% among women aged 40-44 and to 3% among women aged 45 or more.

VIC Minister for Economic Development Anthony Carbines said, “This innovation shows what Victoria can do, taking world-class research and turning it into a global breakthrough that can change lives. We’re backing Victoria’s brightest innovators to scale faster, attract global investment and prove that the world’s best ideas come from right here in Melbourne.”

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