INHALE THERAPEUTIC SYSTEMS
S-3, 1997-10-06
PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS
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<PAGE>
    AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON OCTOBER 6, 1997
 
                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 333-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                           --------------------------
 
                                    FORM S-3
 
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
 
                                     UNDER
 
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
 
                           --------------------------
 
                           INHALE THERAPEUTIC SYSTEMS
 
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
<TABLE>
<S>                              <C>                            <C>
          CALIFORNIA                         2834                  94-3134940
 (State or other jurisdiction    (Primary Standard Industrial   (I.R.S. Employer
              of                 Classification Code Number)     Identification
incorporation or organization)                                      Number)
</TABLE>
 
                           --------------------------
 
                              1525 INDUSTRIAL WAY
                               BELMONT, CA 94002
                                 (650) 631-3100
  (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
                   registrant's principal executive offices)
 
                           --------------------------
 
                                ROBERT B. CHESS
                     PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                           INHALE THERAPEUTIC SYSTEMS
                              1525 INDUSTRIAL WAY
                               BELMONT, CA 94002
                                 (650) 631-3100
 
 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                             of agent for service)
 
                           --------------------------
 
                                   COPIES TO:
 
        MARK P. TANOURY, ESQ.                     VICTOR A. HEBERT, ESQ.
      VINCENT P. PANGRAZIO, ESQ.                  RICHARD FRIEDMAN, ESQ.
        JOHN M. GESCHKE, ESQ.                HELLER EHRMAN WHITE & MCAULIFFE
          COOLEY GODWARD LLP                      525 UNIVERSITY AVENUE
         3000 SAND HILL ROAD                   PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA 94301
        BUILDING 3, SUITE 230                         (650) 324-7000
  MENLO PARK, CALIFORNIA 94025-7116
            (650) 843-5000
 
                           --------------------------
 
        APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
   As soon as practicable after the Registration Statement becomes effective.
 
                           --------------------------
 
    If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. / /
 
    If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box. / /
 
    If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. / /
 
    If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. / /
 
    If delivery of the Prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. / /
 
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       PROPOSED MAXIMUM       PROPOSED MAXIMUM
            TITLE OF SECURITIES                   AMOUNT TO BE             OFFERING               AGGREGATE
              TO BE REGISTERED                    REGISTERED(1)       PRICE PER SHARE(2)      OFFERING PRICE(2)
<S>                                           <C>                    <C>                    <C>
Common Stock no par value...................        1,725,000              $30.8125            $53,151,562.50
 
<CAPTION>
 
            TITLE OF SECURITIES                     AMOUNT OF
              TO BE REGISTERED                  REGISTRATION FEE
<S>                                           <C>
Common Stock no par value...................         $16,107
</TABLE>
 
(1) Includes 225,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the
    Underwriters' over-allotment option.
 
(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the
    registration fee under Rule 457(c) of the Securities Act of 1933 based on
    the average of the high and low sales prices of the Common Stock on the
    Nasdaq National Market on October 1, 1997.
 
                           --------------------------
 
    THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT THAT SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a),
MAY DETERMINE.
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR MAY
OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT BECOMES
EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE SECURITIES
IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR
TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH STATE.
<PAGE>
                  Subject to Completion, dated October 6, 1997
PROSPECTUS
 
                                1,500,000 Shares
 
                                     [LOGO]
 
                                  COMMON STOCK
                               ------------------
 
    All of the 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock being offered hereby are being
sold by Inhale Therapeutic Systems ("Inhale" or the "Company"). The Company's
Common Stock is quoted on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol INHL. On
October 1, 1997, the last reported sale price of the Company's Common Stock was
$30.38 per share. See "Price Range of Common Stock."
 
                            ------------------------
 
      THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OFFERED HEREBY INVOLVE A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK.
                    SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 5.
 
                             ---------------------
 
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
    AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION
       NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE
          SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR
              ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION
                 TO  THE  CONTRARY  IS  A  CRIMINAL  OFFENSE.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       Underwriting
                                                  Price to             Discounts and           Proceeds to
                                                   Public             Commissions (1)          Company (2)
<S>                                         <C>                    <C>                    <C>
Per Share.................................
Total (3).................................
</TABLE>
 
(1) The Company has agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain
    liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as
    amended. See "Underwriting."
 
(2) Before deducting expenses payable by the Company estimated at $500,000. See
    "Underwriting."
 
(3) The Company has granted to the Underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up
    to 225,000 additional shares of Common Stock on the terms and conditions as
    set forth above solely to cover over-allotments, if any. If such option is
    exercised in full, the total Price to Public, Underwriting Discounts and
    Commissions and Proceeds to Company will be $      , $      and $      ,
    respectively. See "Underwriting."
 
                            ------------------------
 
    The shares of Common Stock offered by this Prospectus are offered by the
Underwriters subject to prior sale, to withdrawal, cancellation or modification
of the offer without notice, to delivery to and acceptance by the Underwriters
and to certain further conditions. It is expected that delivery of the
certificates representing the shares of Common Stock will be made at the offices
of Lehman Brothers Inc., New York, New York on or about               , 1997.
                            ------------------------
 
LEHMAN BROTHERS
 
       BANCAMERICA ROBERTSON STEPHENS
 
               VECTOR SECURITIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
 
                       VOLPE BROWN WHELAN & COMPANY
             , 1997
<PAGE>
               INHALE HAS DEVELOPED FOUR INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES
               TO ENABLE NON-INVASIVE DELIVERY OF MACROMOLECULES
 
FORMULATION
 
Inhale has developed
proprietary
formulation tech-
niques and methods to                                     [PICTURE DEPICTING
produce stable,                                         LABORATORY TECHNICIAN
fillable and                                                   AT WORK]
dispersible dry powder
drug formulations.
 
DRY POWDER PROCESSING
 
To reach the deep lung
without damaging the
molecule, Inhale has
developed proprietary                                    [PICTURE DEPICTING A
technology to process                                         DRY POWDER
drug particles into a                                        FORMULATION]
fine powder of less
than five microns.
 
DRY POWDER PACKAGING
Inhale achieves               [PICTURE DEPICTING INHALE'S BLISTER PACKAGING]
long-term stability of
its powder by using
individual dose pack-
aging to provide a
strong moisture
barrier. Unit pack-
aging also enables
very precise dosing
and the ability to
deliver blister-packed
doses of different
strengths, important
for certain drugs,
such as insulin.
 
                               [PICTURE DEPICTING HUMAN SUBJECT USING INHALE'S
                                                  PROPRIETARY DELIVERY DEVICE]
 
                                                        THE DELIVERY DEVICE
                                                        Using the Inhale
                                                        system, a patient
                                                        takes a slow, deep
                                                        inhalation of a
                                                        standing cloud of
                                                        medicine rather than
                                                        receiving an
                                                        injection. Accurate
                                                        and reliable dosing
                                                        has been demonstrated
                                                        with Inhale's device
                                                        in human studies with
                                                        several different
                                                        macromolecules.
 
CERTAIN PERSONS PARTICIPATING IN THIS OFFERING MAY ENGAGE IN TRANSACTIONS THAT
STABILIZE, MAINTAIN OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE PRICE OF THE COMMON STOCK. SUCH
TRANSACTIONS MAY INCLUDE THE PURCHASE OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK PRIOR TO THE
PRICING OF THE OFFERING FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAINTAINING THE PRICE OF THE COMMON
STOCK, THE PURCHASE OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK FOLLOWING THE PRICING OF THE
OFFERING TO COVER A SYNDICATE SHORT POSITION IN THE COMMON STOCK OR FOR THE
PURPOSE OF MAINTAINING THE PRICE OF THE COMMON STOCK, AND THE IMPOSITION OF
PENALTY BIDS. FOR A DESCRIPTION OF THESE ACTIVITIES, SEE "UNDERWRITING."
 
IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, CERTAIN UNDERWRITERS AND SELLING GROUP MEMBERS
(IF ANY) MAY ENGAGE IN PASSIVE MARKET MAKING TRANSACTIONS IN THE COMMON STOCK ON
THE NASDAQ NATIONAL MARKET IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 103 UNDER REGULATION M UNDER
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED, (THE "EXCHANGE ACT"). SEE
"UNDERWRITING."
<PAGE>
                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
 
    THE FOLLOWING IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY THE MORE DETAILED INFORMATION
APPEARING ELSEWHERE IN THIS PROSPECTUS, INCLUDING RISK FACTORS, AND THE OTHER
INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE HEREIN. UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED, THE
INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS ASSUMES THAT THE UNDERWRITERS' OVER-ALLOTMENT
OPTION WILL NOT BE EXERCISED.
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
    Inhale Therapeutic Systems ("Inhale" or the "Company") has created an
inhalation drug delivery system to deliver a wide range of drugs, including
peptides, proteins and other macromolecule drugs to the deep lung. Inhale is
using this system principally to enable non-invasive delivery of macromolecule
drugs currently given by injection. The Company's insulin program, sponsored by
Pfizer Inc. ("Pfizer"), is in a multi-site Phase IIb in-home trial with up to
240 diabetics. Baxter Healthcare Corporation (a subsidiary of Baxter
International, Inc.) ("Baxter") is sponsoring four non-peptide or protein drugs
for inhalation delivery, one of which is in a Phase II clinical trial. Eli Lilly
& Company ("Lilly") is sponsoring an osteoporosis drug in a Phase I clinical
trial. In total, Inhale has 14 programs in development, five of which are in
human clinical trials and nine of which are sponsored by collaborative partners.
 
    Currently there are approximately 30 macromolecule drugs marketed in the
United States and about 120 others in human clinical trials. Sales of
genetically engineered protein drugs were estimated at $7.6 billion worldwide in
1995. Most of these drugs are currently delivered by injection. Injections are
undesirable for numerous reasons including patient discomfort, inconvenience and
risk of infection. Poor patient acceptance of and compliance with injectable
therapies can lead to increased incidence of medical complications and higher
disease management costs. Alternatives to injection such as oral, transdermal
and nasal delivery have to date been shown to be commercially unattractive due
to low natural bioavailability (the amount of drug absorbed from the delivery
site into the bloodstream). As an alternative to the invasiveness of injection,
Inhale believes a pulmonary delivery system could expand the market for
macromolecule drug therapies and may enable new therapeutic uses of certain
macromolecule drugs.
 
    Inhale has created a proprietary platform integrating customized
formulation, fine-powder processing and packaging with a novel inhalation device
to enable efficient, reproducible delivery of macromolecule drugs for systemic
and local lung indications. For specific drug products, Inhale formulates and
processes bulk drugs supplied by collaborative partners into fine powders which
are packaged into individual dosing units referred to as blisters. The blisters
are designed to be loaded into Inhale's device, which patients then activate to
inhale the aerosolized drugs. Inhale has developed a prototype inhalation device
that is being used several times per day for several months in outpatient
trials, has shown room temperature stability of a year or more for a number of
macromolecule drugs, and has scaled-up its powder processing and packaging for
late stage clinical trials and small-scale production.
 
    Inhale's development strategy is to focus efforts on applying its pulmonary
delivery system primarily to drugs that either have proven efficacy and are
approved for delivery by injection or are in late stage human clinical trials.
Inhale's business strategy is to work with collaborative partners to develop and
commercialize macromolecule drugs for pulmonary delivery. Generally, these
partners have rights to the drugs, seek regulatory approvals and supply the
drugs to Inhale for formulation. In addition to Pfizer, Baxter and Lilly, the
Company is engaged in early stage feasibility and preclinical research and
development collaborations with Immunex Corporation on interleukin-1 receptor
for asthma, Centeon L.L.C. (a joint venture of Hoechst AG and Rhone-Poulenc
Rorer, Inc.) on alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor for genetic emphysema and Genzyme
Corporation on gene vectors for lung diseases. In addition to collaborations,
Inhale has initiated projects with several macromolecule drugs including
calcitonin, heparin, interferon beta, interferon alpha and follicle stimulating
hormone. The Company anticipates that any product that may be developed would be
commercialized with a collaborative partner and believes its partnering strategy
will enable it to reduce the amount of cash required to develop a large and
diversified potential product portfolio.
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
                                  THE OFFERING
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                 <C>
Common Stock offered..............................  1,500,000 shares
 
Common Stock to be outstanding after the
  offering........................................  15,268,880 shares (1)
 
Use of proceeds...................................  To develop and acquire additional clinical and
                                                    commercial production capacity, fund research and
                                                    development efforts and for general corporate
                                                    purposes. See "Use of Proceeds."
 
Nasdaq National Market Symbol.....................  INHL
</TABLE>
 
                         SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
                     (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                               NINE MONTHS
                                                                                                  ENDED
                                                         YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,             SEPTEMBER 30,
                                               --------------------------------------------  ----------------
                                                1992     1993     1994     1995      1996     1996     1997
                                               -------  -------  -------  -------  --------  -------  -------
                                                                                               (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                            <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>       <C>      <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
  Contract research revenue..................  $    98  $   708  $ 1,651  $ 3,445  $  6,890  $ 4,722  $11,459
  Operating costs and expenses:
    Research and development.................    1,259    2,765    4,934    9,041    14,376   10,129   16,640
    General and administrative...............      580      856    2,465    3,232     4,004    2,341    4,244
                                               -------  -------  -------  -------  --------  -------  -------
      Total operating costs and expenses.....    1,839    3,621    7,399   12,273    18,380   12,470   20,884
                                               -------  -------  -------  -------  --------  -------  -------
  Loss from operations.......................   (1,741)  (2,913)  (5,748)  (8,828)  (11,490)  (7,748)  (9,425)
  Net interest income........................       60       52      469    1,166     1,581    1,109    2,432
                                               -------  -------  -------  -------  --------  -------  -------
  Net loss...................................  $(1,681) $(2,861) $(5,279) $(7,662) $ (9,909) $(6,639) $(6,993)
                                               -------  -------  -------  -------  --------  -------  -------
                                               -------  -------  -------  -------  --------  -------  -------
  Net loss per share(2)......................  $ (0.61) $ (1.03) $ (0.86) $ (0.78) $  (0.88) $ (0.60) $ (0.52)
                                               -------  -------  -------  -------  --------  -------  -------
                                               -------  -------  -------  -------  --------  -------  -------
  Shares used in net loss per share
    calculation(1)...........................    2,777    2,787    6,103    9,837    11,207   11,025   13,417
                                               -------  -------  -------  -------  --------  -------  -------
                                               -------  -------  -------  -------  --------  -------  -------
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                            SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
                                                                                         ------------------------
                                                                                          ACTUAL   AS ADJUSTED(3)
                                                                                         --------  --------------
                                                                                               (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                                                      <C>       <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
  Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments....................................  $ 57,659     $99,992
  Working capital......................................................................    49,743      92,076
  Total assets.........................................................................    74,848     117,181
  Accumulated deficit..................................................................   (34,684)    (34,684)
  Total shareholders' equity...........................................................    59,845     102,178
</TABLE>
 
- --------------------------
 
(1) Based on 13,768,880 shares outstanding at September 30, 1997. Assumes no
    exercise of the Underwriters' over-allotment option. Excludes, as of
    September 30, 1997, a total of 2,157,029 shares of Common Stock issuable
    upon exercise of outstanding stock options and 52,727 shares of Common Stock
    issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants.
 
(2) For an explanation of the determination of the number of shares used in
    computing net loss per share, see note 1 to financial statements.
 
(3) Adjusted to reflect receipt of estimated net proceeds from the sale of
    1,500,000 shares of Common Stock offered by the Company hereby at an assumed
    offering price of $30.38 per share. See "Use of Proceeds" and
    "Capitalization."
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
                                  RISK FACTORS
 
    IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND IN THE DOCUMENTS
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE HEREIN, THE FOLLOWING RISK FACTORS SHOULD BE CAREFULLY
CONSIDERED IN EVALUATING THE COMPANY AND ITS BUSINESS BEFORE PURCHASING THE
COMMON STOCK OFFERED BY THIS PROSPECTUS. THE SECTIONS ENTITLED "MANAGEMENT'S
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS" AND
"BUSINESS" IN THIS PROSPECTUS CONTAIN FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS WITHIN THE
MEANING OF SECTION 27A OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE
"SECURITIES ACT"), AND SECTION 21E OF THE EXCHANGE ACT. ACTUAL RESULTS COULD
DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE PROJECTED IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AS A
RESULT OF THE RISK FACTORS SET FORTH BELOW AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS PROSPECTUS.
 
    EARLY STAGE COMPANY.  Inhale is in an early stage of development. There can
be no assurance that the Company's pulmonary delivery technology will prove to
be technically feasible or commercially applicable to a range of macromolecules
and small molecule drugs. Only five of the Company's fourteen pulmonary delivery
formulations, insulin, interleukin-1 receptor, salmon calcitonin, the Lilly
osteoporosis drug and a small molecule have been subject to any human clinical
testing. Although many of the underlying drug compounds with which the Company
is working have been tested in humans by others using alternative delivery
routes, Inhale's potential products will require extensive research,
development, preclinical and clinical testing, and may involve lengthy
regulatory review. There can be no assurance that any of the Company's potential
products will prove to be safe and effective in clinical trials, meet applicable
regulatory standards, be capable of being produced in commercial quantities at
acceptable cost or be marketed successfully. Any failure of the Company to
achieve technical feasibility, demonstrate safety, achieve clinical efficacy,
obtain regulatory approval or, together with partners, successfully market
products, would have a material adverse effect on the Company. See "Risk
Factors--No Assurance of Successful Development or Commercialization of Drugs
for Pulmonary Delivery," "--Government Regulation; Uncertainty of Obtaining
Regulatory Approval" and "--Uncertainty Related to the Health Care Industry and
Third-Party Reimbursement."
 
    UNCERTAINTIES RELATED TO TECHNOLOGY AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT.  The success of
Inhale's pulmonary drug delivery system for any drugs will depend upon the
Company achieving sufficient system efficiency (measured by the percentage of
bulk drug entering the manufacturing process that eventually is absorbed into
the bloodstream relative to injection for systemic indications, or the amount of
drug delivered to the lung tissue for local lung indications), formulation
stability, safety and dosage reproducibility.
 
    The initial screening determinant for the feasibility of pulmonary delivery
of any systemic drug is pulmonary bioavailability, which measures the percentage
of the drug absorbed into the bloodstream when delivered directly to the lungs.
In addition, a certain percentage of each drug dose is lost at various stages of
the manufacturing and pulmonary delivery process--in drug formulation, dry
powder processing, packaging, and in moving the drug from a delivery device into
the lungs. Excessive drug loss at any one stage or cumulatively in the
manufacturing and delivery process could render a drug commercially unfeasible
for pulmonary delivery.
 
    Formulation stability (the physical and chemical stability of the formulated
drug over time and under various storage conditions) and safety will vary with
each drug and the type and amount of excipients that are used in the
formulation. Reproducible dosing (the ability to deliver a consistent and
predictable amount of drug into the bloodstream over time both for a single
patient and across patient groups) requires the development of an inhalation
device that consistently delivers predictable amounts of dry powder formulations
to the deep lung, accurate unit dose packaging of dry powder formulations and
moisture resistant packaging. There can be no assurance that the Company will be
able to develop successfully such an inhalation device or overcome such other
obstacles to reproducible dosing.
 
    The Company's integrated approach to systems development relies upon several
different but related technologies. Development of powder formulations,
processing and packaging technology and the delivery device, establishing
collaborations with partners, laboratory and clinical testing, and manufacturing
scale-up must proceed contemporaneously so as not to delay any aspect of systems
development. Any delay in
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
one component of product or business development could cause consequential
delays in the Company's ability to develop, obtain approval of or market
therapeutic products using its system. Further refinement of the Company's
device prototype, further scale-up of the powder processing system and automated
packaging system will need to be accomplished before initiation of late stage
clinical trials.
 
    There can be no assurance that Inhale will be able to demonstrate pulmonary
bioavailability for the drug candidates it has identified or may identify, will
be able to achieve commercial viability of its pulmonary delivery system or will
achieve the total system efficiency needed to be competitive with alternative
routes of delivery. Further, there can be no assurance that the Company's
pulmonary delivery system will prove to be safe or provide reproducible dosages
of stable formulations sufficient to achieve clinical efficacy, regulatory
approval or market acceptance. In addition, there can be no assurance that
Inhale will advance the numerous aspects of product and business development
such that delays in overall product development do not occur. The failure to
demonstrate pulmonary bioavailability, achieve total system efficiency, provide
safe, reproducible dosages of stable formulations or advance on a timely basis
the numerous aspects of product and business development would have a material
adverse effect on the Company. See "Risk Factors--Dependence Upon Collaborative
Partners" and "--Government Regulation; Uncertainty of Obtaining Regulatory
Approval;" "Business--Inhale's Pulmonary Device System" and "--Government
Regulation."
 
    UNCERTAINTIES RELATED TO CLINICAL TRIALS.  The Company has limited
experience in conducting clinical trials and intends to rely primarily on the
pharmaceutical companies with which it collaborates, including Pfizer and Lilly.
The Company is responsible for managing the clinical trials in its collaboration
with Baxter. Before seeking regulatory approvals for the commercial sale of
products under development, the Company must demonstrate through preclinical
studies and clinical trials that such products are safe and effective for use in
the target indications. The results from preclinical studies and early clinical
trials may not be indicative of results that will be obtained in large-scale
testing, and there can be no assurance that the Company's clinical trials will
demonstrate sufficient safety and efficacy to obtain the requisite regulatory
approvals or will result in marketable products. Clinical trials are also often
conducted with patients having advanced stages of disease. During the course of
treatment, these patients can die or suffer other adverse medical effects for
reasons that may not be related to the pharmaceutical agent being tested but
which can nevertheless affect clinical trial results. A number of companies in
the pharmaceutical industry have suffered significant setbacks in advanced
clinical trials, even after promising results in earlier trials. Clinical trials
for products being developed by the Company and its partners may be delayed by
many factors, including enrolling a sufficient number of patients fitting the
appropriate trial profile. If any of the Company's products under development
are not shown to be safe and effective in clinical trials, the resulting delays
in developing other compounds and conducting related preclinical testing and
clinical trials, as well as the need for additional financing, would have a
material adverse effect on the Company.
 
    HISTORY OF OPERATING LOSSES; UNCERTAINTY OF FUTURE PROFITABILITY.  The
Company has not been profitable since inception and, through September 30, 1997,
has incurred a cumulative deficit of approximately $34.7 million. The Company
expects to continue to incur substantial and increasing losses over at least the
next several years as the Company's research and development efforts,
preclinical and clinical testing activities and manufacturing scale-up efforts
expand and as the Company plans and builds its late stage clinical and early
commercial production facility. All of the Company's potential products are in
research or in the early stages of development, and no revenues have been
generated from approved product sales. The Company's revenues to date have
consisted primarily of payments under short-term research and feasibility
agreements and development contracts. To achieve and sustain profitable
operations, the Company, alone or with others, must successfully develop, obtain
regulatory approval for, manufacture, introduce, market and sell products
utilizing its pulmonary drug delivery system. There can be no assurance that the
Company can generate sufficient product or contract research revenue to become
profitable or to sustain profitability. See "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
    DEPENDENCE UPON COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS.  The Company currently does not
possess the resources necessary to develop, obtain regulatory approvals, or
commercialize any of its potential therapeutic products. The Company's ability
to apply its pulmonary delivery system to a broad range of drugs will depend
upon its ability to establish and maintain collaborative arrangements since many
of the drugs currently approved for sale or in clinical testing are covered by
third-party patents. The Company has entered into collaborative arrangements
with certain of its partners to fund clinical trials, assist in obtaining
regulatory approvals, supply drugs for formulation and market and distribute
products. While Inhale has also entered into agreements with partners to test
the feasibility of its pulmonary delivery system with certain of their
proprietary molecules, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able
to enter into additional collaborations or that its feasibility agreements will
lead to collaborations. There also can be no assurance that the Company will be
able to maintain any such collaborative arrangements or feasibility agreements
or that any such collaborative arrangements or feasibility agreements will be
successful. The failure of the Company to enter into or maintain such
collaborative arrangements and feasibility agreements would have a material
adverse effect on the Company. Moreover, the inability of the Company to enter
into a collaborative arrangement with the owner of any patented drug may
preclude the Company from working with such drug.
 
