Melbourne biotech startup GonGlobal is developing an inhaled alternative to the injections commonly required during in vitro fertilisation, a change that could significantly reduce the physical and emotional toll of fertility treatment. The company has announced new funding to accelerate its OVULAIR drug delivery system, which is designed to replace needles with a more patient-friendly approach. The development builds on RMIT University research and aims to make IVF less invasive, more precise, and more accessible for patients worldwide.
New Funding for a Needle-Free Future
GonGlobal has raised $1.2 million in fresh funding to advance its inhaled IVF therapy, bringing the total raised over three years to $3 million. Innovation Victoria, the newly merged entity of Breakthrough Victoria and LaunchVic, contributed $500,000 through its University Innovation Platform, and RMIT University matched that amount with a further $500,000. A private investor added $200,000, reflecting growing support for a technology that could reshape fertility treatment.
A Personal Mission Turned Startup
GonGlobal was founded by Ellen Gonda and her father, Dr Igor Gonda, after Ellen's own IVF journey involved countless injections and left her feeling like a human pin cushion. The startup emerged from the former LaunchVic pre-accelerator program for women founders, JumpStart Studio, and later received pre-seed support through the Alice Anderson Fund. The company describes its mission as radically improving the IVF patient experience and success rates by making treatments less painful, more precise, and far more joyful.
How the Inhaled Technology Works
The project is led at RMIT by Distinguished Professor Leslie Yeo and uses RMIT's patented HYDRA inhalation technology. This system employs a nebulizer to deliver liquid medicines deep into the lungs in a safe and selective manner. GonGlobal has secured an exclusive global licence to apply the technology to fertility drugs, with the collaboration focused on developing and testing the OVULAIR platform.
A Heavy Treatment Burden
IVF has created millions of lives, but the process can be demanding, with most patients needing three to six treatment cycles to achieve a live birth. Each cycle involves multiple self-administered injections, which can add up to hundreds of needles over the course of treatment. An inhaled alternative could remove a major source of discomfort and stress, potentially improving patient adherence and overall treatment outcomes.
Government and University Support
Victoria's Minister for Economic Development, Anthony Carbines, said the project shows how the state can take world-class research and turn it into a global breakthrough that changes lives. RMIT's Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation, Distinguished Professor Calum Drummond AO, noted that transformative research occurs when universities, industry and government bring complementary strengths together. Both described the partnership as a powerful example of moving breakthrough technologies out of the lab and into the clinic.
Path to Commercialisation
The RMIT and GonGlobal teams will continue developing and testing OVULAIR as part of the push toward commercialisation. The company's leadership sees the collaboration as a continuation of Melbourne's long history as a global leader in IVF, dating back to the field's earliest days. By combining RMIT's engineering expertise with GonGlobal's commercial development experience, the partners aim to create a new generation of patient-focused fertility treatments.
With new funding, a formal university partnership, and state-backed support, GonGlobal is now positioned to advance its inhaled fertility therapy toward clinical application. The initiative promises to remove one of the most difficult aspects of IVF for many patients while building on Victoria's strengths in medical innovation. If successfully commercialised, OVULAIR could change the IVF experience for patients around the world.