Inne has become the first saliva-based contraception method to receive regulatory certification in the UK and Europe. The company’s Minilab device tracks progesterone levels through daily saliva tests, achieving 100% effectiveness with perfect use and 92% effectiveness with typical use.
The London and Berlin-based healthtech startup received British Standards Institute certification following a year-long clinical study involving 300 women tracking over 1,500 cycles. The effectiveness rates mirror those of the contraceptive pill, which shows 99% perfect use and 93% typical use effectiveness.
Inne first received regulatory approval in the UK and Europe for fertility tracking in 2019 and has since evolved from a fertility monitoring tool to the certified contraceptive method it is today. The company’s Minilab provides a hormone-free alternative to traditional contraceptive methods by monitoring progesterone, a key fertility indicator, through saliva testing that can be completed within a four-hour daily window. The device has been proven as accurate as laboratory progesterone tests while enabling at-home use.
“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 approval addresses significant gaps in contraceptive access and satisfaction. According to Lancet research, 160 million women globally have unmet contraception needs, while nearly 40% of European women rely on withdrawal methods. Contraception receives only 2% of pharmaceutical research funding despite companies typically spending 20% of revenues on R&D.
The Minilab targets women seeking alternatives to hormonal methods amid growing concerns about side effects and healthcare access delays. By tracking progesterone levels, women can identify fertile periods and avoid unprotected intercourse during those times, or use the data to increase conception chances when desired.
Inne positions the device as a broader healthcare platform beyond contraception. The company plans to expand tracking capabilities to include cortisol for stress monitoring and perimenopause indicators, serving customers aged 22 to 55 across various life stages.
“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 company’s Minilab is currently available in Germany and Austria, with UK launch planned following the certification approval. Thousands of women already use the device for cycle tracking and monitoring, positioning Inne to expand its market reach as the first certified saliva-based contraceptive option.
The company recently added Hicham Ratani as co-CEO, bringing experience as co-founder of Frank And Oak and former COO of travel marketplace Zizoo. Inne has raised $25M to date.