    The Company's existing partners have rights to pursue parallel development
of other drug delivery systems which may compete with the Company's pulmonary
drug delivery system and to terminate their agreements with the Company at any
time without significant penalty. The Company anticipates that any future
partners would have similar rights. Although the Company intends generally to
formulate and manufacture powders for partners and to supply inhalation devices
for such powders, certain partners may choose to formulate or manufacture their
own powders, or to develop or supply their own device, thereby limiting one or
more potential sources of revenue for Inhale. In addition, the Company
anticipates that it may be precluded from entering into new arrangements with
companies whose products compete with those of its existing partners. The
Company also has limited or no control over the resources that any partner may
devote to the Company's products, over partners' development efforts, including
the design and conduct of clinical trials, and over the pricing of any such
products. The pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries are consolidating, and
acquisitions by, or of, the Company's existing or potential collaborative
partners may affect the initiation or continuation of any such collaborations.
There can be no assurances that any of the Company's present or future
collaborative partners will perform their obligations as expected, will devote
sufficient resources to the development, clinical testing or marketing of the
Company's potential products or will not terminate their agreements with the
Company prematurely or renegotiate such agreements. Any parallel development by
a partner of alternate drug delivery systems, development by a partner rather
than by Inhale of components of the delivery system, preclusion from entering
into competitive arrangements, failure to obtain timely regulatory approvals,
premature termination of an agreement, renegotiation of an agreement, or failure
by a partner to devote sufficient resources to the development and
commercialization of the Company's products would have a material adverse effect
on the Company. See "Risk Factors--Dependence Upon Proprietary Technology;
Uncertainty of Obtaining Licenses or Developing Technology;" and
"Business--Inhale's Pulmonary Drug Delivery Programs in Progress."
 
    LIMITED MANUFACTURING EXPERIENCE; RISK OF SCALE-UP.  To achieve the levels
of production of Inhale's dry powder drug formulations necessary to support late
stage human clinical trials and for early commercialization of any of such
products, the Company will need to scale-up its current powder processing
facilities and automated filling, build a late stage clinical and early
commercial production facility, and comply with the good manufacturing practice
("GMP") standards prescribed by the United States Food and Drug Administration
("FDA") and other standards prescribed by various federal, state and local
regulatory agencies in the United States and any other country of use.
 
    The Company has no experience manufacturing products for large scale
clinical testing or commercial purposes. To date, the Company has performed
powder processing on the small scale needed for early stage trials and for
testing formulations of certain other potential therapeutic products and
scaled-up
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
powder processing for larger clinical trials. There can be no assurance that
manufacturing and control problems will not arise as the Company attempts to
further scale-up its powder processing facilities or that such scale-up can be
achieved in a timely manner or at a commercially reasonable cost. Any failure to
surmount such problems could delay or prevent late stage clinical testing and
commercialization of the Company's products and would have a material adverse
effect on the Company. To date, the Company has relied on a particular method of
powder processing. There can be no assurance that this technology will be
applicable to all drugs or that the drug losses in powder processing will not be
too high for commercial viability for certain drugs. In the event that the
Company decides to pursue alternative powder processing methods for some or all
of its drugs, there can be no assurance that these methods will prove
commercially practical for aerosol drugs or that the Company will have or be
able to acquire rights to use such alternative methods. See "Risk
Factors--Dependence Upon Proprietary Technology; Uncertainty of Obtaining
Licenses or Developing Technology."
 
    Fine particle powders and small quantity packaging (such as those to be used
in the Company's delivery system) require special handling. The Company has
designed and qualified small scale automated filling equipment for small
quantity packaging of fine powders. The Company faces significant technical
challenges scaling-up an automated filling system that can accurately and
economically handle the small dose and particle sizes of its powders in
commercial quantities. There can be no assurances that the Company will be able
to scale-up its automated filling equipment in a timely manner or at
commercially reasonable costs. Any failure or delay in such scale-up would delay
product development or bar commercialization of the Company's products and would
have a material adverse effect on the Company.
 
    The Company also faces technical challenges in further developing its
inhalation device to achieve the efficiency necessary to deliver a broad range
of drugs, to produce such a device in quantities sufficient for later stage
clinical trials and early commercialization, and to adapt the device as may be
required for different powder formulations. There can be no assurance that
Inhale will successfully achieve such efficiencies, will be able to produce such
quantities or will be able to adapt the device as required. The failure of the
Company to overcome any such challenges would have a material adverse effect on
the Company. For late stage clinical trials and initial commercial production,
the Company intends to use one or more contract manufacturers to produce its
device. There can be no assurance that Inhale will be able to enter into or
maintain such arrangements. The failure of the Company to enter into and
maintain such arrangements would have a material adverse effect on the Company.
See "Risk Factors--No Assurance of Successful Development or Commercialization
of Drugs for Pulmonary Delivery;" and "Business-- Manufacturing."
 
    UNCERTAINTY OF MARKET ACCEPTANCE.  The commercial success of the Company's
pulmonary drug delivery system will depend upon market acceptance by health care
providers, payors and patients. The Company's products under development use a
new method of drug delivery, and there can be no assurance that any of the
Company's products under development will ever achieve market acceptance. Market
acceptance will depend on many factors, including the safety and efficacy
results of the Company's clinical trials, favorable regulatory approval and
product labeling, the frequency of administration, the availability of
third-party reimbursement, the availability of alternative technologies and the
price of the Company's products relative to alternative technologies. There can
be no assurance that health care providers, patients or third-party payors will
accept the Company's pulmonary drug delivery system and the failure to do so
would have a material adverse effect on the Company.
 
    FUTURE CAPITAL NEEDS; UNCERTAINTY OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING.  The Company's
operations to date have consumed substantial and increasing amounts of cash. The
negative cash flow from operations is expected to continue and to accelerate in
the foreseeable future. The development of the Company's technology and proposed
products will require a commitment of substantial funds to conduct costly and
time-consuming research, preclinical and clinical testing, establish an early
commercial production facility and bring any such products to market. The
Company's future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including
continued progress in the research and development of the Company's technology
and drug
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
delivery system, the ability of the Company to establish and maintain
collaborative arrangements with others and the terms thereof, payments received
from partners under research and development agreements, progress with
preclinical and clinical trials, the time and costs involved in obtaining
regulatory approvals, the cost of development and the rate of scale-up of the
Company's powder processing and packaging technologies, the timing and costs of
its late stage clinical and early commercial production facility, the cost
involved in preparing, filing, prosecuting, maintaining and enforcing patent
claims, the need to acquire licenses to new technology and the status of
competitive products. See "Risk Factors-- Dependence Upon Collaborative
Partners."
 
    The Company expects that its existing capital resources, contract research
revenues from collaborations and the net proceeds of this offering and interest
thereon, will enable the Company to maintain its current and planned operations
at least through 1999. Thereafter, the Company may need to raise substantial
additional capital to fund its operations. The Company intends to seek such
additional funding through collaborative or partnering arrangements, the
extension of existing arrangements, or through public or private equity or debt
financings. There can be no assurance that additional financing will be
available on acceptable terms or at all. If additional funds are raised by
issuing equity securities, further dilution to shareholders may result. If
adequate funds are not available, the Company may be required to delay, reduce
the scope of, or eliminate one or more of its research or development programs
or obtain funds through arrangements with collaborative partners or others that
may require the Company to relinquish rights to certain of its technologies,
product candidates or products that the Company would otherwise seek to develop
or commercialize. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations;" and "Use of Proceeds."
 
    DEPENDENCE UPON PROPRIETARY TECHNOLOGY; UNCERTAINTY OF OBTAINING LICENSES OR
DEVELOPING TECHNOLOGY. The Company's success will depend in part upon protecting
its proprietary technology from infringement, misappropriation, duplication and
discovery. The Company intends to rely principally on a combination of patent
law, trade secrets and contract law to protect its proprietary technology in the
United States and abroad. Inhale has filed patent applications covering certain
aspects of its device, powder processing technology, and powder formulations and
pulmonary route of delivery for certain molecules, and plans to file additional
patent applications. There can be no assurance that any of the patents applied
for by the Company will issue, or that any patents that issue will be valid and
enforceable. Even if such patents are enforceable, the Company anticipates that
any attempt to enforce its patents could be time consuming and costly.
 
    The patent positions of pharmaceutical, biotechnology and drug delivery
companies, including Inhale, are uncertain and involve complex legal and factual
issues. Additionally, the coverage claimed in a patent application can be
significantly reduced before the patent is issued. As a consequence, the Company
does not know whether any of its patent applications will result in the issuance
of patents or, if any patents issue, whether they will provide significant
proprietary protection or will be circumvented or invalidated. Since patent
applications in the United States are maintained in secrecy until patents issue,
and since publication of discoveries in the scientific or patent literature
often lag behind actual discoveries, the Company cannot be certain that it was
the first inventor of inventions covered by its pending patent applications or
that it was the first to file patent applications for such inventions. Moreover,
the Company may have to participate in interference proceedings declared by the
United States Patent and Trademark Office ("PTO") to determine priority of
invention, which could result in substantial cost to the Company, even if the
eventual outcome is favorable to the Company. An adverse outcome could subject
the Company to significant liabilities to third parties, require disputed rights
to be licensed from or to third parties or require the Company to cease using
the technology in dispute.
 
    The Company is aware of numerous pending and issued U.S. and foreign patent
rights and other proprietary rights owned by third parties that relate to
aerosol devices and delivery, pharmaceutical
formulations, dry powder processing technology and the pulmonary route of
delivery for certain macromolecules. The Company cannot predict with any
certainty which, if any, patents and patent applications will be considered
relevant to the Company's technology by authorities in the various
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
jurisdictions where such rights exist, nor can the Company predict with
certainty which, if any, of these rights will or may be asserted against it by
such third parties. The Company is aware of an alternate dry powder processing
technology which Inhale is not using for its current products under development
but may desire to use for certain products in the future. The ownership of this
powder processing technology is unclear and the Company is aware that multiple
parties, including Inhale, claim patent, trade secret and other rights in the
technology. If the Company determines that this alternate powder processing
technology is relevant to the development of future products and further
determines that a license to this alternate powder processing technology is
needed, there can be no assurance that the Company can obtain a license from the
relevant party or parties on commercially reasonable terms, if at all. The
Company is also aware of an issued U.S. patent which covers a broad range of
macromolecule drugs in dry formulations. The Company is evaluating the validity
of this patent, its relevance to the Company's products and whether the license
proposed by the patent owner is of interest to the Company. There can be no
assurance that the Company can obtain any license to any technology that the
Company determines it needs, on reasonable terms, if at all, or that Inhale
could develop or otherwise obtain alternate technology. The failure of the
Company to obtain licenses if needed would have a material adverse effect on the
Company.
 
    In June 1997, the Company acquired the intellectual property portfolio of
the BioPreservation Division of Pafra Limited of Basildon, England ("Pafra").
This portfolio includes issued U.S. and foreign Letters Patent and pending
applications relating to the stabilization of macromolecule drugs in dry
formulations. A granted European patent included in this portfolio is currently
the subject of an opposition proceeding before the European Patent Office and
the Company is continuing the defense of this patent, the opposition to which
was initiated prior to the acquisition. There can be no assurance that the
Company will be successful in the defense of this opposition proceeding. In
addition, there can be no assurance that any of the Pafra patent applications
will issue, or that any Pafra patents will be valid and enforceable. The loss of
the opposition proceeding or the inability to obtain or defend the Pafra patents
could have a material adverse effect on the Company.
 
    Third parties from time to time have asserted and may assert that the
Company is employing technology that they believe is based on issued patents,
trade secrets or know-how of others. In addition, future patents may issue to
third parties which the Company's technology may infringe. The Company could
incur substantial costs in defending itself and its partners against any such
claims. Furthermore, parties making such claims may be able to obtain injunctive
or other equitable relief which could effectively block the Company's ability to
further develop or commercialize some or all of its products in the United
States and abroad, and could result in the award of substantial damages. In the
event of a claim of infringement, the Company and its partners may be required
to obtain one or more licenses from third parties. There can be no assurances
that the Company or its partners will be able to obtain such licenses at a
reasonable cost, if at all. Defense of any lawsuit or failure to obtain any such
license could have a material adverse effect on the Company.
 
    The Company's ability to develop and commercialize its technology will be
affected by the Company's or its partners' access to the drugs which are to be
formulated. Many drugs, including powder formulations of certain drugs which are
presently under development by the Company, are subject to issued and pending
United States and foreign patent rights which may be owned by competing
entities. There are issued patents and pending patent applications relating to
the pulmonary delivery of macromolecule drugs, including several for which the
Company is developing pulmonary delivery formulations. Specifically, patents
have been granted in the United States and Europe directed to aerosol
formulations for the treatment of the lung containing alpha-1 antitrypsin (U.S.)
and serine protease inhibitors, including alpha-1 antitrypsin (Europe). The
Company's development partner for alpha-1 antitrypsin, Centeon, is negotiating
with multiple partners to secure rights under these patents. The failure by
Centeon to secure rights under these patents could result in the termination of
this program by Centeon. The resulting patent situation is highly complex, and
the ability of any one company to commercialize a particular biopharmaceutical
drug is highly unpredictable. The Company intends generally to rely on the
ability of its partners to provide access to the drugs which are to be
formulated for pulmonary delivery. There can be no
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
assurance that the Company's partners will be able to provide access to drug
candidates for formulation for pulmonary delivery or that, if such access is
provided, the Company or its partners will not be accused of, or determined to
be, infringing a third party's rights and will not be prohibited from working
with the drug or be found liable for damages that may not be subject to
indemnification. Any such restriction on access or liability for damages would
have a material adverse effect on the Company.
 
    The Company also will rely on trade secrets and contract law to protect
certain of its proprietary technology. There can be no assurance that any such
contract will not be breached, or that if breached, the Company will have
adequate remedies. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that any of the
Company's trade secrets will not become known or independently discovered by
third parties.
 
    In 1995 the PTO adopted changes to the United States patent law that changed
the term of issued patents, subject to certain transition periods, to 20 years
from the date of filing rather than 17 years from date of issuance. Beginning in
June 1995, the patent term became 20 years from the earliest effective filing
date of the underlying patent application. Such change may reduce the effective
term of protection for patents that are pending for more than three years in the
PTO. In addition, as of January 1996, all inventors who work outside of the
United States are able to establish a date of invention on the same basis as
those working in the United States. Such change could adversely affect the
ability of the Company to prevail in a priority of invention dispute with a
third party located or doing work outside of the United States. While the
Company cannot predict the effect that such changes will have on its business,
such changes could have a material adverse effect on the Company's ability to
protect its proprietary information and sustain the commercial viability of its
products. Furthermore, the possibility of extensive delays in such process,
could effectively further reduce the term during which a marketed product could
be protected by patents. See "Risk Factors--Dependence Upon Collaborative
Partners," "--Government Regulation; Uncertainty of Obtaining Regulatory
Approval;" and "Business--Patents and Proprietary Rights."
 
    DEPENDENCE UPON AND NEED TO ATTRACT KEY PERSONNEL.  The Company is highly
dependent upon the principal members of its scientific and management staff. The
Company does not have employment contracts with its key employees, nor does the
Company have key man insurance policies on them. The Company also relies on
consultants and advisors to assist the Company in formulating research and
development strategy. To pursue its product development and commercialization
plans, the Company will be required to hire additional qualified scientific
personnel to perform research and development, as well as personnel with
expertise in clinical testing, government regulation and manufacturing.
Expansion in product development and manufacturing also is expected to require
the addition of management personnel and the development of additional expertise
by existing management personnel. Retaining and attracting qualified personnel,
consultants and advisors will be critical to the Company's success. The Company
faces competition for qualified individuals from numerous pharmaceutical,
biotechnology and drug delivery companies, universities and other research
institutions. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to retain
its current key employees or attract and retain qualified additional personnel
and management when needed and its failure to do so would have a material
adverse effect on the Company's ability to develop and commercialize products.
 
    GOVERNMENT REGULATION; UNCERTAINTY OF OBTAINING REGULATORY APPROVAL.  The
production and marketing of the Company's products and its ongoing research and
development activities are subject to regulation by numerous governmental
authorities in the United States and other countries. Prior to marketing a new
dosage form of any drug, including one developed for use with the Company's
pulmonary drug delivery system, whether or not such drug was already approved
for marketing in another dosage form, the product must undergo rigorous
preclinical and clinical testing and an extensive review process mandated by the
FDA and equivalent foreign authorities. These processes generally take a number
of years and require the expenditure of substantial resources. None of the
Company's proposed products has been submitted to the FDA for marketing
approval. The Company has no experience obtaining such regulatory approval, does
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
not have the expertise or other resources to do so and intends to rely on its
partners to fund clinical testing and to obtain product approvals. See "Risk
Factors--Dependence Upon Collaborative Partners."
 
    The time required for completing such testing and obtaining such approvals
is uncertain. Further refinement of the device prototype, further scale-up of
the powder processing system and automated powder filling and packaging system
will need to be accomplished before initiation of later stage clinical trials.
Any delay in any of these components of product development may delay testing.
In addition, delays or rejections may be encountered based upon changes in FDA
policy, including FDA policy relating to GMP compliance, during the period of
product development. Similar delays may also be encountered in other countries.
If regulatory approval of a product is granted, such approval may entail
limitations on the indicated uses for which the product may be marketed, and the
marketed product, its manufacturer, and its manufacturing facilities remain
subject to continual review and periodic inspections. Later discovery of
previously unknown problems with a product, manufacturer or facility may result
in restrictions on such product or manufacturer, including withdrawal of the
product from the market. There can be no assurance that regulatory approval will
be obtained for any products developed by the Company on a timely basis, or at
all. The failure to obtain timely regulatory approval of its products, any
product marketing limitations or a product withdrawal would have a material
adverse effect on the Company. See "Business--Government Regulation."
 
    UNCERTAINTY RELATED TO THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY AND THIRD-PARTY
REIMBURSEMENT.  Political, economic and regulatory influences are subjecting the
health care industry in the United States to fundamental change. Recent
initiatives to reduce the federal deficit and to reform health care delivery are
increasing cost-containment efforts. The Company anticipates that Congress,
state legislatures and the private sector will continue to review and assess
alternative benefits, controls on health care spending through limitations on
the growth of private health insurance premiums and Medicare and Medicaid
spending, the creation of large insurance purchasing groups, price controls on
pharmaceuticals and other fundamental changes to the health care delivery
system. Any such proposed or actual changes could cause the Company or its
collaborative partners to limit or eliminate spending on development projects.
Legislative debate is expected to continue in the future, and market forces are
expected to demand reduced costs. Inhale cannot predict what effect the adoption
of any federal or state health care reform measures or future private sector
reforms may have on its business.
 
    In both domestic and foreign markets, sales of the Company's products under
development will depend in part upon the availability of reimbursement from
third-party payors, such as government health administration authorities,
managed care providers, private health insurers and other organizations. In
addition, other third-party payors are increasingly challenging the price and
cost effectiveness of medical products and services. Significant uncertainty
exists as to the reimbursement status of newly approved health care products.
There can be no assurance that the Company's proposed products will be
considered cost effective or that adequate third-party reimbursement will be
available to enable Inhale to maintain price levels sufficient to realize an
appropriate return on its investment in product development. Legislation and
regulations affecting the pricing of pharmaceuticals may change before the
Company's proposed products are approved for marketing. Adoption of such
legislation could further limit reimbursement for medical products. If adequate
coverage and reimbursement levels are not provided by the government and
third-party payors for the Company's potential products, the market acceptance
of these products would be adversely affected, which would have a material
adverse effect on the Company.
 
    HIGHLY COMPETITIVE INDUSTRY; RISK OF TECHNOLOGICAL OBSOLESCENCE.  The
biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries are highly competitive and rapidly
evolving and significant developments are expected to continue at a rapid pace.
The Company's success depends upon maintaining a competitive position in the
development of products and technologies for pulmonary delivery of
pharmaceutical drugs. If a competing company were to develop or acquire rights
to a better dry powder pulmonary delivery device or fine powder processing
technology, a better system for efficiently and reproducibly delivering drugs to
the deep lung, a non-invasive drug delivery system which is more attractive for
the delivery of drugs than pulmonary
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
delivery, or an invasive delivery system which overcomes some of the drawbacks
of current invasive systems for chronic or subchronic indications (such as a
sustained release system), the Company's business could be materially adversely
affected.
 
    The Company is in competition with pharmaceutical, biotechnology and drug
delivery companies, hospitals, research organizations, individual scientists and
nonprofit organizations engaged in the development of alternative drug delivery
systems or new drug research and testing, as well as with entities producing and
developing injectable drugs. The Company is aware of a number of companies
currently seeking to develop new products and non-invasive alternatives to
injectable drug delivery, including oral delivery systems, intranasal delivery
systems, transdermal systems and colonic absorption systems. Several of these
companies may have developed or be developing dry powder devices that could be
used for pulmonary delivery. The Company is also aware of other companies
currently engaged in the development and commercialization of pulmonary drug
delivery systems and enhanced injectable drug delivery systems. Many of these
companies and entities have greater research and development capabilities,
experience, manufacturing, marketing, financial and managerial resources than
the Company and represent significant competition for the Company. Acquisitions
of competing drug delivery companies by large pharmaceutical companies could
enhance competitors' financial, marketing and other resources. Accordingly, the
Company's competitors may succeed in developing competing technologies,
obtaining FDA approval for products or gain market acceptance more rapidly than
the Company. There can be no assurance that developments by others will not
render the Company's products or technologies uncompetitive or obsolete. See
"Business--Competition."
 
    PRODUCT LIABILITY; AVAILABILITY OF INSURANCE.  The design, development and
manufacture of the Company's products involve an inherent risk of product
liability claims and associated adverse publicity. Although the Company
currently maintains general liability insurance, there can be no assurance that
the coverage limits of the Company's insurance policies will be adequate. The
Company obtained clinical trial product liability insurance of $3.0 million per
event for certain clinical trials and intends to obtain insurance for future
clinical trials of insulin and other products under development. There can be no
assurance, however, that the Company will be able to obtain or maintain
insurance for any future clinical trials. Such insurance is expensive, difficult
to obtain and may not be available in the future on acceptable terms, or at all.
A successful claim brought against the Company in excess of the Company's
insurance coverage would have a material adverse effect upon the Company and its
financial condition.
 
    HAZARDOUS MATERIALS.  The Company's research and development involves the
controlled use of hazardous materials, chemicals and various radioactive
compounds. Although the Company believes that its safety procedures for handling
and disposing of such materials comply with the standards prescribed by state
and federal regulations, the risk of accidental contamination or injury from
these materials cannot be completely eliminated. In the event of such an
accident, the Company could be held liable for any damages that result and any
such liability could exceed the resources of the Company. The Company may incur
substantial costs to comply with environmental regulations.
 
    ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS.  Certain provisions of the Company's Restated
Articles of Incorporation and the California General Corporation Law could
discourage a third party from attempting to acquire, or make it more difficult
for a third party to acquire, control of the Company without approval of the
Company's Board of Directors. Such provisions could also limit the price that
certain investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of Common
Stock. Certain of such provisions allow the Board of Directors to authorize the
issuance of Preferred Stock with rights superior to those of the Common Stock.
The Company also will be subject to the provisions of Section 1203 of the
California General Corporation Law which requires a fairness opinion to be
provided to the Company's shareholders in connection with their consideration of
any proposed "interested party" reorganization transaction.
 
    POTENTIAL VOLATILITY OF STOCK PRICE.  The market prices for securities of
early stage biotechnology companies have historically been highly volatile and
the market from time to time experienced significant
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
price and volume fluctuations that are unrelated to the operating performance of
particular companies. Factors such as fluctuations in the Company's operating
results, announcements of technological innovations or new therapeutic products
or the announcement or termination of collaborative relationships by the Company
or its competitors, governmental regulation, clinical trial results,
developments in patent or other proprietary rights, public concern as to the
safety of drug formulations developed by the Company or others and general
market conditions may have a significant effect on the market price of the
Common Stock. The Company's securities are subject to a high degree of risk and
volatility. In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of
a company's securities, class action securities litigation has often been
instituted against such a company. Any such litigation instigated against the
Company could result in substantial costs and a diversion of management's
attention and resources, which could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business, financial condition and operating results. See "Price Range
of Common Stock," and "Underwriting."
 
    SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE; REGISTRATION RIGHTS.  Future sales of
substantial amounts of Common Stock in the public market could have an adverse
effect on the price of the Company's Common Stock and may impair the Company's
ability to raise additional funds through equity financings. Upon completion of
the offering, the Company will have outstanding an aggregate of 15,268,880
shares of Common Stock, assuming no exercise of the Underwriters' over-allotment
option and no exercise of outstanding options and based upon the number of
shares outstanding as of September 30, 1997. Of these shares, all of the shares
sold in this offering and approximately 10,644,140 additional shares already
outstanding will be freely tradeable without restriction or further registration
under the Securities Act (unless such shares are subject to an agreement not to
sell described below). The remaining 3,124,740 shares of Common Stock held by
existing shareholders are "restricted securities" as that term is defined in
Rule 144 under the Securities Act (the "Restricted Shares"). Restricted Shares
may be sold in the public market only if registered or if they qualify for an
exemption from registration under Rules 144 or 701 promulgated under the
Securities Act. The Company and its executive officers and directors, who own in
the aggregate 1,083,544 shares of Common Stock, have agreed, subject to certain
limited exceptions, that they will not, without the prior written consent of
Lehman Brothers Inc., directly or indirectly, sell, offer, contract to sell,
transfer the economic risk of ownership in, make any short sale, pledge or
otherwise dispose of any shares of Common Stock or other securities convertible
or exchangeable or exercisable for, or any other rights to purchase or acquire
shares, of Common Stock owned by them during the 90 day period commencing on the
date of this Prospectus. In addition, 725,552 shares of Common Stock issued to
Pfizer in January 1995 and 1,335,587 shares of Common Stock issued to Baxter in
March 1996 are subject to agreements with the Company restricting the sale,
transfer or other disposition of such shares until February 2000 and March 1999,
respectively, unless the Company agrees to an earlier release of such
restrictions. The Company has filed a registration statement under the
Securities Act to register shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under
the Company's equity incentive plans, thus permitting the resale of such shares
by non-affiliates and by affiliates, subject to Rule 144 volume limitations
applicable thereto, in the public market without restriction under the
Securities Act. As of September 30, 1997, there was a total of 2,157,029 shares
of Common Stock subject to outstanding options under the Company's equity
incentive plans, 694,227 of which were vested and exercisable. The holders of
677,044 shares of Common Stock are entitled to certain demand registration
rights with respect to such shares. In addition, Pfizer has the right to include
any shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to its Stock Purchase Agreement with
the Company, dated January 18, 1995 in the first public offering of the Common
Stock effected after January 18, 2000 and Baxter has the right to include any
shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to its Stock Purchase Agreement with the
Company, dated March 1, 1996 in the first public offering of the Common Stock
effected after March 1, 1999.
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
                                  THE COMPANY
 
    Inhale Therapeutic Systems was incorporated in California in July 1990. The
Company's executive offices are located at 1525 Industrial Way, Belmont,
California, 94002 and its telephone number is (650) 631-3100.
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
    The net proceeds to the Company from the sale of the 1,500,000 shares of
Common Stock offered hereby are estimated to be $42,332,500 ($48,757,375 if the
Underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full), at an assumed
offering price of $30.38 per share and after deducting underwriting discounts
and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by the Company.
 
    The Company expects to use approximately 75% of the net proceeds of this
offering to develop and acquire additional clinical and commercial production
technology, capacity, and facilities and to cover expenses associated with
additional personnel necessary to permit the Company to manufacture and package
dry powder formulations for human clinical trials and commercial production.
Approximately 25% of the net proceeds will be used to fund further development
of the Company's proprietary device and other research and development
activities, the acquisition of other complementary technologies, working capital
and general corporate purposes. The amounts and timing of funds required for
specific uses by the Company cannot be precisely determined by the Company at
this time. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations--Liquidity and Capital Resources." The Company expects
that its existing capital resources, including contract research revenues and
milestone revenues from current collaborations, and possible additional
equipment leases, together with the net proceeds of this offering and interest
thereon, will enable the Company to maintain its current and planned operations
at least through 1999. Pending such uses, the net proceeds of this offering will
be invested in short-term, interest-bearing, investment-grade instruments. See
"Risk Factors--Future Capital Needs; Uncertainty of Additional Funding."
 
                                DIVIDEND POLICY
 
    The Company has never declared or paid any cash dividends on its capital
stock. The Company currently intends to retain any future earnings to finance
the growth and development of its business and therefore does not anticipate
paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
                                 CAPITALIZATION
 
    The following table sets forth the capitalization of the Company (i) as of
September 30, 1997, and (ii) as adjusted as of September 30, 1997, to give
effect to the issuance and sale of the 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock offered
hereby at an assumed offering price of $30.38 per share and after deducting
underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable
by the Company. This table should be read in conjunction with the financial
statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                              SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
                                                                                            ----------------------
                                                                                             ACTUAL    AS ADJUSTED
                                                                                            ---------  -----------
                                                                                                (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                                         <C>        <C>
Equipment financing obligations, less current portion.....................................  $     148   $     148
Shareholders' equity:
  Preferred stock, no par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and
    outstanding...........................................................................     --          --
  Common stock, no par value; 30,000,000 shares authorized; 13,768,880 shares issued and
    outstanding, actual; and 15,268,880 shares issued and outstanding, as adjusted(1).....     94,529     136,862
  Accumulated deficit.....................................................................    (34,684)    (34,684)
                                                                                            ---------  -----------
    Total shareholders' equity............................................................     59,845     102,178
                                                                                            ---------  -----------
      Total capitalization................................................................  $  59,993   $ 102,326
                                                                                            ---------  -----------
                                                                                            ---------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
 
(1) Excludes, as of September 30, 1997, 2,157,029 shares of Common Stock
    issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options and 52,727 shares of
    Common Stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants.
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
                          PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK
 
    The Company's Common Stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the
symbol INHL. The following table sets forth the closing information on the high
and low closing bid prices for the Company's Common Stock as reported on the
Nasdaq National Market for the periods indicated below.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FISCAL PERIOD                                                                         HIGH        LOW
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                                 <C>        <C>
1995
First Quarter.....................................................................  $  11.375  $   7.250
Second Quarter....................................................................      8.000      7.000
Third Quarter.....................................................................     14.750      7.625
Fourth Quarter....................................................................     11.500      7.250
 
1996
First Quarter.....................................................................     16.750      9.750
Second Quarter....................................................................     21.500      15.00
Third Quarter.....................................................................     18.625     12.625
Fourth Quarter....................................................................     17.625     12.875
 
1997
First Quarter.....................................................................     22.625     15.125
Second Quarter....................................................................     25.000     18.375
Third Quarter.....................................................................     33.625     18.750
Fourth Quarter (through October 1, 1997)..........................................  $  31.375  $  30.250
</TABLE>
 
    As of October 1, 1997, there were approximately 117 holders of record of the
Company's Common Stock. On October 1, the last sale price reported on the Nasdaq
National Market for the Common Stock was $30.38 per share.
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
                                    DILUTION
 
    The net tangible book value of the Company at September 30, 1997 was
approximately $59,845,000 or $4.35 per share of Common Stock. Net tangible book
value per share represents the amount of the Company's total tangible assets
less its total liabilities, divided by the total number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding. After giving effect to the issuance and sale of the 1,500,000
shares of Common Stock offered hereby (at an assumed offering price of $30.38
per share) and receipt of the net proceeds (after deducting underwriting
commissions and discounts and estimated offering expenses payable by the
Company) therefrom, the adjusted pro forma net tangible book value of the
Company at September 30, 1997 would have been approximately $102,177,500 or
$6.69 per share, representing an immediate increase in net tangible book value
of $2.34 per share to existing shareholders and an immediate dilution of $23.69
per share to the persons purchasing shares at the public offering price ("New
Investors"). The following table illustrates this per share dilution:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                                    <C>        <C>
Public offering price per share......................................................             $   30.38
  Net tangible book value per share at September 30, 1997............................  $    4.35
  Increase per share attributable to purchase by New Investors.......................       2.34
                                                                                       ---------
  Adjusted pro forma net tangible book value per share as of September 30, 1997 after
    offering(1)(2)...................................................................                  6.69
                                                                                                  ---------
Dilution per share to New Investors(1)(2)............................................             $   23.69
                                                                                                  ---------
                                                                                                  ---------
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
 
(1) If the Underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full, the
    adjusted pro forma net tangible book value per share will be $7.01,
    resulting in immediate dilution to New Investors of $23.37 per share.
 
(2) If all outstanding options and warrants outstanding at September 30, 1997 to
    purchase an aggregate of 2,209,756 shares of Common Stock at a weighted
    average exercise price of $11.98 were exercised in full in addition to the
    Underwriters' over-allotment option, the adjusted pro forma net tangible
    book value per share would be $7.63, resulting in immediate dilution to New
    Investors of $22.75 per share.
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
                            SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
 
    The selected financial data set forth below with respect to the Company's
statements of operations for each of the five years in the period ended December
31, 1996 are derived from audited financial statements of the Company that have
been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, and are qualified by
reference to such financial statements and notes related thereto. The balance
sheet data at December 31, 1995 and 1996 and the statement of operations data
for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1996, are derived
from audited financial statements included elsewhere in this Prospectus. The
balance sheet data at December 31, 1992, 1993 and 1994 and the statement of
operations data for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 1993
are derived from audited financial statements not included in this Prospectus.
The balance sheet data at September 30, 1997 and the statement of operations
data for the nine months ended September 30, 1996, and 1997 are derived from
unaudited financial statements included elsewhere herein. The unaudited
financial statements include all adjustments, consisting only of normal
recurring adjustments, which the Company considers necessary for fair
presentation of its financial position and results of operations for these
periods. Operating results for the nine months ended September 30, 1997 are not
necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire year
ending December 31, 1997. This selected financial data should be read in
conjunction with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations" and the Financial Statements and Notes thereto
incorporated by reference or included elsewhere herein.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                            NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                               YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,                       SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                 -----------------------------------------------------  -------------------------
                                                   1992       1993       1994       1995       1996       1996          1997
                                                 ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  --------------
                                                                      (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S>                                              <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
  Contract research revenue....................  $      98  $     708  $   1,651  $   3,445  $   6,890  $   4,722    $   11,459
  Operating costs and expenses:
    Research and development...................      1,259      2,765      4,934      9,041     14,376     10,129        16,640
    General and administrative.................        580        856      2,465      3,232      4,004      2,341         4,244
                                                 ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------       -------
  Total operating costs and expenses...........      1,839      3,621      7,399     12,273     18,380     12,470        20,884
                                                 ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------       -------
  Loss from operations.........................     (1,741)    (2,913)    (5,748)    (8,828)   (11,490)    (7,748)       (9,425)
  Interest income..............................         80        156        592      1,252      1,638      1,156         2,453
  Interest expense.............................        (20)      (104)      (123)       (86)       (57)       (47)          (21)
                                                 ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------       -------
  Net loss.....................................  $  (1,681) $  (2,861) $  (5,279) $  (7,662) $  (9,909) $  (6,639)   $   (6,993)
                                                 ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------       -------
                                                 ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------       -------
  Net loss per share(1)........................  $   (0.61) $   (1.03) $   (0.86) $   (0.78) $   (0.88) $   (0.60)   $    (0.52)
                                                 ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------       -------
                                                 ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------       -------
  Shares used in net loss per share
    calculation(1).............................      2,777      2,787      6,103      9,837     11,207     11,025        13,417
                                                 ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------       -------
                                                 ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------       -------
 
<CAPTION>
 
                                                                     DECEMBER 31,                          SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
                                                 -----------------------------------------------------  -------------------------
                                                   1992       1993       1994       1995       1996      ACTUAL    AS ADJUSTED(2)
                                                 ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  --------------
                                                                                  (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                              <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
  Cash, cash equivalents and short-term
    investments................................  $   3,712  $   5,513  $  14,423  $  19,927  $  36,309  $  57,659    $   99,992
  Working capital..............................      3,345      4,954     13,451     17,701     31,304     49,743        92,076
  Total assets.................................      4,376      7,190     17,249     23,248     41,492     74,848       117,181
  Equipment financing obligations, less current
    portion....................................        229        652        460        353        187        148           148
  Accumulated deficit..........................     (1,968)    (4,829)   (10,108)   (17,770)   (27,691)   (34,684)      (34,684)
  Total shareholders' equity...................      3,742      5,891     15,427     20,182     35,061     59,845       102,178
</TABLE>
 
- --------------------------
 
(1) Net loss per share is based upon the weighted average number of common and
    certain dilutive common equivalent shares outstanding. See note 1 to
    financial statements.
 
(2) As adjusted to reflect the sale by the Company of 1,500,000 shares of Common
    Stock at the assumed offering price of $30.38 per share and the application
    of the net proceeds therefrom as described in "Use of Proceeds."
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
                      MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
                OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
    THIS PROSPECTUS CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS THAT INVOLVE RISKS AND
UNCERTAINTIES. THE STATEMENTS CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS THAT ARE NOT
HISTORICAL ARE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 27A OF
THE SECURITIES ACT AND SECTION 21E OF THE EXCHANGE ACT, INCLUDING WITHOUT
LIMITATION STATEMENTS REGARDING THE COMPANY'S EXPECTATIONS, BELIEFS, INTENTIONS
OR STRATEGIES REGARDING THE FUTURE. ALL FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS INCLUDED IN
THIS DOCUMENT ARE BASED ON INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THE COMPANY ON THE DATE
HEREOF, AND THE COMPANY ASSUMES NO OBLIGATION TO UPDATE ANY SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS. THE COMPANY'S ACTUAL RESULTS COULD DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE
ANTICIPATED IN THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AS A RESULT OF CERTAIN FACTORS,
INCLUDING THOSE SET FORTH BELOW, UNDER "RISK FACTORS" AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS.
 
    READERS ARE CAUTIONED NOT TO PLACE UNDUE RELIANCE ON THESE FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS, WHICH REFLECT MANAGEMENT'S ANALYSIS ONLY AS OF THE DATE HEREOF. THE
COMPANY UNDERTAKES NO OBLIGATION TO PUBLICLY RELEASE THE RESULTS OF ANY REVISION
TO THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS WHICH MAY BE MADE TO REFLECT EVENTS OR
CIRCUMSTANCES OCCURRING AFTER THE DATE HEREOF OR TO REFLECT THE OCCURRENCE OF
UNANTICIPATED EVENTS.
 
OVERVIEW
 
    Since its inception in July 1990, Inhale has been engaged in the development
of a pulmonary system for the delivery of macromolecules and other drugs for
systemic and local lung applications. The Company has been unprofitable since
inception and expects to incur significant and increasing additional operating
losses over the next several years primarily due to increasing research and
development expenditures and expansion of late stage clinical and early stage
commercial manufacturing facilities. To date, Inhale has not sold any products
and does not anticipate receiving revenue from product sales or royalties in the
near future. For the period from inception through September 30, 1997, the
Company incurred a cumulative net loss of approximately $34.7 million. The
sources of working capital have been equity financing, financing of equipment
acquisitions, interest earned on investments of cash, and revenues from
short-term research and feasibility agreements and development contracts.
 
    Inhale typically has been compensated for research and development expenses
during initial feasibility work performed under collaborative arrangements.
Inhale's strategy is to enter into development contracts with pharmaceutical and
biotechnology corporate partners after feasibility is demonstrated. Partners
that enter into collaborative agreements will pay for research and development
expenses and may make payments to Inhale as it achieves certain key milestones.
Inhale expects to receive royalties from its partners based on revenues received
from product sales, and to receive revenue from the manufacturing of powders and
the supply of devices. In certain cases, the Company may enter into
collaborative agreements under which the Company's partners would manufacture or
package powders or supply inhalation devices, thereby potentially limiting one
or more sources of revenue for the Company. To achieve and sustain profitable
operations, the Company, alone or with others, must successfully develop, obtain
regulatory approval for, manufacture, introduce, market and sell products
utilizing its pulmonary drug delivery system. There can be no assurance that the
Company can generate sufficient product or contract research revenue to become
profitable or to sustain profitability.
 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
    NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND 1997
 
    Revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 1996 were $4.7 million as
compared to $11.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 1997. The 143%
increase in revenue for the nine month period ended September 30, 1997 as
compared to September 30, 1996 was primarily due to the signing of additional
corporate partners in 1997 as well as the expansion of the Company's existing
collaborative agreements. In January 1997 the Company entered into a development
agreement with Lilly to develop a pulmonary delivery product for an osteoporosis
drug. Under the terms of the agreement, Inhale will
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
receive up to an estimated $20 million in initial fees, funding for research and
milestone payments. In return, Lilly will receive global commercialization
rights for the pulmonary delivery of the products with Inhale receiving
royalties on any marketed products. In addition, in January 1997 the Company
announced an agreement with Centeon L.L.C. to develop a pulmonary formulation of
alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor. Under this agreement, the Company will receive up
to an estimated $15 million in funding for research and milestone payments and
royalties on future product sales. In return, Centeon will receive
commercialization rights worldwide outside of Japan. Revenue for the nine month
periods ended September 30, 1996 and 1997 was comprised of reimbursed research
and development expenses and the amortization of the pro-rata portion of the
up-front signing and milestone payments based on actual efforts expended. Costs
of contract research revenue approximate such revenue and are included in
research and development expenses.
 
    Research and development expenses for the nine months ended September 30,
1996 were $10.1 million compared with $16.6 million for the nine months ended
September 30, 1997. The 64% increase for the nine month period ended September
30, 1997 compared with the nine month period ended September 30, 1996 is
primarily attributed to continued expansion of research activities resulting
from an increase in the number of projects, additional hiring of scientific
personnel, costs associated with the development of the Company's commercial
manufacturing facility and increased costs of laboratory supplies and consulting
services. The Company expects research, development and process development
spending to increase significantly over the next few years as the Company
continues to expand research and development and prepares for initial commercial
manufacturing.
 
    For the nine month period ended September 30, 1996 general and
administrative expenses were $2.3 million compared with $4.2 million in the
comparable period of 1997. The 81% increase for the nine month period ended
September 30, 1997 compared with the nine month period ended September 30, 1996
was due primarily to support of the Company's increased research efforts
including administrative staffing, business development activities and marketing
activities. General and administrative expenses are expected to continue to
increase to support increased levels of research, development and manufacturing
activities.
 
    Net interest income was $1.1 million for the nine months ended September 30,
1996 compared with $2.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 1997.
The 119% increase in net interest income for the nine month period ended
September 30, 1997 when compared with 1996 was due to the Company maintaining
larger cash and investment balances. The higher cash and investment balances
resulted from receipt by the Company of milestone and research funding payments
from collaborative partners and $30.4 million of net proceeds received from a
private placement of the Company's Common Stock in February 1997.
 
    YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1994, 1995 AND 1996
 
    Contract research revenue was $1.7, $3.4 and $6.9 million for the years
ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively. In 1995 revenue increased
109% from 1994 levels. In 1996 revenue increased 100% from 1995 levels. The year
to year increases are the result of an increase in the number of research
feasibility agreements and development contracts with partners as well as
revenue earned in 1995 and 1996 by the Company under its existing development
agreements. Costs of contract research revenue approximate such revenue and are
included in research and development expense.
 
    Contract revenues are expected to fluctuate from year to year, and future
contract revenues cannot be predicted accurately. The level of contract revenues
depends in part upon future success in obtaining new collaborative agreements,
timely completion of feasibility studies, the continuation of existing
collaborations and achievement of milestones under current and future
agreements. Nevertheless, the Company expects higher contract revenues in 1997
as it continues its activities under collaborative development agreements.
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
    Research and development expenses were $4.9, $9.0 and $14.4 million for the
years ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively. These expenses
represent proprietary research expenses as well as the costs related to contract
research revenue and include salaries and benefits of scientific and development
personnel, laboratory supplies, consulting services, facilities, costs of
obtaining intellectual property protection for Inhale's technologies and
expenses associated with the development of manufacturing processes. The $4.1
million increase in research and development expenses in 1995 from 1994 and the
$5.3 million increase in 1996 from 1995 were primarily due to the hiring of
additional research personnel and increased expenses associated with expanding
laboratory and clinical manufacturing facilities. The Company expects research
and development and process development spending to increase significantly over
the next few years as the Company expands proprietary development efforts under
collaborative agreements and scales up a manufacturing facility for late stage
clinical trials and early commercial manufacturing.
 
    General and administrative expenses were $2.5, $3.2 and $4.0 million for the
years ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively. The $767,000
increase in general and administrative expenses in 1995 from 1994 and the
$772,000 increase in 1996 from 1995 was due primarily to costs associated with
supporting the Company's increased research and development programs and
accelerated business development efforts. The Company expects general and
administrative spending to increase over the next few years as the Company
expands operations.
 
    Net interest income was $469,000, $1.2 million and $1.6 million for the
years ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively. The increase of
$697,000 in net interest income in 1995 from 1994 was due primarily to higher
cash balances as a result of the $7.2 million net proceeds received from the
Company's follow-on public offering of Common Stock in March 1995. In addition,
in February 1995 Pfizer made a $5.0 million equity investment in Inhale at a 25%
premium-to-market price in conjunction with the January 1995 agreement between
the Company and Pfizer. The $415,000 increase in net interest income in 1996
from 1995 was due primarily to interest earned on higher average cash balances
as a result of Baxter making a $20.0 million equity investment in Inhale at a
25% premium-to-market price in conjunction with the March 1996 development
agreement between the Company and Baxter. In addition, in October 1996 Pfizer
made an additional $5.0 million investment in Inhale pursuant to the January
1995 agreement between the Company and Pfizer to develop insulin products using
Inhale's non-invasive pulmonary drug delivery system.
 
