Inne Secures European and UK Approval for Novel Saliva-Based Contraception Method

London and Berlin-based healthtech startup Inne has achieved a regulatory milestone by becoming the first saliva-based contraception method to receive certification in the UK and Europe. The company's Minilab device represents a significant advancement in reproductive health technology, offering women a hormone-free alternative to traditional contraceptive methods through innovative progesterone monitoring.

The British Standards Institute certification follows a comprehensive year-long clinical study involving 300 women who tracked over 1,500 menstrual cycles. The research demonstrated that Inne's technology achieves 100 percent effectiveness with perfect use and 92 percent effectiveness with typical use, mirroring the performance of conventional contraceptive pills, which show 99 percent perfect use and 93 percent typical use effectiveness.

Inne's journey began in 2019 when the company first received regulatory approval in the UK and Europe for fertility tracking applications. The platform has since evolved from a fertility monitoring tool into a certified contraceptive method, addressing a significant gap in reproductive health innovation. The Minilab provides users with the ability to monitor progesterone levels through saliva testing that can be completed within a four-hour daily window, offering convenience and flexibility compared to traditional methods.

The device's accuracy matches laboratory-grade progesterone tests while enabling at-home use, making sophisticated reproductive health monitoring accessible to a broader population. By tracking progesterone levels, women can identify fertile periods and make informed decisions about contraception or conception timing based on their individual biological data.

"After nearly 80 years without innovation, we've created the first new contraceptive method that puts women's biological data at the centre," said Eirini Rapti, co-CEO and founder of Inne. "Our certification demonstrates that technology can finally give women a hormone-free alternative to the contraceptive pill our mothers and grandmothers used."

The regulatory approval addresses critical gaps in global contraceptive access and satisfaction. Research published in The Lancet indicates that 160 million women worldwide have unmet contraception needs, while nearly 40 percent of European women rely on withdrawal methods for pregnancy prevention. Despite these substantial needs, contraception receives only 2 percent of pharmaceutical research funding, even though companies typically allocate 20 percent of revenues to research and development activities.

The Minilab specifically targets women seeking alternatives to hormonal contraceptive methods amid growing concerns about side effects and healthcare access delays. The technology enables users to understand their reproductive cycles more comprehensively, providing data that can support both contraceptive and conception goals depending on individual circumstances.

Beyond contraception, Inne positions the Minilab as a comprehensive healthcare platform designed to serve women across multiple life stages. The company plans to expand tracking capabilities to include cortisol monitoring for stress assessment and perimenopause indicators, serving customers aged 22 to 55 with varying health monitoring needs.

"Our Minilab isn't just for contraception, but is a burgeoning healthcare platform," Rapti explained. "In the future, we will add additional analysis and algorithms such as cortisol and perimenopause, further enabling access to important data and information for women."

The Minilab is currently available in Germany and Austria, with UK market launch planned following the recent certification approval. Thousands of women already utilize the device for cycle tracking and monitoring, positioning Inne to expand its market reach as the first certified saliva-based contraceptive option in these markets.

The company has strengthened its leadership team by adding Hicham Ratani as co-CEO, bringing experience as co-founder of Frank And Oak and former COO of travel marketplace Zizoo. Inne has raised $25 million in funding to date, supporting its technology development and market expansion initiatives.

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