    At December 31, 1996, the Company had federal net operating loss
carryforwards of approximately $23.0 million. These carryforwards will expire
beginning in the year 2006. Utilization of net operating loss carryforwards may
be subject to substantial annual limitation due to the ownership change
limitation provided for by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. The annual
limitation may result in the expiration of net operating loss carryforwards
before utilization.
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
    The Company has financed its operations primarily through private placements
and public offerings of its equity securities, contract research and milestone
revenues, interest income earned on its investments of cash and financing of
equipment acquisitions. In its initial public offering completed May 1994, the
Company raised net proceeds of approximately $14.4 million and raised additional
net proceeds of $7.2 million in its public offering completed in March 1995. On
February 7, 1997 the Company completed a private placement of its Common Stock,
selling 1.8 million newly issued shares for net proceeds of $30.4 million. At
September 30, 1997, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and short-term
investments of approximately $57.7 million.
 
    The Company's operations used cash of $6.7 million in the nine months ended
September 30, 1996 and $2.0 million for the nine months ended September 30,
1997. The decrease in cash used by operations from the nine months ended
September 30, 1996 to the nine months ended September 30, 1997 is due
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
primarily to the increase in advance payments received under the Company's
collaborative agreements for work to be performed in future periods. Cash used
in operations differed from the Company's net operating losses in these periods
due principally to depreciation expenses, decreases in accounts receivable and
increases in other current assets, notes receivable, accounts payable, deferred
revenue and accrued liabilities. The Company's operations used cash of $4.0,
$5.3 and $5.8 million in the years ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996,
respectively. These amounts differed from the Company's net operating losses in
these periods due principally to depreciation expenses and increases in accounts
payable, accrued liabilities and deferred revenue. Additionally, in 1994,
non-cash amortization of deferred compensation expense of approximately $348,000
contributed to the difference between the net operating losses and cash used by
operations.
 
    In the nine months ended September 30, 1996 the Company purchased property
and equipment of $1.6 million compared with $8.2 million for the same period in
1997. The Company purchased property and equipment of $1.4, $1.3 and $2.2
million during the years ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively.
The increase for the nine months ended September 30, 1997 is primarily due to
the expansion of the Company's new facility in Belmont, California. The increase
in 1996 was primarily due to the purchase of equipment as a result of the
expansion of research and development activity.
 
    The Company expects its cash requirements to increase due to expected
increases in expenses related to the further research and development of its
technologies. Such increases will result from a larger number of projects,
development of drug formulations, process development for the manufacture and
filling of powders and devices, marketing and general and administrative costs.
These expenses include, but are not limited to, increases in personnel and
personnel related costs, purchases of capital equipment, inhalation device
prototype construction and facilities expansion, including the planning and
building of a late-stage clinical and early-stage commercial manufacturing
facility.
 
    The Company believes that its cash, cash equivalents and short-term
investments as of September 30, 1997 together with the net proceeds from this
offering, use of the $10.0 million credit facility obtained from Silicon Valley
Bank in May 1997, interest income and possible additional equipment financing,
will be sufficient to meet its operating expense and capital expenditure
requirements at least through 1999. However, the Company's capital needs will
depend on many factors, including continued scientific progress in its research
and development arrangements, progress with pre-clinical and clinical trials,
the time and costs involved in obtaining regulatory approvals, the costs of
scaling-up the Company's powder processing and packaging technologies, the
timing and cost of its late-stage clinical and early commercial production
facility, the costs involved in preparing, filing, prosecuting, maintaining and
enforcing patent claims, the need to acquire licenses to new technologies and
the status of competitive products. To satisfy its long-term needs, the Company
intends to seek additional funding, as necessary, from corporate partners and
from the sale of securities. There can be no assurance that additional funds, if
and when required, will be available to the Company on favorable terms, if at
all.
 
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENT
 
    In February 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128 "Earnings Per Share" ("SFAS 128")
which requires disclosure of basic earnings per share and diluted earnings per
share and is effective for periods ending subsequent to December 15, 1997. The
pro forma effect of adoption of SFAS 128 would have no effect on the financial
statements.
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
                                    BUSINESS
 
OPPORTUNITY FOR PULMONARY DRUG DELIVERY
 
    MACROMOLECULES
 
    Innovations in biotechnology and recombinant techniques have led to a large
increase in the number of macromolecule drugs over the last several years. These
drugs, which are identical or similar to the body's natural molecules, are
enabling new therapies for many previously untreated or poorly treated diseases.
Approximately 30 macromolecule drugs are approved for marketing in the United
States and approximately 120 additional macromolecule drugs are in human
clinical trials, many for chronic and subchronic diseases. Sales of genetically
engineered protein drugs were estimated at $7.6 billion worldwide in 1995.
Worldwide sales of insulin, for example, were estimated at $2.5 billion in 1995.
 
    Due principally to their large size, most macromolecules typically have been
delivered by injection. Drug injections performed in hospitals or doctors'
offices can be expensive and inconvenient to patients. Many patients find
self-injectable therapies unpleasant. As a result, such therapies for many
chronic and subchronic diseases meet with varying degrees of patient acceptance
and compliance with the prescribed regimens. Poor acceptance and compliance can
lead to increased incidence of medical complications and potentially higher
disease management costs. In addition, some elderly, infirm or pediatric
patients cannot administer their own injections and require assistance, thereby
increasing inconvenience to these patients and the cost of therapy.
 
    Medical science, health care providers and consumers have been searching for
alternatives to injection as a means of delivery of macromolecules used in the
systemic treatment of chronic and sub-chronic diseases. Several non-invasive
routes of delivery are being explored for macromolecule drugs, including oral,
transdermal, nasal and pulmonary, such as metered-dose inhalers (MDIs).
 
    Oral delivery is a common method of delivery for many small molecule drugs.
However, drug delivery scientists generally believe that oral delivery provides
extremely low delivery system efficiency for most macromolecules. In addition,
the Company believes that dosage reproducibility for oral delivery of
macromolecules may be very poor because of their low oral bioavailability. While
several companies are working on oral delivery for macromolecule drugs, no
commercially viable system is currently being marketed.
 
    Passive transdermal delivery using "patch" technology has not been
successful to date since the skin is even less naturally permeable to
macromolecules than the gastrointestinal tract. No macromolecule drugs have been
approved for marketing in the United States utilizing patch technology. Certain
peptides and proteins can be transported across the skin barrier into the
bloodstream using high pressure "needle-less" injection devices. The devices,
which inject proteins like insulin through the skin into the body, have been
available for many years. However, the Company believes these devices have not
been well accepted due to patient discomfort and relatively high cost.
 
    The nasal route has been shown to have low and variable bioavailability for
proteins and peptides which is a major limitation for the nasal administration
of such drugs. As a result of these limitations, penetration enhancers are often
used with nasal delivery to achieve higher bioavailability; these enhancers may
cause local irritation to the nasal tissue and result in safety concerns with
long-term use. Only four peptides have been approved for marketing in the United
States utilizing nasal delivery.
 
    Pulmonary drug delivery systems, such as MDIs, existing dry powder inhalers
and nebulizers, are used primarily to deliver drugs to the airways of the lung
for local lung applications. Approximately 30 drugs are approved for marketing
by the FDA for delivery into the lung, but none of these delivery devices was
designed to optimize drug delivery to the deep lung for absorption into the
bloodstream. Current MDIs, dry powder inhalers and nebulizers typically deliver
only a fraction of the drug to the deep lung, with most of the drug being lost
in the delivery device or in the mouth and throat. Consequently, the Company
 
                                       24
<PAGE>
believes that the total efficiency of such systems generally is not high enough
to be commercially feasible for systemic delivery of most macromolecule drugs.
 
    In addition, current pulmonary drug delivery devices do not provide the
dosage reproducibility and formulation stability generally needed for
commercially viable systemic macromolecule drug delivery. The Company believes
that many MDI and dry powder systems do not provide the deep lung dosage
reproducibility necessary for many systemic applications because the patient
must coordinate the breathing maneuver with the generation of the aerosol.
Further, the Company believes that many macromolecules currently cannot be
formulated for use in MDI systems, since macromolecule drugs could be denatured
by the MDI formulating ingredients. In addition, Inhale believes that some
macromolecules may be inactivated by nebulization and that many dry powder
systems do not provide the protection needed for long term stability that may be
needed for macromolecule formulations.
 
    Inhale believes that an efficient, reproducible pulmonary delivery system
for systemic macromolecule drugs used in the treatment of chronic and subchronic
diseases represents a significant commercial opportunity. Such a system could
improve patient acceptance of systemic macromolecule drug therapy and compliance
with prescribed regimens, thereby improving therapeutic outcome and reducing the
costs of administration and overall disease treatment. Additionally, pulmonary
delivery may enable new therapeutic uses of certain macromolecule drugs.
 
    Inhale also believes that opportunities for an integrated pulmonary delivery
system exist in the delivery of macromolecules for local lung diseases due to
the limitations of current pulmonary devices. Biotechnology and pharmaceutical
companies are developing new macromolecule drugs for pulmonary diseases such as
asthma, cystic fibrosis, emphysema, lung cancer, pneumonia and bronchitis.
Pulmonary delivery is the preferred route for treating most lung diseases, since
much smaller amounts of certain drugs generally are needed than for systemic
administration and the drug can be applied directly to the site of action,
thereby potentially reducing systemic side effects.
 
    OTHER MOLECULES
 
    MDIs, existing dry powder inhalers and nebulizers have been used primarily
to deliver drugs to the airways of the lung for local lung applications. Some of
the problems associated with traditional small molecule aerosol delivery systems
include poor reproducibility, low efficiency, low drug payload per puff, poor
moisture barrier and, in the case of wet systems, long dosing time and microbial
growth.
 
    Inhale is applying its technology to the delivery of small molecules where
there is a clear, demonstrable need for an alternative drug delivery system and
where the Company's existing technology can be applied without significant
modification. Examples include molecules that require rapid systemic absorption
for efficacy, i.e., analgesics and antiemetics, molecules that undergo massive
first pass metabolism by the oral route or molecules used for local lung
delivery for diseases such as asthma that are currently delivered by sub-optimal
aerosol systems.
 
    Inhale believes that its technology could be used to address these problems
through: efficient dispersion of the drug into the lungs; reproducible delivery
of a consistent and predictable amount of drug into the bloodstream; and a
strong moisture barrier in the blister packs. The Company further believes its
technology could potentially be applied economically in market segments where it
is essential that significant drug doses reach the lung, e.g., severe asthma
cases where nebulizers are used today. Large amounts of drugs taken orally or
through inefficient inhalers can result in side effects which could be avoided
or reduced through more efficient pulmonary delivery.
 
                                       25
<PAGE>
STRATEGY
 
    Inhale's goal is to become the leading drug delivery company in the field of
pulmonary delivery of macromolecules. In addition, the Company is leveraging its
technology base for other applications where its system can provide significant
market advantages. The Company's strategy incorporates the following principal
elements:
 
    - DEVELOP A BROADLY APPLICABLE PULMONARY DELIVERY SYSTEM. Inhale is
      developing its non-invasive pulmonary drug delivery system to be
      applicable to a wide range of peptides, proteins and other molecules
      currently delivered by injection or poorly delivered by inhalation or
      other routes. Inhale intends to develop an effective non-invasive delivery
      alternative that can: (i) expand market penetration for existing
      therapeutics currently delivered by injection, infusion or other routes;
      (ii) commercialize new indications by using pulmonary delivery as a new
      route of administration; and (iii) extend existing patents or seek new
      patents to gain important competitive advantages for Inhale and its
      partners.
 
    - BUILD COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE THROUGH AN INTEGRATED SYSTEMS APPROACH. The
      Company is developing a commercially viable pulmonary delivery system
      through an integrated systems solution. Inhale combines its expertise in
      aerosol engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, aerosol
      science, protein formulations, fine powder processing and powder filling,
      and pulmonary physiology and biology to build a proprietary,
      fully-integrated system for pulmonary delivery of therapeutic drugs. The
      Company believes that building expertise in technology across several
      disciplines provides it with a significant competitive advantage.
 
    - PARTNER WITH PHARMACEUTICAL AND BIOTECHNOLOGY COMPANIES. Inhale's strategy
      is to market its proposed products through collaborative partners. The
      Company is seeking to work with partners that have significant clinical
      development and marketing resources, and currently has collaborations with
      several large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. For patented
      drug products, Inhale intends to partner with owners or licensees from the
      outset of the project. For drugs that are off-patent or licensed-in,
      Inhale may perform initial feasibility screening work, formulations
      development and early stage human clinical trials before entering into a
      partner relationship for further development. The Company believes this
      partnering strategy enables it to reduce its cash requirements while
      developing a large and diversified potential product portfolio.
 
    - FOCUS ON APPROVED DRUGS. To date, Inhale has focused primarily on drugs
      that either have proven efficacy and are approved for marketing or are in
      late stage clinical trials. The Company believes that working primarily
      with drugs with demonstrated efficacy reduces the technical risk of its
      projects. In the future, Inhale anticipates working on drugs at earlier
      stages of development.
 
    - EXPAND MANUFACTURING CAPABILITY. Inhale intends to formulate, manufacture
      and package dry powders for most of its drugs and to subcontract the
      manufacture of its device. The Company believes that this strategy will
      provide manufacturing economies of scale across a range of therapeutic
      products and expand capacity for additional partnerships and commercial
      scale production.
 
INHALE'S PULMONARY DELIVERY SYSTEM
 
    Inhale believes that the following criteria are necessary for a commercially
viable non-invasive drug delivery system:
 
    - SYSTEM EFFICIENCY/COST: The system must attain a certain minimum
      efficiency in delivering a drug to the bloodstream as compared with
      injection. Bioavailability (the percentage of drug absorbed into the
      bloodstream from the lungs relative to that absorbed from injection) is
      the most important element of system efficiency, since it cannot be
      increased without enhancing the natural permeability of the delivery site.
      Total system efficiency is critical because of the high cost of
      macromolecule
 
                                       26
<PAGE>
      drugs. Total system efficiency is determined by the amount of drug loss
      during manufacture, in the delivery device, in reaching the site of
      absorption, and during absorption from that site into the bloodstream.
      Inhale believes that for most systemic macromolecule drugs, a non-invasive
      delivery system must show total delivery system efficiency of at least 5%
      to 25% compared to injection for the system to be commercially viable.
 
    - REPRODUCIBILITY: The system must deliver a consistent and predictable
      amount of drug to the lung and into the bloodstream.
 
    - FORMULATION STABILITY: Formulations used in the system must remain
      physically and chemically stable over time and under a range of storage
      conditions.
 
    - SAFETY: The system should not introduce local toxicity problems during
      chronic or subchronic use by a wide patient population.
 
    - CONVENIENCE: The system must be convenient to the patient in terms of
      comfort, ease of operation, transportability and required dosage time.
 
    Inhale approaches pulmonary drug delivery with the objective of maximizing
overall delivery system efficiency while addressing commercial requirements for
reproducibility, formulation stability, safety and convenience. To achieve this
goal, Inhale's delivery system integrates customized drug formulations with its
proprietary inhalation device. Inhale combines an understanding of lung biology,
aerosol science, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering and protein
formulations in its system development efforts. The Company believes that this
interdisciplinary capability provides an important competitive advantage.
 
    Inhale has chosen to base its pulmonary delivery system on dry powders for
several reasons. Many proteins are more stable in dry powders than in liquids.
In addition, dry powder aerosols can carry approximately five times more drug in
a single breath than MDI systems and, for many drugs, at least 25 times more
than currently marketed liquid or nebulizer systems. The Company believes that a
dry powder system for drugs requiring higher doses, such as insulin, alpha-1
antitrypsin and heparin, could decrease dosing time as compared with nebulizers.
 
    Inhale takes bulk drugs supplied by partners and formulates and processes
them into fine powders that are then packaged into individual blisters. The
blisters are designed to be loaded into Inhale's device, which patients activate
to inhale the aerosolized drugs. Once inhaled, the aerosol particles are
deposited in the deep lung, dissolved in the alveolar fluid and absorbed into
the bloodstream. Although Inhale is in the advanced stages of developing its
system technologies, there can be no assurance that the Company's products will
ever be successfully commercialized.
 
    FORMULATIONS.  Each macromolecule drug poses different formulation
challenges due to varying chemical and physical characteristics and dosing
requirements, which therefore requires significant optimization work for each
specific drug. Inhale has assembled a team with expertise in protein
formulations, powder science and aerosol science and is applying this expertise
to develop proprietary techniques and methods that it believes will produce
stable, fillable and dispersible dry powder drug formulations. Inhale has
several protein powders with on-going room temperature stability (both chemical
and physical) of more than one year. Through its work with numerous
macromolecules, Inhale is developing an extensive body of knowledge on aerosol
dry powder formulations, including knowledge relating to powder flow
characteristics and solubility within the lung, as well as physical and chemical
properties of various excipients, and has filed and expects to continue to file
patent applications on several of its formulations. In June 1997, the Company
acquired the intellectual property portfolio of the BioPreservation Division of
Pafra Limited of Basildon, England. This portfolio includes issued U.S. and
foreign Letters Patent and pending applications relating to the stabilization of
macromolecule drugs in dry formulations. See "Risk Factors--Dependence upon
Proprietary Technology; Uncertainty of Obtaining Licenses or Developing
Technology."
 
                                       27
<PAGE>
    POWDER PROCESSING.  Inhale is modifying standard powder processing equipment
and developing custom techniques to enable it to produce fine dry powders
consistently with particle diameters of between one and five microns without
drug degradation or significant loss of expensive bulk drug. The Company has
scaled up powder processing to sufficient levels for producing test powders for
late stage clinical trials and small volume marketed products, if any. Inhale is
in the process of scaling up its powder processing systems in order to produce
quantities sufficient for commercial production of products the Company believes
it will need to supply in high volumes, such as insulin. However, there can be
no assurance that the Company will be successful in further scaling up its
powder processing on a timely basis or at a reasonable cost or that the powder
processing system will be applicable for every drug.
 
    POWDER PACKAGING.  Fine particle powders have special handling requirements
that are different from those for larger particles. Current commercial filling
and packaging systems are designed for filling larger particle powders and
therefore must be modified to dispense accurately finer particles in the small
quantities required. Initially, powder filling was performed manually. Inhale
has since developed and qualified a proprietary automated filling system
suitable for use for clinical trials and initial production quantities for
certain products. Inhale is also developing with Pfizer a proprietary, high
capacity system for production use.
 
    INHALATION DEVICE.  Inhale's proprietary pulmonary delivery device is
designed to provide deep lung delivery of therapeutic powders in a reproducible,
safe and efficient manner. The first of a series of patents applied for covering
the device was granted in the United States in October 1995. See
"Business--Patents and Proprietary Rights." To achieve this goal, Inhale has
designed a prototype of its pulmonary delivery device to:
 
    - EFFECTIVELY DISPERSE FINE PARTICLES INTO AN AEROSOL CLOUD. Fine powders
      have different dispersion requirements than large powders. Most current
      dry powder inhalers use larger powders and are not efficient in dispersing
      powders with diameters of one to five microns. Inhale has developed and is
      refining its dispersion system for its prototype device specifically for
      fine powders. Inhale's device has been designed to efficiently remove
      powders from the packaging, effectively break-up the powder particles and
      create an aerosol cloud while maintaining the integrity of the
      macromolecule drug.
 
    - EFFICIENTLY AND REPRODUCIBLY DELIVER THE AEROSOL CLOUD TO THE DEEP
      LUNG. Inhale has developed a proprietary aerosol cloud handling system in
      its device that facilitates deep lung powder deposition and reproducible
      patient dosing. Its design is intended to enable the aerosolized particles
      to be transported from the device to the deep lung during a patient's
      breath, reducing losses in the throat and upper airways. In addition, the
      aerosol cloud handling system, in combination with the dispersion
      mechanism and materials used in the device, is designed to decrease powder
      loss in the device itself.
 
    - ELIMINATE THE USE OF PROPELLANTS TO AVOID ASSOCIATED ENVIRONMENTAL
      CONCERNS AND FORMULATION DIFFICULTIES. Unlike MDIs, the Inhale device does
      not use propellants. The oily surfactants required to stabilize propellant
      formulations can cause aggregation of macromolecules. Current
      chlorofluorocarbon propellants, which are used in most commercial MDI
      systems, are being phased out in many countries due to environmental
      concerns.
 
    Inhale believes that its device will be capable of achieving deep lung
delivery with commercially feasible efficiencies for many macromolecule drugs.
An early prototype of the device was used in Inhale's insulin Phase I clinical
trial and in Immunex's IL-1 human clinical trial. A prototype is currently being
used in several Phase I and II trials, including the outpatient Phase II insulin
trial with Pfizer, in which diabetics have been using the Inhale system for
several months.
 
    The success of Inhale's pulmonary drug delivery system for any drug will
depend upon the Company achieving sufficient formulation stability, safety
dosage reproducibility and system efficiency (measured by
 
                                       28
<PAGE>
the percentage of bulk drug entering the manufacturing process that eventually
is absorbed into the bloodstream relative to injection for systemic indications,
or the amount of drug delivered to the lung tissue for local lung indications).
The initial screening determinant for the feasibility of pulmonary delivery of
any systemic macromolecule drug is pulmonary bioavailability, which measures the
percentage of the drug absorbed into the bloodstream when delivered directly to
the lungs. In addition, a certain percentage of each drug dose may be lost at
various stages of the manufacturing and pulmonary delivery process--in drug
formulation, dry powder processing, packaging, and in moving the drug from a
delivery device into the lungs. Excessive drug loss at any one stage or
cumulatively in the manufacturing and delivery process would render a drug
commercially unfeasible for pulmonary delivery. Formulation stability (the
physical and chemical stability of the formulated drug over time and under
various storage conditions) and safety will vary with each macromolecule and the
type and amount of excipients that are used in the formulation. Reproducible
dosing (the ability to deliver a consistent and predictable amount of drug into
the bloodstream over time both for a single patient and across patient groups)
requires the development of an inhalation device that consistently delivers
predictable amounts of dry powder formulations to the deep lung, accurate unit
dose packaging of dry powder formulations and moisture resistant packaging.
There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully develop
such an inhalation device or overcome such other obstacles to reproducible
dosing. See "Risk Factors--Uncertainties Related to Technology and Product
Development."
 
                                       29
<PAGE>
THERAPEUTIC PRODUCTS UNDER DEVELOPMENT
 
    The following table sets forth the type of product currently in development,
the application(s) for the particular product, its present stage of development
and the identity of the Company's corporate partner, if any, for such product
application.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                POTENTIAL
             DRUG               INDICATIONS        STATUS   PARTNER
- ------------------------------  --  --------------------  ------------
<S>                             <C>                       <C>
 
Human Insulin                   Type Phase IIb            Pfizer
                                 I
                                 and
                                 II
                                 Diabetes
 
*                               *   Phase II              Baxter
 
*                               Osteoporosis Phase I      Lilly
 
Calcitonin                      Osteoporosis, Phase I     **
                                 Bone Pain,
                                 Paget's
                                 Disease
 
Interleukin-1 Receptor          Asthma Phase I/II         Immunex+
 
*                               *   Preclinical           Baxter
 
*                               *   Preclinical           Baxter
 
*                               *   Feasibility           Baxter
 
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin             Genetic Preclinical       Centeon
                                Emphysema
 
Follicle Stimulating Hormone    Infertility Feasibility   **
                                 and
                                 Reproductive
                                 Diseases
 
Gene Vectors                    Lung Feasibility          Genzyme
                                Diseases
 
Heparin                         Blood Feasibility         **
                                Clotting
 
Interferon Alpha                Hepatitis Feasibility     **
                                 B and C
 
Interferon Beta                 Multiple Feasibility      **
                                Sclerosis
</TABLE>
 
STATUS:
 
PHASE IIB - OUT-PATIENT CLINICAL TRIALS TO ESTABLISH SAFETY AND EFFICACY.
 
PHASE II - HUMAN CLINICAL TRIALS TO ESTABLISH DOSING AND EFFICACY IN PATIENTS.
 
PHASE I - HUMAN CLINICAL TRIALS TO TEST SAFETY, AND FOR DRUGS WITH SYSTEMIC
  APPLICATIONS, ALSO TESTS BIOAVAILABILITY COMPARED WITH INJECTION IN HEALTHY
  SUBJECTS.
 
PRECLINICAL - FORMULATION DEVELOPMENT AND ANIMAL TESTING IN PREPARATION FOR
  HUMAN CLINICAL TRIALS.
 
FEASIBILITY - STUDIES TO ESTABLISH VIABILITY OF PULMONARY DELIVERY WITH INHALE'S
  SYSTEM INCLUDING ANIMAL BIOAVAILABILITY STUDIES OR INITIAL FORMULATION
  DEVELOPMENT.
 
 * DRUG OR POTENTIAL INDICATIONS WITHHELD AT PARTNER'S REQUEST.
 
** NOT CURRENTLY PARTNERED.
 
 + THIS PROGRAM IS AWAITING FURTHER WORK AND/OR LICENSING FROM IMMUNEX.
 
                                       30
<PAGE>
INHALE'S PULMONARY DRUG DELIVERY PROGRAMS IN PROGRESS
 
    Inhale has 14 programs in development, five of which are in human clinical
trials and nine of which are sponsored by collaborative partners. In general,
the Company's partnership arrangements provide for funding for development,
payments upon the achievement of certain milestones and royalty and
manufacturing revenues upon the commencement of commercial sales. The
arrangements are cancellable by the partner at any time without significant
penalty.
 
    PFIZER PROGRAM.  Insulin is a protein hormone naturally secreted by the
pancreas to induce the removal of glucose from the blood. Diabetes, the
inability of the body to regulate properly blood glucose levels, is caused by
insufficient production of insulin by the pancreas or insufficient use of the
insulin that is secreted. Over time, high blood glucose levels can lead to
failure of the microvascular system which may lead to blindness, loss of
circulation, kidney failure, heart disease or stroke. Insulin currently is
marketed only in injectable form. Worldwide sales of insulin were estimated at
$2.1 billion in 1996. Insulin is supplied by various manufacturers, including
Eli Lilly and Novo-Nordisk A/S.
 
    The American Diabetes Association estimates that in 1995 there were
approximately eight million diagnosed Type I (juvenile onset) and Type II (adult
onset) diabetics in the United States. They estimate an additional eight million
who have not been diagnosed. All Type I diabetics, estimated at between 5% and
15% of all diabetics, require insulin therapy. Type I diabetics generally
require both a baseline treatment of long-acting insulin and multiple treatments
of regular insulin throughout the day. Type II diabetics, depending on the
severity of their case, may or may not require insulin therapy. Type II
diabetics who use insulin are best treated with regular insulin and sometimes
require long-acting insulin as well. Many Type II patients who do not require
insulin to survive but would benefit from it are reluctant to start treatment
because of the inconvenience and unpleasantness of injections.
 
    Regular insulin is generally administered 30 minutes before mealtimes and
generally is given only twice a day. A ten-year study by the National Institutes
of Health ("NIH"), however, demonstrated that the side effects of diabetes could
be significantly reduced by dosing more frequently. The NIH study recommended
dosing regular insulin three to four times per day, a regimen which would more
closely mirror the action of naturally produced insulin in non-diabetics.
However, many patients are reluctant to increase their number of doses because
they find injections unpleasant and inconvenient.
 
    Although non-invasive routes of insulin delivery have been sought, the only
commercially viable way to deliver insulin to date has been by subcutaneous
injection. Subcutaneous injections are generally given with a syringe and
needle, although high pressure needle-less injection devices are also available.
Needle-less injection devices, which inject proteins like insulin through the
skin into the body, have been available for many years. However, the Company
believes these devices have not been well accepted due to patient discomfort and
relatively high cost.
 
    Inhale is developing a regular insulin that can be administered in one to
three blisters using its pulmonary delivery system. The Company believes that
its pulmonary delivery system could provide increased user convenience and
result in greater patient compliance by eliminating some injections for Type I
and Type II patients and all injections for some Type II patients. In addition,
the Company believes that pulmonary delivery could yield medical advantages by
providing a more rapid acting insulin than current injectable products.
 
    Through its collaboration with Inhale, Pfizer conducted Phase I and Phase
IIa clinical trials which indicated that pulmonary insulin was absorbed
systemically and lowered glucose levels. In late October 1996 Pfizer initiated a
multi-site Phase IIb outpatient trial to include up to 240 patients. The trial
is designed to test the effectiveness of pulmonary-delivered insulin using
Inhale's system in controlling blood glucose levels following chronic
administration in diabetics over several months of use. In connection with the
collaboration, Pfizer made two $5 million equity investments in Inhale at a 25%
premium to the market price of Inhale stock at the time of each investment.
 
    BAXTER PROGRAM.  In March 1996, Inhale entered into a collaboration
agreement with Baxter to use Inhale's dry powder pulmonary delivery system as a
technology platform for developing and launching therapeutic products. In
connection with the collaboration, Baxter made a $20 million equity investment
in Inhale at a 25% premium to the market price of Inhale stock at the time of
the investment. Baxter will receive worldwide commercialization rights in
exchange for up to an estimated $60 million in research and
 
                                       31
<PAGE>
development funding and milestone payments for four molecules, assuming
successful development and continuation of the program by Baxter. Baxter also
has an option to add other molecules to the collaboration that could result in
additional funding and milestone payments to Inhale. Inhale will receive
royalties and manufacturing payments on sales of products developed through the
collaboration. Inhale has primary responsibility for development of the selected
therapeutics. Inhale will develop dry powder formulations for use with its
portable inhalation device and will process and package powders for clinical
supplies and marketed products. Clinical trials also will be managed by Inhale.
Baxter will be responsible for the worldwide commercialization of the products
resulting from the collaboration.
 
    In September 1997, Inhale announced that the first compound from its
collaboration with Baxter has entered Phase II clinical testing using Inhale's
pulmonary delivery system.
 
    ELI LILLY PROGRAM.  In January 1997, Inhale entered into a collaborative
agreement with Lilly to develop pulmonary delivery for a selected osteoporosis
product. Osteoporosis is estimated to affect approximately 25 million Americans,
mostly women. If not prevented or left untreated, osteoporosis can progress
painlessly until a bone breaks. As many as 35,000 people die each year as a
result of hip fractures--usually because of complications that result from
surgery or from being confined to bed. Associated medical costs of the estimated
1.5 million bone fractures caused annually by osteoporosis are estimated to be
about $10 billion per year in the United States.
 
    Under the terms of its agreement with Lilly, Inhale will receive up to an
estimated $20 million in initial fees, funding for research and milestone
payments. Lilly will receive global commercialization rights for the pulmonary
delivery of the products with Inhale receiving royalties on any marketed
products. Inhale will manufacture packaged powders and supply inhalation devices
for Lilly.
 
    Phase I clinical trials of this osteoporosis drug, completed in
collaboration with Alza Corporation ("Alza") indicated that the drug was
systematically absorbed when delivered with Inhale's pulmonary system. Under an
agreement between Alza and Inhale, Alza has agreed not to participate in the
future development and commercialization of the osteoporosis product.
Subsequently, the Company entered into an agreement with Lilly, pursuant to
which Lilly has agreed to conduct future clinical trials and will receive
worldwide commercialization rights.
 
    CALCITONIN PROGRAM.  Inhale is funding a proprietary program to develop
pulmonary delivery of calcitonin for the treatment of osteoporosis, bone pain
and Paget's disease. Calcitonin is a peptide hormone secreted by the thyroid
gland that inhibits bone resorption and lowers serum calcium. Calcitonin is
available in two forms, fish and human. Calcitonin is administered daily or
every other day by injection in the United States. In the United States, salmon
calcitonin is approved for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis, Paget's
disease, hypercalcemia of cancer and bone pain. Human calcitonin is approved for
Paget's disease and bone pain. Paget's disease is a chronic disorder of the
adult skeleton, in which localized areas of bone become hyperactive and are
replaced by a softened and enlarged bone structure. About 3% of Caucasians in
the United States over age 60 have Paget's disease. Hypercalcemia occurs as a
result of excessive serum calcium levels caused by hyperparathyroidism and
malignancy. It occurs in approximately 10-20% of cancer patients.
 
    Osteoporosis is by far the most important potential clinical indication for
calcitonin. It has been shown in clinical trials to reduce the incidence of bone
fractures in osteoporosis patients. While there is some evidence that calcitonin
can restore bone, its primary benefit appears to be the retardation of bone
loss. In addition, clinical evidence suggests that calcitonin may provide
superior efficacy to estrogens in cases of rapid turnover osteoporosis. While
considerable work has been done on non-invasive delivery of calcitonin, to date
only salmon calcitonin for nasal delivery has been marketed. Nasally-delivered
calcitonin, however, is sometimes characterized, depending upon the formulation
used, by low bioavailability, irritation caused by enhancers and poor
reproducibility. Inhale believes that pulmonary calcitonin could be more
efficient, more reproducible and less irritating than nasal calcitonin.
 
    In April 1997 the Company announced the successful completion of Phase I
clinical trials to determine the safety and bioavailability of pulmonary
delivery of a dry powder, aerosolized form of salmon calcitonin as a potential
treatment for osteoporosis, Paget's disease, hypercalcemia and other bone
diseases. The single-dose study conducted in the United Kingdom with a total of
36 fasted normal volunteers indicated that the drug was systemically absorbed
through the pulmonary route when delivered with Inhale's system. The Company is
seeking a partner for further clinical development.
 
                                       32
<PAGE>
    IMMUNEX PROGRAM.  Interleukin-1 is a cytokine that helps initiate the
inflammatory response to foreign pathogens. Inhale collaborated with Immunex to
develop pulmonary delivery of a therapeutic product for asthma. Initial
formulation development and animal toxicology have been completed, and the two
companies successfully completed Phase I/II trials demonstrating pulmonary
delivery. This program is awaiting further work and/or licensing by Immunex.
 
    CENTEON PROGRAM.  Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency results from a patient's
liver producing insufficient alpha-1 antitrypsin, a protein that circulates in
the blood and inhibits the activity of elastase enzyme. It is estimated that as
many as 100,000 people in the United States were born with alpha-1 antitrypsin
deficiency and potentially 28,000 in Northern Europe. Of this group, emphysema
resulting from the deficiency afflicts up to 40,000 people in the United States
alone.
 
    If not treated, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency leads to the breakdown of the
intricate protein fiber network in the adult lung which provides support for the
millions of tiny airsacs which make up the lung (the alveoli). The degradation
of these fibers leads to a gradual loss of surface area for gas exchange, which
can cause the inability to breathe properly and ultimately premature death.
 
    Alpha-1 antitrypsin is approved in the United States and several European
countries for augmentation treatment of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. Current
treatment is given by systemic intravenous infusion on a weekly basis. This
"replacement therapy" consists of a concentrated form of alpha-1 antitrypsin
derived from human plasma.
 
    In January 1997, Inhale and Centeon entered into a collaboration to develop
a pulmonary formulation of alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor to treat patients with
alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. Under the terms of the collaboration, Centeon
will receive commercialization rights worldwide excluding Japan and Inhale will
receive royalties on product sales, an up-front signing fee and up to an
estimated $15 million in research and development funding and milestone
payments. Centeon will manufacture the active ingredient for use in Inhale's
delivery device. Inhale will manufacture and package the dry powder and supply
inhalation devices to Centeon for commercialization and marketing.
 
    The two companies completed pre-clinical work that indicates Inhale's dry
powder formulation of Centeon's alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor has the potential
to significantly improve the efficiency of delivery compared with current
infusion therapy. The Company believes its pulmonary delivery system could
significantly reduce the amount of drug needed for genetic emphysema therapy
since alpha-1 antitrypsin could be delivered directly to the lung.
 
    Centeon is currently negotiating with multiple partners to secure rights
under patents that have been granted in the United States and Europe directed to
aerosol formulations for the treatment of the lung containing alpha-1
antitrypsin (U.S.) and serine protease inhibitors including alpha-1 antitrypsin
(Europe). The failure by Centeon to secure rights under these patents could
result in the termination of the program. See "Risk Factors--Dependence on
Proprietary Technology; Uncertainty of Obtaining Licenses or Developing
Technology."
 
    FOLLICLE STIMULATING HORMONE (FSH) PROGRAM.  FSH, a glycoprotein hormone
secreted by the pituitary gland, has been utilized since the 1960s for treatment
of infertility. In female reproduction, FSH is responsible for ovarian
follicular growth and development. Therapeutic use of FSH has expanded since the
1970s. It is currently given in a series of daily injections over one to three
weeks to enhance follicle growth and ovum production. According to industry
sources, the female infertility market was approximately $600 million in 1996.
Inhale has demonstrated the feasibility of pulmonary FSH in an animal model and
now seeks a pharmaceutical partner for development.
 
    GENZYME PROGRAM.  In July 1996, the Company signed an agreement with Genzyme
Corporation to examine the feasibility of developing dry powder formulations of
gene vectors for pulmonary applications. Gene vectors are currently being
investigated by several companies and academic institutions for use in treating
lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis. Inhale believes that its delivery system
is well suited for the delivery of gene therapies to treat lung disease because
its system could provide efficiency, reproducibility, stability and containment
advantages relative to alternative pulmonary delivery methods. Early stage
research has shown that Inhale's dry powder formulations and powder processing
technology can be used to make powders containing active gene vectors.
 
                                       33
<PAGE>
    HEPARIN AND LOW MOLECULAR WEIGHT HEPARIN (LMWHS) PROGRAM.  Heparin is a low
cost mucopolysaccharide anticoagulant isolated from the lungs and intestines of
pigs and cows. Heparin, which is delivered by subcutaneous or intravenous
injection, is approved for many applications pertaining to blood clotting,
including prophylaxis and treatment of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism
and prevention of other thromboembolitic indications. Worldwide sales in 1996
were estimated to be approximately one billion. Research studies have indicated
that heparin may have additional, non-antithrombotic properties, including anti
inflammatory properties which are useful in treating local lung diseases such as
asthma. Others have also suggested that it possesses antiprotease activity,
similar to alpha-1 antitrypsin, and could be used to treat lung diseases.
 
    Warfarin, a small molecule oral anticoagulant, is the most widely used
non-invasively delivered alternative to heparin. Warfarin, however, has some
serious associated risks, including hemorrhaging and, less frequently, necrosis
or gangrene of the skin or other tissues.
 
    Inhale believes that a non-invasive heparin or LMWH could expand the drug's
use for preoperative, postoperative and prophylactic use at home. A number of
human studies on pulmonary-delivered heparin suggest that it is safe and
efficacious as an inhaled systemic anticoagulant. Inhale has developed an
initial dry powder formulation for heparin and conducted animal absorption
screening studies. The Company anticipates that any product that might be
developed would be commercialized through a marketing partner.
 
    INTERFERON ALPHA PROGRAM.  Interferon alpha is produced by a number of cell
types in the body and serves to turn on an array of genes in cells for fighting
viral infections. It has been approved for Hepatitis B and C (inflammatory viral
diseases of the liver), hairy cell leukemia (a blood cancer), and AIDS-related
Kaposi's sarcoma (a skin cancer prevalent in AIDS patients). The global market
for all interferon alpha agents was estimated to be approximately $700 million
in 1995. There are at least five companies competing in the interferon alpha
market, including Schering-Plough Corporation, Hoffmann-La Roche, Inc., Sumitomo
Corp. and Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Interferon alpha is currently given in
all indications three times per week by subcutaneous injection. Inhale believes
that a pulmonary delivery system could provide a competitive advantage in what
is now an exclusively injectable market and could reduce the cost of treatment
by enabling more home therapy. Inhale has completed feasibility testing,
including animal studies showing that interferon alpha is well absorbed
systematically following pulmonary administration, and may seek a partner for
further development.
 
                                       34
<PAGE>
    INTERFERON BETA PROGRAM.  Interferon beta has been approved for treatment of
multiple sclerosis, an immunological disorder in which the immune system attacks
the myelin sheath that coats the nerves. Analysts estimate this market at
approximately $300 million. There are an estimated 700,000 cases in North
America and Europe.
 
    Two interferon beta products are FDA approved for chronic treatment of
multiple sclerosis (Betaseron by Berlex and Avonex by Biogen). Betaseron is
administered as daily injections and Avonex is administered as a weekly
injection. Inhale believes that a pulmonary drug delivery system could provide a
competitive advantage in this exclusively injectable market. The Company has
successfully completed formulation feasibility testing of Interferon-beta and
may seek a partner for further development.
 
    There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to enter into
additional collaborations or that its feasibility agreements will lead to
collaborations. There also can be no assurance that the Company will be able to
maintain any such collaborative arrangements or feasibility agreements or that
any such collaborative arrangements or feasibility agreements will be
successful. The failure of the Company to enter into or maintain such
collaborative arrangements and feasibility agreements would have a material
adverse effect on the Company. See "Risk Factors--Dependence on Collaborative
Partners."
 
MANUFACTURING
 
    Inhale generally plans to formulate, manufacture and package the powders for
its pulmonary delivery products and to subcontract the manufacture of its
proprietary pulmonary delivery devices. Under its collaborative agreement with
Pfizer to develop insulin powders, Inhale will be the primary manufacturer of
powders and Pfizer will be primarily responsible for filling blisters. Prior to
the commercialization of its first products, the Company must build and have
validated a powder processing and packaging manufacturing facility. The Company
also must select and have validated a device manufacturer. Inhale believes its
manufacturing strategy will: (i) provide economies of scale by utilizing
manufacturing capacity for multiple products; (ii) improve its ability to retain
any manufacturing know-how; and (iii) allow its customers to bring pulmonary
delivery products to market faster than if they established their own powder
processing and packaging facilities.
 
    The Company has built a powder and packaging manufacturing facility capable
of producing powders in quantities sufficient for Phase I, Phase II, and the
initiation of Phase III human clinical trials. This facility has been inspected
and licensed by the State of California and was used to manufacture and package
powders under GMP for Inhale's Phase I and Phase II human insulin trials, Phase
II trial with Baxter, Immunex's IL-1 receptor Phase I/II clinical trial, Phase I
calcitonin, and a Phase I clinical trial for another project. Inhale intends to
build a facility capable of manufacturing and packaging powders in quantities
sufficient for registration batches and initial commercial production.
 
    Inhale is working on further scaling-up its powder processing to a larger
production scale system and is further developing the necessary powder packaging
technologies. Fine particle powders and small quantity packaging (such as those
to be used in the Company's delivery system) require special handling. Current
commercial packaging systems are designed for filling larger quantities of
larger particle powders and therefore must be modified to dispense finer
particles in the small quantities required by the Company. Inhale has developed
and validated a proprietary small scale prototype automated filling system,
which the Company believes is capable of supporting its requirements through
Phase III trials and into commercial production for some products. Inhale is
developing a higher capacity automated filling unit capable of filling blisters
on a production scale for moderate and large volume products. The Company faces
significant technical challenges in developing an automated, commercial-scale
filling system that can accurately and economically handle the small dose and
particle sizes of its powders. There can be no assurance that the Company will
be able to develop or acquire the technology necessary to develop successfully
any such system in a timely manner or at commercially reasonable cost. Any
failure or delay in developing such technology would delay product development
or bar commercialization of the Company's
 
                                       35
<PAGE>
products and would have a material adverse effect on the Company. See "Risk
Factors--Limited Manufacturing Experience; Risk of Scale-Up."
 
    Inhale used a prototype of its inhalation device in its Phase I human
insulin trial and in Immunex's Phase I/II clinical trial. Inhale has completed
development of a prototype take-home device which is being used in several Phase
I and II trials including, a Phase IIb insulin trial. Additionally, Inhale is
refining the device design for use in later-stage clinical trials and commercial
products.
 
    Inhale plans to subcontract the manufacture of its pulmonary delivery
devices before commercial production of its first product. The Company has
identified contract manufacturers that it believes have the technical
capabilities and production capacity to manufacture its devices, and which can
meet the requirements of GMP. There can be no assurance that Inhale will be able
to obtain and maintain satisfactory contract manufacturing on commercially
acceptable terms, if at all. The Company's dependence upon third parties for the
manufacture of its potential inhalation device may adversely affect the
Company's cost of goods and its ability to develop and commercialize products on
a timely and competitive basis.
 
    The Company has no experience manufacturing products for large scale
clinical testing or commercial purposes. To date, the Company has performed
powder processing only on the small scale needed for clinical trials and for
testing formulations of certain other potential therapeutic products. There can
be no assurance that manufacturing and control problems will not arise as the
Company attempts to scale-up its powder processing facilities or that such
scale-up can be achieved in a timely manner or at a commercially reasonable
cost. Any failure to surmount such problems could delay or prevent late stage
clinical testing and commercialization of the Company's products and would have
a material adverse effect on the Company. To date, the Company has relied
primarily on a particular method of powder processing. There can be no assurance
that this technology will be applicable to all drugs or that the drug yields in
powder processing will be sufficient for commercial viability for certain drugs.
In the event that the Company decides to pursue alternative powder processing
methods for some or all of its drugs, there can be no assurance that these
methods will prove commercially practical for aerosol drugs or that the Company
will have or be able to acquire rights to use such alternative methods.
 
    The Company also faces technical challenges in further developing its
inhalation device to achieve the efficiency necessary to deliver a broad range
of drugs, to produce such a device in quantities sufficient for later stage
clinical trials and early commercialization, and to adapt the device as may be
required for different powder formulations. There can be no assurance that
Inhale will successfully achieve such efficiencies, will be able to produce such
quantities or will be able to adapt the device as required. The failure of the
Company to overcome any such challenges would have a material adverse effect on
the Company. To date, the Company has used small machine shops for production of
its prototype inhalation devices. For late stage clinical trials and initial
commercial production, the Company intends to use one or more contract
manufacturers to produce its device. There can be no assurance that Inhale will
be able to enter into or maintain satisfactory contract manufacturing
arrangements. The failure of the Company to enter into and maintain such
arrangements would have a material adverse effect on the Company. See "Risk
Factors--Limited Manufacturing Experience; Risk of Scale-Up."
 
GOVERNMENT REGULATION
 
    The research and development, manufacture and marketing of pulmonary drug
delivery systems are subject to regulation by the FDA in the United States and
by comparable regulatory agencies in other countries. These national agencies
and other federal, state and local entities regulate, among other things,
research and development activities and the testing, manufacture, safety,
effectiveness, labeling, storage, record keeping, approval, advertising and
promotion of the Company's products.
 
    The process required by the FDA before a pulmonary drug delivery system may
be marketed in the United States depends on whether the compound has existing
approval for use in other dosage forms. If
 
                                       36
<PAGE>
the drug is a new chemical entity that has not been approved, the process
includes: (i) pre-clinical laboratory and animal tests; (ii) the filing of an
Investigational New Drug application ("IND") (iii) adequate and well-controlled
human clinical trials to establish the safety and efficacy of the drug in its
intended indication; and (iv) submission to the FDA for approval of a New Drug
Application ("NDA") with respect to drugs or a Biological License Application
("BLA") with respect to biologics. If the drug has been previously approved, the
approval process is similar, except that certain toxicity tests normally
required for the IND and NDA/BLA application may not be necessary.
 
    Pre-clinical tests include laboratory evaluation of product chemistry and
animal studies to assess the potential safety and efficacy of the product and
its formulation. Pulmonary systems must be formulated according to GMP, and
pre-clinical safety tests must be conducted by laboratories that comply with FDA
Good Laboratory Practices regulations. The results of the pre-clinical tests are
submitted to the FDA as part of an IND application and are reviewed by the FDA
before human clinical trials begin. The IND application becomes effective 30
days after receipt by the FDA, unless the FDA raises objections.
 
    Clinical trials involve the administration of the drug to healthy volunteers
or to patients under the supervision of a qualified principal investigator.
Clinical trials are conducted in accordance with protocols that detail the
objectives of the study, the parameters to be used to monitor safety and the
efficacy criteria to be evaluated. Each protocol is submitted to the FDA as part
of the IND. Each clinical study is conducted under the auspices of an
independent Institutional Review Board ("IRB"). The IRB will consider, among
other things, ethical factors, the safety of human subjects and the possible
liability of the institution.
 
    Clinical trials are typically conducted in three sequential phases, but the
phases may overlap. In Phase I, the initial introduction of the drug into
healthy human subjects, the product generally is tested for safety, dosage
tolerance, pharmacokinetics, absorption, metabolism and excretion. Phase II
involves studies in a limited patient population to (i) determine the efficacy
of the product for specific, targeted indications, (ii) determine dosage
tolerance and optimal dosage, and (iii) identify possible adverse effects and
safety risks. When Phase II evaluations demonstrate that dosing the drug by the
pulmonary system is effective and has an acceptable safety profile, Phase III
trials are undertaken to evaluate further clinical efficacy and safety within an
expanded patient population at geographically dispersed clinical study sites.
The FDA, the clinical trial sponsor, the investigator or the IRB may suspend
clinical trials at any time if it believes that clinical subjects are being
exposed to an unacceptable health risk.
 
    The results of product development, pre-clinical studies and clinical
studies are submitted to the FDA as an NDA/BLA for approval of the marketing and
commercial shipment of the pulmonary system. The FDA may deny an NDA/BLA if
applicable regulatory criteria are not satisfied or may require additional
clinical testing. Even if such data are submitted, the FDA may ultimately decide
that the NDA/BLA does not satisfy the criteria for approval. Product approvals
may be withdrawn if compliance with regulatory standards are not maintained or
if problems occur after the product reaches the market. The FDA may require
testing and surveillance programs to monitor the effect of pulmonary systems
that have been commercialized, and has the power to prevent or limit future
marketing of the product based on the results of these post-marketing programs.
 
    Each domestic drug product manufacturing establishment must be registered
with, and approved by, the FDA. Drug product manufacturing establishments
located in California also must be licensed by the State of California.
Establishments handling controlled substances must be licensed by the United
States Drug Enforcement Administration ("DEA"). Domestic manufacturing
establishments are subject to biennial inspections by the FDA for GMP
compliance. Inhale is also subject to United States federal, state and local
regulations regarding workplace safety, environmental protection and hazardous
and controlled substance controls, among others.
 
    The Company's research and development involves the controlled use of
hazardous materials, chemicals and various radioactive compounds. Although the
Company believes that its safety procedures
 
                                       37
<PAGE>
for handling and disposing of such materials comply with the standards
prescribed by state and federal regulations, the risk of accidental
contamination or injury from these materials cannot be completely eliminated. In
the event of such an accident, the Company could be held liable for any damages
that result and any such liability could exceed the resources of the Company.
The Company may incur substantial costs to comply with environmental
regulations. See "Risk Factors--Hazardous Materials".
 
    Many of the drugs with which the Company is working are already approved for
marketing by the FDA. The Company believes that when working with approved
drugs, the approval process for delivery by pulmonary delivery may require less
time and fewer tests than for new chemical entities. However, the Company
expects that its formulations often will use excipients not currently approved
for pulmonary use. Use of these excipients will require additional toxicological
testing that may increase the costs of, or lengthen the time in, gaining
regulatory approval. In addition, regulatory procedures applicable to the
Company's products may change as regulators gain experience in the area of
macromolecules, and any such changes may delay or increase the cost of
regulatory approval.
 
    The Company's device will not be developed as an independent product but
will be an inseparable part of the pulmonary drug delivery system for each
specific molecule. Prior to or at the time of submission of the IND, the FDA
Center and division within the Center will be identified to be responsible for
the review of the IND and NDA/BLA. In the case of Inhale's products, either the
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research or the Center for Biologics Evaluation
and Research, in consultation with the Center for Devices and Radiological
Health, will be involved in the review. However, one Center is designated as the
Center which has the lead responsibility for regulating the product. The
jurisdiction within the FDA is based on the primary mode of action of the drug
and is identified in the FDA's intercenter agreement.
 
    Inhale expects that its partners generally will be responsible for clinical
and regulatory approval procedures, but Inhale may participate in this process
by submitting to the FDA or to each partner portions of the Drug Master File
being developed and to be maintained by Inhale which contains data concerning
the manufacturing processes for the product. The regulatory review process
generally takes a number of years and requires the expenditure of substantial
resources. Inhale's ability to manufacture and sell products developed under
contract depends upon the partner's completing satisfactory clinical trials and
obtaining marketing approvals. Inhale may prepare and submit an IND application
and perform initial clinical studies before licensing the product to a partner.
The Company's business strategy contemplates performing more of these studies in
the future.
 
    Sales of the Company's products outside the United States are subject to
regulatory requirements governing human clinical trials and marketing approval
for drugs and pulmonary delivery systems. Such requirements vary widely from
country to country.
 
    Prior to marketing a new dosage form of any drug, including one developed
for use with the Company's pulmonary drug delivery system, whether or not such
drug was already approved for marketing in another dosage form, the product must
undergo rigorous pre-clinical and clinical testing and an extensive review
process mandated by the FDA and equivalent foreign authorities. These processes
generally take a number of years and require the expenditure of substantial
resources. None of the Company's proposed products has been submitted to the FDA
for marketing approval. The Company has no experience obtaining such regulatory
approval, does not have the expertise or other resources to do so and intends to
rely on its partners to fund clinical testing and to obtain product approvals.
 
    The time required for completing such testing and obtaining such approvals
is uncertain. Further refinement of the device prototype, further scale up of
the powder processing system and development of a prototype automated powder
filling and packaging system will need to be accomplished before initiation of
later stage clinical trials. Any delay in any of these components of product
development may delay testing. In addition, delays or rejections may be
encountered based upon changes in FDA policy, including the FDA's policy
relating to GMP compliance, during the period of product development. Similar
delays may also be encountered in other countries. If regulatory approval of a
product is granted, such approval may
 
                                       38
<PAGE>
entail limitations on the indicated uses for which the product may be marketed,
and the marketed product, its manufacturer, and its manufacturing facilities
remain subject to continual review and periodic inspections. Later discovery of
previously unknown problems with a product, manufacturer or facility may result
in restrictions on such product or manufacturer, including withdrawal of the
product from the market. There can be no assurance that regulatory approval will
be obtained for any products developed by the Company on a timely basis, or at
all. The failure to obtain timely regulatory approval of its products, any
product marketing limitations or a product withdrawal would have a material
adverse effect on the Company. See "Risk Factors--Government Regulation;
Uncertainty of Obtaining Regulatory Approval."
 
    Political, economic and regulatory influences are subjecting the health care
industry in the United States to fundamental change. Recent initiatives to
reduce the federal deficit and to reform health care delivery are increasing
cost-containment efforts. The Company anticipates that Congress, state
legislatures and the private sector will continue to review and assess
alternative benefits, controls on health care spending through limitations on
the growth of private health insurance premiums and Medicare and Medicaid
spending, the creation of large insurance purchasing groups, price controls on
pharmaceuticals and other fundamental changes to the health care delivery
system. Any such proposed or actual changes could cause the Company or its
collaborative partners to limit or eliminate spending on development projects.
Legislative debate is expected to continue in the future, and market forces are
expected to demand reduced costs. Inhale cannot predict what effect the adoption
of any federal or state health care reform measures or future private sector
reforms may have on its business.
 
    In both domestic and foreign markets, sales of the Company's products under
development will depend in part upon the availability of reimbursement from
third-party payors, such as government health administration authorities,
managed care providers, private health insurers and other organizations. In
addition, other third-party payors are increasingly challenging the price and
cost effectiveness of medical products and services. Significant uncertainty
exists as to the reimbursement status of newly approved health care products.
There can be no assurance that the Company's proposed products will be
considered cost effective or that adequate third-party reimbursement will be
available to enable Inhale to maintain price levels sufficient to realize an
appropriate return on its investment in product development. Legislation and
regulations affecting the pricing of pharmaceuticals may change before the
Company's proposed products are approved for marketing. Adoption of such
legislation could further limit reimbursement for medical products. If adequate
coverage and reimbursement levels are not provided by the government and
third-party payors for the Company's potential products, the market acceptance
of these products would be adversely affected, which would have a material
adverse effect on the Company. See "Risk Factors-- Uncertainty Related to the
Health Care Industry and Third-Party Reimbursement."
 
PATENTS AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS
 
    Inhale's policy is to apply for patent protection for the technology,
inventions and improvements deemed important to the development of its business.
The Company also relies upon trade secrets, know-how, continuing technological
innovations and licensing opportunities to maintain and further develop its
competitive position. The Company plans to defend aggressively its proprietary
technology and any issued patents.
 
    Inhale expects that its integrated system for the development of pulmonary
delivery technology for macromolecule drugs will yield innovations in dry powder
formulations, powder processing, powder packaging and device design. It is the
Company's strategy to build proprietary positions in each of its technological
areas. The Company's success will depend in part upon its ability to protect its
proprietary technology from infringement, misappropriation, duplication and
discovery. Inhale has filed patent applications covering certain aspects of its
device and powder processing technology and powder formulations and pulmonary
route of delivery for certain molecules, and plans to file additional patent
applications. There can be no assurance that any of the patents applied for by
the Company will issue, or that any
 
                                       39
<PAGE>
patents that issue will be valid and enforceable. Even if such patents are
enforceable, the Company anticipates that any attempt to enforce its patents
could be time consuming and costly.
 
    The patent positions of pharmaceutical, biotechnology and drug delivery
companies, including Inhale, are uncertain and involve complex legal and factual
issues. Additionally, the coverage claimed in a patent application can be
significantly reduced before the patent is issued. As a consequence, the Company
does not know whether any of its patent applications will be circumvented or
invalidated. Since patent applications in the United States are maintained in
secrecy until patents issue, and since publication of discoveries in the
scientific or patent literature often lag behind actual discoveries, the Company
cannot be certain that it was the first inventor of inventions covered by its
issued patents or pending patent applications or that it was the first to file
patent applications for such inventions. Moreover, the Company may have to
participate in interference proceedings declared by the United States Patent and
Trademark Office to determine priority of invention, which could result in
substantial cost to the Company, even if the eventual outcome is favorable to
the Company. An adverse outcome could subject the Company to significant
liabilities to third parties, require disputed rights to be licensed from or to
third parties or require the Company to cease using the technology in dispute.
 
    The Company is aware of numerous pending and issued U.S. and foreign patent
rights and other proprietary rights owned by third parties that relate to
aerosol devices and delivery, pharmaceutical formulations, dry powder processing
technology and the pulmonary route of delivery for certain powder formulations
of macromolecules. The Company cannot predict with any certainty which, if any,
patent references will be considered relevant to the Company's technology by
authorities in the various jurisdictions where such rights exist, nor can the
Company predict with certainty which, if any, of these rights will or may be
asserted against it by such third parties. The Company is aware of an alternate
dry powder processing technology which Inhale is not using for its current
products under development but may desire to use for certain products in the
future. The ownership of the powder processing technology is unclear and the
Company is aware that multiple parties, including Inhale, claim patent, trade
secret and other rights in the technology. If the Company determines that this
alternate powder processing technology is relevant to the development of future
products and further determines that a license to this alternate powder
processing technology is needed, there can be no assurance that the Company can
obtain a license from the relevant party or parties on commercially reasonable
terms, if at all. The Company is also aware of an issued U.S. patent which
covers a broad range of macromolecule drugs in dry formulations. The Company is
evaluating the validity of this patent, its relevance to the Company's products
and whether the license proposed by the patent owner is of interest to the
Company. There can be no assurance that the Company can obtain any license to
any technology that the Company determines it needs, on reasonable terms, if at
all, or that Inhale could develop or otherwise obtain alternate technology. The
failure of the Company to obtain licenses if needed would have a material
adverse effect on the Company.
 
    The Company also relies upon trade secret protection for its confidential
and proprietary information. No assurance can be given that others will not
independently develop substantially equivalent proprietary information and
techniques or otherwise gain access to the Company's trade secrets or disclose
such technology, or that the Company can meaningfully protect its trade secrets.
 
    Third parties from time to time have asserted or may assert that the Company
is infringing their proprietary rights based upon issued patents, trade secrets
or know-how that they believe cover the Company's technology. In addition,
future patents may issue to third parties which the Company's technology may
infringe. The Company could incur substantial costs in defending itself and its
partners against any such claims. Furthermore, parties making such claims may be
able to obtain injunctive or other equitable relief which could effectively
block the Company's ability to further develop or commercialize some or all of
its products in the United States and abroad, and could result in the award of
substantial damages. In the event of a claim of infringement, the Company and
its partners may be required to obtain one or more licenses from third parties.
There can be no assurance that the Company or its partners will be
 
                                       40
<PAGE>
able to obtain such licenses at a reasonable cost, if at all. Defense of any
lawsuit or failure to obtain any such required license could have a material
adverse effect on the Company.
 
    The Company's ability to develop and commercialize its technology will be
affected by the Company's or its partners' access to the drugs which are to be
formulated. Many biopharmaceutical drugs, including some of those which are
presently under development by the Company, are subject to issued and pending
United States and foreign patent rights which may be owned by competing
entities. There are issued patents and pending patent applications relating to
the pulmonary delivery of macromolecule drugs, including several for which the
Company is developing pulmonary delivery formulations. Specifically, patents
have been granted in the United States and Europe directed to aerosol
formulations for the treatment of the lung containing alpha-1 antitrypsin (U.S.)
and serine protease inhibitors including alpha-1 antitrypsin (Europe). The
Company's development partner for alpha-1 antitrypsin, Centeon, is negotiating
with multiple partners to secure rights under these patents. The failure by
Centeon to secure rights under these patents could result in the termination of
this program by Centeon. The resulting patent situation is highly complex, and
the ability of any one company to commercialize a particular biopharmaceutical
drug is highly unpredictable. The Company intends generally to rely on the
ability of its partners to provide access to the drugs which are to be
formulated for pulmonary delivery. There can be no assurance, however, that the
Company's partners will be able to provide access to drug candidates for
formulation for pulmonary delivery or that, if such access is provided, the
Company or its partners will not be accused of, or determined to be, infringing
a third party's rights and will not be prohibited from working with the drug or
be found liable for damages that may not be subject to indemnification. Any such
restriction on access or liability for damages would have a material adverse
effect on the Company.
 
    It is the Company's policy to require its employees and consultants, outside
scientific collaborators, sponsored researchers and other advisors who receive
confidential information from the Company to execute confidentiality agreements
upon the commencement of employment or consulting relationships with the
Company. These agreements provide that all confidential information developed or
made known to the individual during the course of the individual's relationship
with the Company is to be kept confidential and not disclosed to third parties
except in specific circumstances. The agreements provide that all inventions
conceived by an employee shall be the property of the Company. There can be no
assurance, however, that these agreements will provide meaningful protection or
adequate remedies for the Company's trade secrets in the event of unauthorized
use or disclosure of such information.
 
    In June 1997, the Company acquired the intellectual property portfolio of
the BioPreservation Division of Pafra. This portfolio includes issued U.S. and
foreign Letters Patent and pending applications relating to the stabilization of
macromolecule drugs in dry formulations. A granted European patent included in
this portfolio is currently the subject of an opposition proceeding before the
European Patent Office and the Company is continuing the defense of this patent,
the opposition to which was initiated prior to the acquisition. There can be no
assurance that the Company will be successful in the defense of this opposition
proceeding. In addition, there can be no assurance that any of the Pafra patent
applications will issue, or that any Pafra patents will be valid and
enforceable. The loss of the opposition proceeding or the inability to obtain or
defend the Pafra patents could have a material adverse effect on the Company.
See "Risk Factors--Dependence Upon Proprietary Technology; Uncertainty of
Obtaining Licenses or Developing Technology."
 
    The Company has obtained license rights to certain know-how and patent
applications owned by Genentech, Inc. covering formulations and powder
processing and pulmonary delivery of certain molecules, which it believes could
be important to the development of its business. These license rights are
worldwide, nonexclusive, sublicensable and royalty free. Recently, Genentech
successfully defended an opposition proceeding involving a pending European
patent licensed to Inhale. This decision is currently on appeal. The pending
patent covers the pulmonary delivery of cytokines and growth factors.
 
                                       41
<PAGE>
COMPETITION
 
    The Company believes that products developed using Inhale's technology will
compete on the basis of system efficiency, dosage reproducibility, safety,
patient convenience and cost. There is intense competition to develop a solution
to the non-invasive delivery of drugs from several drug delivery and
pharmaceutical companies, many of which are much larger and have far greater
resources than Inhale. These include companies working on developing systems for
other non-invasive routes of delivery, such as oral, transdermal, bucal, nasal,
and needle-less injections, as well as companies working on pulmonary delivery
systems. In addition, several companies are working on sustained release
injectable systems. While these latter systems involve injections, the lower
number of injections could be competitive with Inhale's pulmonary delivery
technology in certain applications. The Company believes its technology and
integrated pulmonary delivery systems approach provides it with important
competitive advantages in the delivery of drugs compared with currently known
alternatives. However, new drugs or further developments in alternative drug
delivery methods may provide greater therapeutic benefits for a specific drug or
indication, or may offer comparable performance at lower cost than the Company's
proprietary pulmonary delivery system.
 
    With respect to pulmonary delivery, several companies are marketing and
developing dry powder, MDI, liquid and nebulizer devices that could have
applications for drug delivery. Several of these companies may have or be
developing dry powder devices that could be used for pulmonary delivery of
macromolecules. There can be no assurance that competitors will not introduce
products or processes competitive with or superior to those of the Company. The
Company intends to monitor competitive device activities and continue to focus
its activities on those products for which the Company believes it has and can
maintain a competitive advantage. If a device is developed that is superior to
Inhale's for certain applications, the Company may seek to obtain a license to
allow Inhale's partners to use such device with Inhale-developed powders,
although there can be no assurance that the Company would be able to do so.
 
    The Company's success depends upon maintaining a competitive advantage in
the development of products and technologies for pulmonary delivery of
pharmaceutical drugs. If a competing company were to develop or acquire rights
to a better dry powder pulmonary delivery device or fine powder processing
technology, a better system for efficiently and reproducibly delivering
macromolecule drugs to the deep lung, a non-invasive drug delivery system which
is more attractive for delivering drugs to the deep lung, a non-invasive drug
delivery system which is more attractive for the delivery of drugs than
pulmonary delivery, or an invasive delivery system which overcomes some of the
drawbacks of current invasive systems for chronic or subchronic indications
(such as sustained release system), the Company's business could be materially
adversely affected.
 
    The Company is in competition with pharmaceutical, biotechnology and drug
delivery companies, hospitals, research organizations, individual scientists and
nonprofit organizations engaged in the development of alternative drug delivery
systems or new drug research and testing, as well as with entities producing and
developing injectable drugs. The Company is aware of a number of companies
currently seeking to develop new products and non-invasive alternatives to
injectable drug delivery, including oral delivery systems, intranasal delivery
systems, transdermal systems, bucal and colonic absorption systems. Several of
these companies may have developed or be developing dry powder devices that
could be used for pulmonary delivery of macromolecules. Many of these companies
and entities have greater research and development capabilities, experience,
manufacturing, marketing, financial and managerial resources than the Company
and represent significant competition for the Company. Acquisitions of competing
drug delivery companies by large pharmaceutical companies could enhance
competitors' financial, marketing and other resources. Accordingly, the
Company's competitors may succeed in developing competing technologies,
obtaining FDA approval for products or gain market acceptance more rapidly than
the Company. There can be no assurance that developments by others will not
render the Company's products or technologies noncompetitive or obsolete. See
"Risk Factors--Highly Competitive Industry; Risk of Technological Obsolescence."
 
                                       42
<PAGE>
EMPLOYEES
 
    As of September 22, 1997, Inhale had 129 employees, 109 engaged in research
and development activities and 20 in general administration and business
development. Sixty-eight of the employees hold advanced degrees, of which 28 are
Ph.D.s. The Company employs scientists and engineers with expertise in the areas
of pulmonary biology, aerosol science, mechanical engineering, protein chemistry
and chemical engineering. None of the Company's employees are covered by a
collective bargaining agreement and the Company has experienced no work
stoppages. Inhale believes that it maintains good relations with its employees.
 
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
 
    Research and development expenditures totaled $4.9, $9.0 and $14.4 million,
for the years ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively. Research and
development expenditures funded by partners were approximately $1.7, $3.4 and
$6.9 million for the years ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively.
 
PROPERTIES
 
    Inhale currently leases approximately 35,000 square feet in Palo Alto,
California. This space is used for research, development, administration and
manufacturing of drugs for early stage clinical trials. This facility operates
under Good Manufacturing Practices and has been validated and licensed by the
State of California to manufacture clinical supplies for use in human clinical
trials. The lease is for a five year term, ending May 31, 1998, and provides
Inhale with an option to renew at the then fair market value for one building at
its Palo Alto facility and an option at a fixed rate for the other building at
such facility, both of which expire on May 31, 2003.
 
    In late 1996, the Company entered into a 15-year lease agreement for a
facility totaling approximately 121,000 square feet in Belmont, California. The
Company intends to consolidate its operations into this facility over the next
twelve months and intends to use the facility as its initial commercial
manufacturing site. As of September 23, 1997, approximately one-third of
Inhale's employees had moved into this new facility. The lease provides Inhale
with an option to lease approximately 100,000 additional square feet in the same
facility.
 
                                       43
<PAGE>
                                   MANAGEMENT
 
    The following table sets forth the names, ages and positions of the
executive officers and directors of the Company as of September 30, 1997:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
            NAME                   AGE                                 POSITION
- -----------------------------      ---      ---------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                            <C>          <C>
Robert B. Chess                        40   President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
 
Ajit S. Gill                           49   Chief Operating Officer
 
John S. Patton, Ph.D.                  51   Vice President, Research and Director
 
Robert M. Platz                        45   Vice President, Technology
 
Stephen L. Hurst                       42   Vice President, Intellectual Property and Licensing
 
Judi R. Lum                            37   Vice President, Finance and Administration and Chief Financial
                                              Officer
 
Terry L. Opdendyk                      49   Chairman of the Board of Directors
 
Mark J. Gabrielson                     41   Director
 
James B. Glavin                        62   Director
 
Melvin Perelman, Ph.D.                 66   Director
</TABLE>
 
    ROBERT B. CHESS has served as President of the Company since December 1991
and as Chief Executive Officer since May 1992. Mr. Chess was also elected a
Director of the Company in May 1992. From September 1990 until October 1991, he
was an Associate Deputy Director in the White House Office of Policy
Development. In March 1987, Mr. Chess co-founded Penederm Incorporated
("Penederm"), a topical dermatological drug delivery company, and served as its
President until February 1989. Prior to co-founding Penederm, Mr. Chess held
management positions at Intel Corp., a semiconductor manufacturer, and Metaphor,
a computer software company (acquired by International Business Machines). Mr.
Chess holds a BS in Engineering from the California Institute of Technology and
an MBA from Harvard Business School.
 
    AJIT S. GILL, Chief Operating Officer, has also served as the Company's
Chief Financial Officer from January 1993 until October 1996. Before joining
Inhale, Mr. Gill was Vice President and General Manager of Kodak's Interactive
Systems division. Mr. Gill has served as Chief Financial Officer for
TRW-Fujitsu, Director of Business Development for Visicorp, and as start-up
President for three high technology companies. He completed a BTech at the
Indian Institute of Technology, an MS in Electrical Engineering from the
University of Nebraska, and holds an MBA from the University of Western Ontario.
 
    JOHN S. PATTON, PH.D., a co-founder of Inhale, has been Vice President,
Research since December since 1991 and a Director of the Company since July
1990. He served as President of the Company from its incorporation in July 1990
to December 1991. From 1985 to 1990, Dr. Patton was a Project Team Leader with
Genentech, Inc., a biotechnology company, where he headed their non-invasive
drug delivery activities. Dr. Patton was on the faculty of the Marine Science
and Microbiology Departments at the University of Georgia from 1979 through
1985, where he was granted tenure in 1984. Dr. Patton received a BS in Zoology
and Biochemistry from Pennsylvania State University, an MS from the University
of Rhode Island, a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of California, San Diego
and received post doctorate fellowships in biomedicine from Harvard Medical
School and the University of Lund, Sweden.
 
    ROBERT M. PLATZ, a co-founder of Inhale, has served as Vice President,
Technology of the Company since August 1990. He also served as a Director of the
Company from July 1990 to August 1991. From January 1983 to August 1991, Mr.
Platz was employed by SRI International, a contract research company, most
recently as Senior Chemical Engineer, where he headed the pharmaceutical aerosol
group. Mr. Platz
 
                                       44
<PAGE>
received a BS in biology and an MS in Chemical Engineering from the University
of California, Los Angeles.
 
    STEPHEN L. HURST has been Vice President, Intellectual Property and
Licensing of the Company since March 1994. From July 1990 to February 1994, Mr.
Hurst was in private law practice and consulted with COR Therapeutics, Inc., a
biotechnology company, on intellectual property and business development issues.
From November 1987 to June 1990, he was the Campus Patent Coordinator for the
University of California, San Francisco. He also worked as an Associate Counsel
at Townsend & Townsend. He received a BS degree in Environmental Science from
the University of California at Berkeley and his JD from Golden Gate University
in San Francisco.
 
    JUDI R. LUM has served as Vice President, Finance and Administration and
Chief Financial Officer since October 1996. From July 1995 until joining the
Company, she served as Vice President of Finance and Administration for an
ophthalmics start-up and previously was Director of Corporate Development for
GenPharm International from November 1993 to February 1995. From February 1989
to October 1993, Ms. Lum worked at Raychem Corporation where she held various
positions including Director of Finance for the Industrial Sector. She received
her BA in Economics from Stanford University in 1981 and an MBA degree from the
Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 1986.
 
    TERRY L. OPDENDYK has been the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the
Company since August 1991. He served as acting Chief Executive Officer of the
Company between August 1991 and May 1992. Mr. Opdendyk has been the Managing
General Partner of ONSET Ventures III, a California Limited Partnership, since
1997; a general partner of the general partner of ONSET, a California Limited
Partnership, a venture capital limited partnership, since 1984; a general
partner of the general partner of ONSET Enterprise Associates, L.P. ("OEA"), a
venture capital limited partnership, since 1989; a general partner of the
general partner of ONSET Enterprise Associates II, L.P., a venture capital
partnership, since 1994; a special limited partner of the general partner of New
Enterprise Associates V, Limited Partnership, a venture capital limited
partnership, since 1990; and a special limited partner of the general partner of
New Enterprise Associates VI, Limited Partnership and New Enterprise Associates
VII, Limited, both of which are venture capital limited partnerships, since 1993
and 1996, respectively. From 1980 to 1984, he served as president of VisiCorp, a
computer software company. Prior to 1980, Mr. Opdendyk held management positions
with Intel Corp., a semiconductor manufacturer, a Hewlett-Packard Co., a
computer and peripherals manufacturer. Mr. Opdendyk is a director of several
private companies.
 
    MARK J. GABRIELSON has been a director of the Company since May 1992. Since
January 1991 he has been a general partner of Prince Ventures, L.P., a venture
capital management firm that serves as the general partner of Prince Venture
Partners III, L.P. ("Prince"). In addition, Mr. Gabrielson is the President of
Pharmaply, Inc., Chairman of Strategic Medical Information, Inc. and Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer of Ontyx, Inc. Prior to joining Prince, Mr.
Gabrielson served in a variety of marketing and business positions with
SmithKline Beecham plc since July 1975. Mr. Gabrielson is a director of
Penederm.
 
    JAMES B. GLAVIN has been a director of the Company since May 1993. Mr.
Glavin is Chairman of the Board of The Immune Response Corporation, a
biotechnology company. He was President and Chief Executive Officer of The
Immune Response Corporation from 1987 until September 1994. From 1987 to 1990,
Mr. Glavin served as Chairman of the Board of Smith Laboratories, Inc. and was
President and Chief Executive Officer from 1985 to 1989. From 1985 to 1987, he
was a partner in CH Ventures, a venture capital firm. From 1983 to 1985, he
served as Chairman of the Board of Genetic Systems Corporation, a biotechnology
firm, and as its President and Chief Executive Officer from 1981 to 1983. Mr.
Glavin is a director of The Meridian Fund, Gish Biomedical, Inc. and The Immune
Response Corporation.
 
    MELVIN PERELMAN, PH.D. has been a director of the Company since January
1996. Dr. Perelman spent 36 years at Lilly and, most recently as Executive
Vice-President and President of Lilly Research Laboratories, a position which he
held from 1986 until his retirement in 1993. Dr. Perelman served as President of
 
                                       45
<PAGE>
Lilly International from 1976 until 1986. Dr. Perelman is a member of the Board
of Directors of Cinergy, Inc. and of The Immune Response Corporation.
 
    In addition to the executive officers, the following non-executive officers
are considered key employees: Terry Boardman, Vice President, Process
Development and Manufacturing; Michael Glembourtt, Vice President, Program
Management; Christopher Searcy, Vice President, New Business Opportunities;
Adrian Smith, Vice President, Device Development and Manufacturing and Lynn Van
Campen, Vice President, Pharmaceutical Development.
 
SCIENTIFIC ADVISORS
 
    The Company has assembled scientific and development advisors that provide
Inhale expertise in critical scientific, development, engineering, manufacturing
and business issues facing the Company. The scientific advisory group assists
Inhale on issues related to pulmonary delivery, pulmonary toxicology, aerosol
science, government regulation, product selection and clinical trial design. Its
members are called upon individually as needed and include:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
           NAME                                    AFFILIATION                              AREA OF EXPERTISE
- ---------------------------  --------------------------------------------------------  ---------------------------
<S>                          <C>                                                       <C>
Joseph Brain, Ph.D.          Professor, Harvard School of Public Health Chairman,      Pulmonary safety
                             Department of Environmental Health Director, Physiology
                             Program
 
Peter Byron, Ph.D.           Professor of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University,  Pharmaceutical aerosols
                             Medical College of Virginia
 
Carl Grunfeld, M.D.          Professor of Medicine, University of California, San      Endocrinology
                             Francisco
 
Michael Matthay, M.D.        Professor of Medicine and Anesthesiology, University of   Pulmonology
                             California, San Francisco
 
Gerald Smaldone, M.D.        Professor of Medicine, State University of New York at    Aerosol medicine
                             Stony Brook
</TABLE>
 
                                       46
<PAGE>
                             PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
 
    The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the
beneficial ownership of the Company's outstanding Common Stock as of August 31,
1997, and after the sale of Common Stock offered hereby (assuming no exercise of
the Underwriters' over-allotment option) by: (i) each person (or group of
affiliated persons) who is known by the Company to own beneficially more than 5%
of the Common Stock; (ii) each of the Company's directors; (iii) the Company's
Chief Executive Officer and each of the four other most highly compensated
executive officers of the Company at December 31, 1996; and (iv) all directors
and executive officers of the Company as a group.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                       PERCENTAGE BENEFICIALLY
                                                                                             OWNED(1)(2)
                                                                                    -----------------------------
                                                                        NUMBER OF       BEFORE          AFTER
NAME                                                                    SHARES(1)      OFFERING       OFFERING
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------  ----------  --------------  -------------
<S>                                                                     <C>         <C>             <C>
Baxter World Trade Corporation
One Baxter Parkway
Deerfield, Illinois 60015 (3).........................................   1,335,987       9.7  %          8.7 %
Franklin Advisers, Inc.
777 Mariners Island Blvd.
San Mateo, California 94404 (3).......................................     988,000       7.2  %          6.5 %
Quantum Partners LDC
c/o Soros Fund Management LLC
888 Seventh Avenue, 33rd Floor
New York, New York 10106 (3)..........................................     750,000       5.4  %          4.9 %
Pfizer Inc.
235 East 42nd Street
New York, New York 10017 (3)..........................................     725,552       5.3  %          4.8 %
Mark J. Gabrielson
c/o Prince Venture Partners
One Gorham Island
Westport, Connecticut 06880 (4).......................................     701,044       5.1  %          4.6 %
John S. Patton (5)....................................................     423,031       3.1  %          2.8 %
Robert B. Chess (6)...................................................     350,369       2.5  %          2.3 %
Robert M. Platz (7)...................................................     283,010       2.0  %          1.8 %
Ajit S. Gill (8)......................................................     151,531       1.1  %          1.0 %
Terry L. Opdendyk (9).................................................     132,992       1.0  %           *
James B. Glavin (10)..................................................      51,000        *               *
Stephen L. Hurst (11).................................................      30,739        *               *
Melvin Perelman (12)..................................................      12,000        *               *
All directors and executive officers as a group (10 persons) (13).....   2,143,090       15.1 %         13.7 %
</TABLE>
 
- --------------------------
 
*   Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1%.
 
(1) Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the
    Securities and Exchange Commission and generally includes voting or
    investment power with respect to securities. Beneficial ownership for
    purposes of this table also includes the total number of options to purchase
    Common Stock exerciseable within 60 days after August 31, 1997 held by such
    persons. Except as indicated by footnote, and subject to community property
    laws where applicable, the persons named in the table above have sole voting
    and investment power with respect to all shares of Common Stock shown as
    beneficially owned by them.
 
(2) Percentage of beneficial ownership is based on 13,768,880 shares of Common
    Stock outstanding as of September 30, 1997 and 15,268,880 outstanding after
    completion of this offering.
 
(3) Information as to shares beneficially owned based solely on information
    contained in Form 13-D as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
    on or before February 14, 1997 or Form 13-F as filed with the Securities and
    Exchange Commission on June 30, 1997.
 
                                       47
<PAGE>
(4) Includes 677,044 shares held by Prince Venture Partners III ("Prince"). Mr.
    Gabrielson is a general partner of the general partner of Prince and
    disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of his
    pro rata interest therein. Also includes 24,000 shares issuable to Mr.
    Gabrielson upon the exercise of outstanding options.
 
(5) Includes 56,031 shares issuable to Dr. Patton upon the exercise of
    outstanding options.
 
(6) Includes 61,614 shares issuable to Mr. Chess upon the exercise of
    outstanding options.
 
(7) Includes 50,005 shares issuable to Mr. Platz upon the exercise of
    outstanding options.
 
(8) Includes 100,156 shares issuable to Mr. Gill upon the exercise of
    outstanding options.
 
(9) Includes 14,400 shares issuable to ONSET Enterprise Associates, L.P. ("OEA")
    upon the exercise of outstanding options. Mr. Opdendyk is a general partner
    of the general partner of OEA and disclaims beneficial ownership of such
    shares except to the extent of his pro rata interest therein. Also includes
    9,600 shares issuable to Mr. Opdendyk upon the exercise of outstanding
    options.
 
(10) Includes 45,000 shares issuable to Mr. Glavin upon the exercise of
    outstanding options.
 
(11) Includes 2,321 shares issuable to Mr. Hurst upon the exercise of
    outstanding options.
 
(12) All shares issuable to Dr. Perelman upon the exercise of outstanding
    options.
 
(13) Includes 382,502 shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options.
 
                                       48
<PAGE>
                                  UNDERWRITING
 
    Under the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the Underwriting
Agreement, the form of which is filed as an Exhibit 1.1 to the Registration
Statement, of which this Prospectus forms a part, the underwriters named below
(the "Underwriters") have severally agreed to purchase from the Company, and the
Company has agreed to sell to each Underwriter, the aggregate number of shares
of Common Stock set forth opposite the name of each such Underwriter below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                               NUMBER
UNDERWRITERS                                                                                 OF SHARES
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ----------
<S>                                                                                          <C>
Lehman Brothers Inc. ......................................................................
BancAmerica Robertson Stephens.............................................................
Vector Securities International, Inc. .....................................................
Volpe Brown Whelan & Company, LLC..........................................................
                                                                                             ----------
    Total..................................................................................   1,500,000
                                                                                             ----------
                                                                                             ----------
</TABLE>
 
    The Company has been advised by the Underwriters that they propose to offer
the Common Stock to the public at the offering price set forth on the cover page
hereof, and to certain dealers at such public offering price less a selling
concession not in excess of $        per share. The Underwriters may allow, and
such dealers may reallow, a concession of not more than $        per share to
certain other Underwriters or to certain other brokers or dealers. After this
offering to the public, the offering price and other selling terms may be
changed by the Underwriters.
 
    The Underwriting Agreement provides that the obligations of the several
Underwriters to pay for and accept delivery of the shares of Common Stock
offered hereby are subject to approval of certain legal matters by counsel and
to certain other conditions, including the condition that no stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect and no
proceedings for such purpose are pending or threatened by the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") and that there has been no material
adverse change or any development involving a prospective material adverse
change in the condition of the Company from that set forth in the Registration
Statement otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in this Prospectus, and
that certain certificates, opinions and letters have been received from the
Company and its counsel and independent auditors. The Underwriters are obligated
to take and pay for all of the above shares of Common Stock if any such shares
are taken.
 
    The Company and the Underwriters have agreed in the Underwriting Agreement
to indemnify each other against certain liabilities, including liabilities under
the Securities Act.
 
    The Company has granted to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to an
additional 225,000 shares of Common Stock, exercisable solely to cover
over-allotments, at the public offering price, less the underwriting discounts
and commissions shown on the cover page of this Prospectus. Such option may be
exercised at any time until 30 days after the date of the Underwriting
Agreement. To the extent that the option is exercised, each Underwriter will be
committed to purchase a number of the additional shares of Common Stock
proportionate to such Underwriter's initial commitment as indicated in the
preceding table.
 
    The Underwriters have informed the Company that they do not intend to
confirm sales to accounts over which they exercise discretionary authority.
 
    Until the distribution of the Common Stock is completed, rules of the
Commission may limit the ability of the Underwriters and certain selling group
members to bid for and purchase shares of Common Stock. As an exception to these
rules, the Underwriters are permitted to engage in certain transactions that
stabilize the price of the Common Stock. Such transactions may consist of bids
or purchases for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the
Common Stock. In addition, if the Underwriters
 
                                       49
<PAGE>
over-allot (i.e., if they sell more shares of Common Stock than are set forth on
the cover page of this Prospectus), and thereby create a short position in the
Common Stock in connection with the offering, the Underwriters may reduce that
short position by purchasing Common Stock in the open market. The Underwriters
may also elect to reduce any short position by exercising all or part of the
over-allotment option described herein.
 
    The Underwriters may also impose a penalty bid on selling group members.
This means that if the Underwriters purchase shares of Common Stock in the open
market to reduce the Underwriters' short position or to stabilize the price of
the Common Stock, they may reclaim the amount of the selling concession from the
selling group members who sold those shares as part of the offering. In general,
purchases of a security for the purpose of stabilization or to reduce a
syndicate short position could cause the price of the security to be higher than
it might otherwise be in the absence of such purchases. The imposition of a
penalty bid might have an effect on the price of a security to the extent that
it were to discourage resales of the security by purchasers in the offering.
Neither the Company nor any of the Underwriters makes any representation or
prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions
described above may have on the price of the Common Stock. In addition, the
Company may not make any representation that the Underwriters will engage in
such transactions or that such transactions, once commenced, will not be
discontinued without notice.
 
    The Underwriters and dealers may engage in passive market marking
transactions in the Common Stock in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M
promulgated by the Commission. In general, a passive market maker may not bid
for, or purchase, the Common Stock at a price that exceeds the highest
independent bid. In addition, the net daily purchases made by any passive market
make generally may not exceed 30% of its average daily trading volume in the
Common Stock during a specified two month prior period, or 200 shares, whichever
is greater. A passive market maker must indemnify passive market making bids as
such on the Nasdaq electronic inter-dealer reporting system. Passive market
making may stabilize or maintain the market price of the Common Stock above
independent market levels. Underwriters and dealers are not required to engage
in passive market and may end passive market making activities at any time.
 
    Shareholders of the Company beneficially owning an aggregate of
approximately 1,083,544 shares of Common Stock have agreed not to offer, sell or
otherwise dispose of their shares, with certain limited exceptions, upon the
expiration of 90 days after the date of this offering without the prior written
consent of Lehman Brothers Inc. Except for the Common Stock to be sold in the
offering, the Company has agreed not to offer, sell, contract to sell or
otherwise issue any Common Stock or other capital stock or any securities
convertible into or exchangeable for, or any rights to acquire, Common Stock or
other capital stock, with certain limited exceptions prior to the expiration of
90 days from the date of this Prospectus without the prior written consent of
Lehman Brothers Inc.
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
    The validity of the shares of Common Stock offered hereby will be passed
upon for the Company by Cooley Godward LLP, Menlo Park, California ("Cooley
Godward"). Mark P. Tanoury, a partner of Cooley Godward, is Secretary of the
Company. Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the Underwriters by
Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe, Palo Alto, California.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
    The financial statements of the Company at December 31, 1995 and 1996 and
for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1996, appearing in
this Prospectus and the Registration Statement have been audited by Ernst &
Young LLP, independent auditors, as set forth in their report thereon appearing
elsewhere herein and are included in reliance upon such report given upon the
authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
 
                                       50
<PAGE>
    The financial statements of Inhale Therapeutic Systems appearing in the
Company's Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 1996, have
been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, as set forth in their
report thereon included therein and incorporated herein by reference. Such
financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such
report given upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and
auditing.
 
                             ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
    The Company has filed a Registration Statement on Form S-3 under the
Securities Act, including amendments thereto, (the "Registration Statement")
relating to the Common Stock offered hereby with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, Washington, D.C. This Prospectus does not contain all of the
information set forth in the Registration Statement and the exhibits and
schedules thereto certain portions of which have been omitted pursuant to the
rules and regulations of the Commission. Statements contained in this Prospectus
as to the contents of any contract or other document referred to are not
necessarily complete and in each instance reference is made to the copy of such
contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement,
each such statement being qualified in all respects by such reference. For
further information with respect to the Company and the Common Stock offered
hereby, reference is made to such Registration Statement, exhibits and schedules
thereto. A copy of the Registration Statement may be inspected by anyone without
charge at the Commission's principal office at 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549, and copies of all or any part thereof may be obtained
from the Public Reference Section, Securities and Exchange Commission,
Washington, D.C. 20549 upon the payment of certain prescribed fees.
 
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
    The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance
therewith, files reports, proxy statements and other information with the
Commission. Such reports, proxy statements and other information filed by the
Company may be inspected and copied at the Commission's Public Reference Section
located at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the
Commission's regional offices located at 7 World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New
York, New York 10048, and 500 West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois 60661.
Copies of such material also can be obtained from the Public Reference Section
of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, at
prescribed rates. The Commission also makes electronic filings publicly
available on the Internet. The Commission's Internet address is
http://www.sec.gov. The Commission's Web site also contains reports, proxy and
information statements and other information regarding the Company that has been
filed with the Commission. The Common Stock of the Company is quoted on the
Nasdaq National Market. Reports, proxy statements and other information
concerning the Company may be inspected at the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. at 1735 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006.
 
                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
 
    The following documents, filed with the Commission under the Exchange Act
(File No. 0-23566), are hereby incorporated by reference into this Prospectus:
 
        a)  The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
    December 31, 1996, filed on or about March 26, 1997 including all material
    incorporated by reference therein;
 
        b)  The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on or about February
    6, 1997;
 
        c)  The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter
    ended March 31, 1997, filed on or about May 13, 1997, including all material
    incorporated by reference therein;
 
                                       51
<PAGE>
        d)  The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter
    ended June 30, 1997, filed on or about August 12, 1997, including all
    material incorporated by reference therein; and
 
        e)  The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter
    ended September 30, 1997, filed on or about October 3, 1997, including all
    material incorporated by reference therein; and
 
        f)  The description of the Common Stock contained in the Company's
    Registration Statement on Form 8-A.
 
    The footnote disclosure in note 6 to the financial statements included in
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1996 has been updated with respect to additional items occurring after the
filing of the Form 10-K. See note 6 in the financial statements included in this
Prospectus and Registration Statement at F-17.
 
    All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Prospectus and prior to the
termination of the offering shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference
herein and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any
statement contained in this Prospectus or in a document incorporated or deemed
to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or
superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement
contained herein or in any subsequently-filed document which also is or is
deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such
statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed,
except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus.
 
    The Company will provide without charge to each person, including any
beneficial owner, to whom this Prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral
request of such person, a copy of any and all of the documents that have been
incorporated by reference herein (not including exhibits to such documents
unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference herein or into
such documents). Such request may be directed to: Investor Relations, Inhale
Therapeutic Systems, 1525 Industrial Way, Belmont, California 94002.
 
                                       52
<PAGE>
                           INHALE THERAPEUTIC SYSTEMS
 
                         INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                               PAGE
                                                                                                             ---------
<S>                                                                                                          <C>
Report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors..........................................................        F-2
 
Balance Sheets at December 31, 1995 and 1996 and September 30, 1997........................................        F-3
 
Statements of Operations for the nine month periods ended September 30, 1996 and 1997, and for each of the
  three years in the period ended December 31, 1996........................................................        F-4
 
Statement of Shareholders' Equity for the three years ended December 31, 1996 and nine months ended
  September 30, 1997.......................................................................................        F-5
 
Statements of Cash Flows for the nine month periods ended September 30, 1996 and 1997, and for each of the
  three years in the period ended December 31, 1996........................................................        F-6
 
Notes to Financial Statements..............................................................................        F-7
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-1
<PAGE>
               REPORT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
The Board of Directors and Shareholders of
Inhale Therapeutic Systems
 
    We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Inhale Therapeutic
Systems as of December 31, 1995 and 1996, and the related statements of
operations, shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in
the period ended December 31, 1996. These financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
 
    We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
    In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects, the financial position of Inhale Therapeutic Systems
at December 31, 1995 and 1996, and the results of its operations and its cash
flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1996 in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
 
                                                               ERNST & YOUNG LLP
 
Palo Alto, California
February 10, 1997
 
                                      F-2
<PAGE>
                           INHALE THERAPEUTIC SYSTEMS
 
                                 BALANCE SHEETS
 
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
                                     ASSETS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  DECEMBER 31,
                                                                             ----------------------  SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                                                1995        1996         1997
                                                                             ----------  ----------  -------------
                                                                                                      (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                                          <C>         <C>         <C>
Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents................................................  $    3,834  $   18,568   $     9,627
  Short-term investments...................................................      16,093      17,741        48,032
  Note receivable..........................................................          --          --         5,000
  Other current assets.....................................................         487       1,239         1,699
                                                                             ----------  ----------  -------------
    Total current assets...................................................      20,414      37,548        64,358
Property and equipment, net................................................       2,660       3,770        10,355
Deposits and other assets..................................................         174         174           135
                                                                             ----------  ----------  -------------
                                                                             $   23,248  $   41,492   $    74,848
                                                                             ----------  ----------  -------------
                                                                             ----------  ----------  -------------
 
                                       LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable.........................................................  $      717  $    1,130   $     1,884
  Accrued liabilities......................................................         899       1,746         3,077
  Accrued compensation.....................................................         274         479         1,069
  Deferred revenue.........................................................         578       2,723         8,508
  Equipment financing obligations--current portion.........................         245         166            77
                                                                             ----------  ----------  -------------
    Total current liabilities..............................................       2,713       6,244        14,615
 
Equipment financing obligations............................................         353         187           148
Accrued rent...............................................................          --          --           240
 
Commitments
 
Shareholders' equity:
  Preferred stock, 10,000 shares authorized, no shares issued or
    outstanding............................................................          --          --            --
  Common stock, no par value; 30,000 shares authorized; 10,142, 11,835 and
    13,769 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 1995 and 1996, and
    September 30, 1997, respectively.......................................      38,202      62,840        94,529
  Deferred compensation....................................................        (250)        (88)           --
  Accumulated deficit......................................................     (17,770)    (27,691)      (34,684)
                                                                             ----------  ----------  -------------
    Total shareholders' equity.............................................      20,182      35,061        59,845
                                                                             ----------  ----------  -------------
                                                                             $   23,248  $   41,492   $    74,848
                                                                             ----------  ----------  -------------
                                                                             ----------  ----------  -------------
</TABLE>
 
                             See accompanying notes
 
                                      F-3
<PAGE>
                           INHALE THERAPEUTIC SYSTEMS
 
                            STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
                  (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE INFORMATION)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                 YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,         SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                              -------------------------------  --------------------
                                                                1994       1995       1996       1996       1997
                                                              ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                                   (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                           <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
Contract research revenue...................................  $   1,651  $   3,445  $   6,890  $   4,722  $  11,459
Operating costs and expenses:
  Research and development..................................      4,934      9,041     14,376     10,129     16,640
  General and administrative................................      2,465      3,232      4,004      2,341      4,244
                                                              ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
    Total operating costs and expenses......................      7,399     12,273     18,380     12,470     20,884
                                                              ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Loss from operations........................................     (5,748)    (8,828)   (11,490)    (7,748)    (9,425)
Interest income.............................................        592      1,252      1,638      1,156      2,453
Interest expense............................................       (123)       (86)       (57)       (47)       (21)
                                                              ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Net loss....................................................  $  (5,279) $  (7,662) $  (9,909) $  (6,639) $  (6,993)
                                                              ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                              ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Net loss per share..........................................  $   (0.86) $   (0.78) $   (0.88) $   (0.60) $   (0.52)
                                                              ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                              ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
Shares used in net loss per share calculation...............      6,103      9,837     11,207     11,025     13,417
                                                              ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                              ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
                             See accompanying notes
 
                                      F-4
<PAGE>
                           INHALE THERAPEUTIC SYSTEMS
 
                       STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                PREFERRED STOCK           COMMON STOCK
                                             ----------------------  ----------------------     DEFERRED      ACCUMULATED
                                               SHARES      AMOUNT      SHARES      AMOUNT     COMPENSATION      DEFICIT
                                             -----------  ---------  -----------  ---------  ---------------  ------------
<S>                                          <C>          <C>        <C>          <C>        <C>              <C>
Balance at December 31, 1993...............       2,909   $  10,697         934   $      23     $      --      $   (4,829)
Conversion of Series A, B, and C
  convertible preferred stock to common
  stock....................................      (2,909)    (10,697)      5,236      10,697            --              --
Issuance of common stock in initial public
  offering, net of issuance costs of
  $1,698...................................          --          --       2,150      14,427            --              --
Deferred compensation related to the
  issuance of certain stock options granted
  to employees.............................          --          --          --         760          (760)             --
Amortization of deferred compensation......          --          --          --          --           348              --
Exercise of stock options for cash by
  employees and consultants................          --          --         336          40            --              --
Net loss...................................          --          --          --          --            --          (5,279)
                                             -----------  ---------  -----------  ---------        ------     ------------
Balance at December 31, 1994...............          --          --       8,656      25,947          (412)        (10,108)
Issuance of common stock in connection with
  a collaborative agreement................          --          --         453       5,000            --              --
Issuance of common stock in follow-on
  offering, net of issuance costs of
  $757.....................................          --          --       1,000       7,243            --              --
Amortization of deferred compensation......          --          --          --          --           162              --
Exercise of stock options for cash by
  employees and consultants................          --          --          33          12            --              --
Net loss...................................          --          --          --          --            --          (7,662)
                                             -----------  ---------  -----------  ---------        ------     ------------
Balance at December 31, 1995...............          --          --      10,142      38,202          (250)        (17,770)
Issuance of common stock in connection with
  collaborative agreements, net of issuance
  costs of $806............................          --          --       1,608      24,196            --              --
Amortization of deferred compensation......          --          --          --          --           162              --
Exercise of stock options for cash by
  employees and consultants................          --          --          85         442            --              --
Unrealized loss on securities held as
  available-for-sale.......................          --          --          --          --            --             (12)
Net loss...................................          --          --          --          --            --          (9,909)
                                             -----------  ---------  -----------  ---------        ------     ------------
Balance at December 31, 1996...............          --          --      11,835      62,840           (88)        (27,691)
Issuance of common stock for cash in
  connection with private placement, net of
  issuance costs of $1,940 (unaudited).....          --          --       1,800      30,460            --              --
Issuance of common stock in connection with
  licensing agreement (unaudited)..........          --          --          28         600            --              --
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of
  stock options for cash (unaudited).......          --          --         106         629            --              --
Amortization of deferred compensation
  (unaudited)..............................          --          --          --          --            88              --
Net loss (unaudited).......................          --          --          --          --            --          (6,993)
                                             -----------  ---------  -----------  ---------        ------     ------------
Balance at September 30, 1997 (unaudited)..          --   $      --      13,769   $  94,529     $      --      $  (34,684)
                                             -----------  ---------  -----------  ---------        ------     ------------
                                             -----------  ---------  -----------  ---------        ------     ------------
 
<CAPTION>
                                                 TOTAL
                                             SHAREHOLDERS'
                                                EQUITY
                                             -------------
<S>                                          <C>
Balance at December 31, 1993...............    $   5,891
Conversion of Series A, B, and C
  convertible preferred stock to common
  stock....................................           --
Issuance of common stock in initial public
  offering, net of issuance costs of
  $1,698...................................       14,427
Deferred compensation related to the
  issuance of certain stock options granted
  to employees.............................           --
Amortization of deferred compensation......          348
Exercise of stock options for cash by
  employees and consultants................           40
Net loss...................................       (5,279)
                                             -------------
Balance at December 31, 1994...............       15,427
Issuance of common stock in connection with
  a collaborative agreement................        5,000
Issuance of common stock in follow-on
  offering, net of issuance costs of
  $757.....................................        7,243
Amortization of deferred compensation......          162
Exercise of stock options for cash by
  employees and consultants................           12
Net loss...................................       (7,662)
                                             -------------
Balance at December 31, 1995...............       20,182
Issuance of common stock in connection with
  collaborative agreements, net of issuance
  costs of $806............................       24,196
Amortization of deferred compensation......          162
Exercise of stock options for cash by
  employees and consultants................          442
Unrealized loss on securities held as
  available-for-sale.......................          (12)
Net loss...................................       (9,909)
                                             -------------
Balance at December 31, 1996...............       35,061
Issuance of common stock for cash in
  connection with private placement, net of
  issuance costs of $1,940 (unaudited).....       30,460
Issuance of common stock in connection with
  licensing agreement (unaudited)..........          600
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of
  stock options for cash (unaudited).......          629
Amortization of deferred compensation
  (unaudited)..............................           88
Net loss (unaudited).......................       (6,993)
                                             -------------
Balance at September 30, 1997 (unaudited)..    $  59,845
                                             -------------
                                             -------------
</TABLE>
 
                             See accompanying notes
 
                                      F-5
<PAGE>
                           INHALE THERAPEUTIC SYSTEMS
 
                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
                INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
 
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                               NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                              YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,           SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                          ---------------------------------  ---------------------
                                                             1994        1995       1996       1996        1997
                                                          ----------  ----------  ---------  ---------  ----------
                                                                                                  (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                       <C>         <C>         <C>        <C>        <C>
CASH FLOWS USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net loss................................................  $   (5,279) $   (7,662) $  (9,909) $  (6,639) $   (6,993)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in
  operating activities:
  Depreciation and amortization.........................         539         955      1,071        780       1,611
  Amortization of deferred compensation.................         348         162        162        122          88
  Increase in other current assets, deposits and other
    assets..............................................        (317)       (110)      (752)    (1,643)     (5,421)
  Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued
    liabilities.........................................         696         847      1,465        (70)      2,915
  Increase in deferred revenue..........................           8         483      2,145        780       5,785
                                                          ----------  ----------  ---------  ---------  ----------
Net cash used in operating activities...................      (4,005)     (5,325)    (5,818)    (6,670)     (2,015)
                                                          ----------  ----------  ---------  ---------  ----------
CASH FLOWS USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchases of short-term investments.....................     (22,786)    (49,318)   (58,993)   (39,118)   (281,447)
Sales of short-term investments.........................       4,102       7,812      2,020      2,020       1,100
Maturities of short-term investments....................      18,601      29,326     55,313     30,782     250,056
Purchases of property and equipment, net................      (1,371)     (1,340)    (2,181)    (1,608)     (8,196)
                                                          ----------  ----------  ---------  ---------  ----------
Net cash used in investing activities...................      (1,454)    (13,520)    (3,841)    (7,924)    (38,487)
                                                          ----------  ----------  ---------  ---------  ----------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Payments of equipment loan obligations..................         (27)        (32)       (52)       (35)        (55)
Payments of capital lease obligations...................        (154)       (205)      (193)      (166)        (73)
Issuance of equipment loan obligations..................          --         151         --         --          --
Issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs.........      14,467      12,255     24,638     19,592      31,689
                                                          ----------  ----------  ---------  ---------  ----------
Net cash provided by financing activities...............      14,286      12,169     24,393     19,391      31,561
                                                          ----------  ----------  ---------  ---------  ----------
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents....       8,827      (6,676)    14,734      4,797      (8,941)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period........       1,683      10,510      3,834      3,834      18,568
                                                          ----------  ----------  ---------  ---------  ----------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period..............  $   10,510  $    3,834  $  18,568  $   8,631  $    9,627
                                                          ----------  ----------  ---------  ---------  ----------
                                                          ----------  ----------  ---------  ---------  ----------
</TABLE>
 
                             See accompanying notes
 
                                      F-6
<PAGE>
                           INHALE THERAPEUTIC SYSTEMS
 
                         NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
                               DECEMBER 31, 1996
 
 (INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND 1997
                   AND AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
NOTE 1--ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
 
    Inhale Therapeutic Systems (the "Company") was incorporated in the State of
California in July 1990. Since inception, the Company has been engaged in the
development of systems for the pulmonary delivery of macromolecule drug
therapies for systemic and local lung applications.
 
    The Company expects increasing losses over the next several years as
research and development efforts continue, and as the Company expands its
facilities for late stage clinical trials and early stage commercial
manufacturing. Management plans to continue to finance the Company primarily
through issuances of equity securities, research and development contract
revenue, and in the longer term, revenue from product sales and royalties. If
the financing arrangements contemplated by management are not consummated, the
Company may have to seek other sources of capital or reevaluate its operating
plans.
 
    The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
    The financial information at September 30, 1997 and for the nine months
ended September 30, 1996 and 1997 has been prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles for interim financial information. Such
information is unaudited but includes all adjustments (consisting only of normal
recurring adjustments) which the Company considers necessary for a fair
presentation of the financial position at such date and the operating results
and cash flows for those periods. The results of the Company's operations for
any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results of the
Company's operations for a full fiscal year.
 
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
 
    The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity from
date of purchase of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash
equivalents include demand deposits held in banks and interest bearing money
market funds. All other liquid investments are classified as short-term
investments. Short-term investments consist of federal and municipal government
securities, repurchase agreements or corporate commercial paper with A1 or P1
short-term ratings and A or better long-term ratings with remaining maturities
at date of purchase of greater than 90 days and less than one year. The Company
limits its concentration of risk by diversifying its investments among a variety
of industries and issuers. The Company has experienced no losses on its
investments.
 
    At September 30, 1997 and December 31, 1996 and 1995, all short-term
investments are designated as available-for-sale and are carried at fair value,
with material unrealized gains and losses, if any, reported in shareholders'
equity. The amortized cost of securities is adjusted for amortization of
material premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity. Such amortization, if
any, is included in interest income. Realized gains and losses and declines in
value judged to be other-than-temporary on available-for-sale securities, if
 
                                      F-7
<PAGE>
                           INHALE THERAPEUTIC SYSTEMS
 
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                               DECEMBER 31, 1996
 
 (INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND 1997
                   AND AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
NOTE 1--ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
any, are included in interest income. The cost of securities sold is based on
the specific identification method. Interest and dividends on securities
classified as available-for-sale are included in interest income.
 
    The following is a summary of available-for-sale securities as of September
30, 1997 (unaudited):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES
                                                                     ----------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    GROSS          GROSS
                                                                                 UNREALIZED     UNREALIZED     ESTIMATED
                                                                       COST         GAINS         LOSSES      FAIR VALUE
                                                                     ---------  -------------  -------------  -----------
<S>                                                                  <C>        <C>            <C>            <C>
                                                                                        (IN THOUSANDS)
Obligations of U.S. government agencies............................  $  19,997    $  --          $  --         $  19,997
U.S. corporate commercial paper....................................     28,035       --             --            28,035
Repurchase agreements, secured by U.S. government securities.......      3,860       --             --             3,860
Corporate repurchase agreements....................................      4,490       --             --             4,490
Other..............................................................         17       --             --                17
                                                                     ---------        -----          -----    -----------
                                                                     $  56,399    $  --          $  --         $  56,399
                                                                     ---------        -----          -----    -----------
                                                                     ---------        -----          -----    -----------
Amounts included in cash and cash equivalents......................  $   8,367    $  --          $  --         $   8,367
Amounts included in short-term investments.........................     48,032       --             --            48,032
                                                                     ---------        -----          -----    -----------
                                                                     $  56,399    $  --          $  --         $  56,399
                                                                     ---------        -----          -----    -----------
                                                                     ---------        -----          -----    -----------
</TABLE>
 
    The following is a summary of available-for-sale securities as of December
31, 1996:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES
                                                                     ----------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    GROSS          GROSS
                                                                                 UNREALIZED     UNREALIZED     ESTIMATED
                                                                       COST         GAINS         LOSSES      FAIR VALUE
                                                                     ---------  -------------  -------------  -----------
                                                                                        (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                  <C>        <C>            <C>            <C>
Obligations of U.S. government agencies............................  $  15,812    $      --      $      --     $  15,812
U.S. corporate commercial paper....................................      8,874           --             12         8,862
Repurchase agreements, secured by U.S. government securities.......     11,811           --             --        11,811
Other..............................................................        153           --             --           153
                                                                     ---------        -----          -----    -----------
                                                                     $  36,650    $      --      $      12     $  36,638
                                                                     ---------        -----          -----    -----------
                                                                     ---------        -----          -----    -----------
Amounts included in cash and cash equivalents......................  $  18,897    $      --      $      --     $  18,897
Amounts included in short-term investments.........................     17,753           --             12        17,741
                                                                     ---------        -----          -----    -----------
                                                                     $  36,650    $      --      $      12     $  36,638
                                                                     ---------        -----          -----    -----------
                                                                     ---------        -----          -----    -----------
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-8
<PAGE>
                           INHALE THERAPEUTIC SYSTEMS
 
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                               DECEMBER 31, 1996
 
 (INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND 1997
                   AND AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
NOTE 1--ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
    The following is a summary of available-for-sale securities as of December
31, 1995:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES
                                                           ----------------------------------------------------
                                                                          GROSS          GROSS
                                                                       UNREALIZED     UNREALIZED     ESTIMATED
                                                             COST         GAINS         LOSSES      FAIR VALUE
                                                           ---------  -------------  -------------  -----------
                                                                              (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                        <C>        <C>            <C>            <C>
Obligations of U.S. government agencies..................  $  11,209    $      --      $      --     $  11,209
U.S. corporate commercial paper..........................      5,871           --             --         5,871
Repurchase agreements, secured by U.S. Government
  securities.............................................      2,487           --             --         2,487
Other....................................................        360           --             --           360
                                                           ---------        -----          -----    -----------
                                                           $  19,927    $      --      $      --     $  19,927
                                                           ---------        -----          -----    -----------
                                                           ---------        -----          -----    -----------
Amounts included in cash and cash equivalents............  $   3,834    $      --      $      --     $   3,834
Amounts included in short-term investments...............     16,093           --             --        16,093
                                                           ---------        -----          -----    -----------
                                                           $  19,927    $      --      $      --     $  19,927
                                                           ---------        -----          -----    -----------
                                                           ---------        -----          -----    -----------
</TABLE>
 
    The gross realized losses and gains on the sale of securities
available-for-sale during the years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the
nine month periods ended September 30, 1997 and 1996, were not material. As of
September 30, 1997, the contractual maturity of any single investment did not
exceed one year (nine and six months at December 31, 1996 and 1995,
respectively).
 
    The estimated fair value amounts have been determined by the Company using
available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies. However,
market data must be interpreted to develop the estimates of fair value.
Accordingly, the estimates presented herein are not necessarily indicative of
the amounts that the Company could realize in a current market exchange.
 
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
 
    Property and equipment is stated at cost and consists of the following (in
thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                        DECEMBER 31,
                                                                    SEPTEMBER 30,   --------------------
                                                                         1997         1996       1995
                                                                    --------------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                 <C>             <C>        <C>
                                                                     (UNAUDITED)
Laboratory and other equipment....................................    $    6,384    $   3,679  $   1,997
Leasehold improvements............................................         7,749        2,258      1,759
Leased equipment..................................................           677          677        677
                                                                         -------    ---------  ---------
                                                                          14,810        6,614      4,433
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization....................        (4,455)      (2,844)    (1,773)
                                                                         -------    ---------  ---------
                                                                      $   10,355    $   3,770  $   2,660
                                                                         -------    ---------  ---------
                                                                         -------    ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-9
<PAGE>
                           INHALE THERAPEUTIC SYSTEMS
 
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                               DECEMBER 31, 1996
 
 (INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND 1997
                   AND AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
NOTE 1--ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
    Equipment is depreciated using the straight-line method over estimated
useful lives of four to seven years. Leasehold improvements and assets acquired
under capital leases are amortized using the straight-line method over the
shorter of the estimated useful life of the assets or the term of the lease.
 
REVENUE RECOGNITION
 
    Contract revenue from collaborative research agreements is recorded when
earned and as the related costs are incurred. Payments received which are
related to future performance are deferred and recognized as revenue when earned
over future performance periods. In accordance with contract terms, up front and
milestone payments from collaborative research agreements are considered
reimbursements for costs incurred under the agreements, and accordingly, are
generally deferred when received and recognized as revenue based on actual
efforts expended over the remaining terms of the agreements. The Company's
research revenue is derived primarily from clients in the pharmaceutical and
biotechnology industries. Contract research revenue from two partners
represented 77% and 14% of the Company's revenue in 1996. Contract revenue from
two partners accounted for 78% and 13% of the Company's revenue in 1995, and two
partners accounted for 56% and 18% of the Company's revenue in 1994. Costs of
contract research revenue approximate such revenue and are included in research
and development expenses.
 
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
 
    In accordance with the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation" ("FAS 123"), the
Company has elected to follow Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25,
"Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees" ("APB 25") and related
interpretations in accounting for its employee stock options plans. Under APB
25, if the exercise price of the Company's employee stock options equals or
exceeds the fair value of the underlying stock on the date of grant as
determined by the Company's Board of Directors, no compensation expense is
recognized.
 
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS
 
    The Company performs research and development for others pursuant to
feasibility agreements and development and license agreements. Under the
feasibility agreements, the Company generally is reimbursed for the cost of work
performed. Feasibility agreements are designed to evaluate the applicability of
the Company's technologies to a particular macromolecule and therefore are
generally completed in less than one year. Under the Company's development and
license agreements, the partner companies receive an exclusive license to
develop, use and sell a dry powder formulation and a suitable delivery device to
be developed by the Company for one of the partner's macromolecule drugs. Under
these development agreements, the Company will be reimbursed for development
costs and may also be entitled to milestone and advanced royalty payments when
and if certain development milestones are achieved. All of the Company's
research and development agreements are generally cancelable by the partner
without significant financial penalty to the partner.
 
                                      F-10
<PAGE>
                           INHALE THERAPEUTIC SYSTEMS
 
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                               DECEMBER 31, 1996
 
 (INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND 1997
                   AND AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
NOTE 1--ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
ACCOUNTING FOR INCOME TAXES
 
    The Company accounts for income taxes under Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes" (Statement 109).
Under Statement 109, the liability method is used in accounting for income
taxes.
 
NET LOSS PER SHARE
 
    The net loss per common share is computed based upon the weighted average
number of common shares outstanding. Common equivalent shares are not included
in the per share calculations where the effect of their inclusion would be
antidilutive.
 
    In February 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128 "Earnings Per Share" ("SFAS 128")
which requires disclosure of basic earnings per share and diluted earnings per
share and is effective for periods ending subsequent to December 15, 1997. The
pro forma effect of adoption of SFAS 128 would have no effect on the financial
statements.
 
NOTE 2--COMMITMENTS AND EQUIPMENT FINANCING OBLIGATIONS
 
    The Company leases its office and laboratory facilities under several
arrangements expiring through the year 2012. Rent expense was approximately
$416,000, $217,000 and $185,000 for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and
1994, respectively.
 
    Included in property and equipment at December 31, 1996 and 1995, are assets
with costs of $677,000 acquired pursuant to capital lease obligations and
equipment loans secured by the equipment with interest rates ranging from 14% to
18% per annum. Accumulated amortization of assets acquired pursuant to these
equipment financing obligations was approximately $658,000 and $541,000 at
December 31, 1996 and 1995,
 
                                      F-11
<PAGE>
                           INHALE THERAPEUTIC SYSTEMS
 
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                               DECEMBER 31, 1996
 
 (INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND 1997
                   AND AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
NOTE 2--COMMITMENTS AND EQUIPMENT FINANCING OBLIGATIONS (CONTINUED)
respectively. Future noncancellable commitments under equipment financing
obligations and operating leases at December 31, 1996 are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                 EQUIPMENT
                                                                                   OPERATING     FINANCING
                                                                                    LEASES      OBLIGATIONS
                                                                                  -----------  -------------
                                                                                        (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                               <C>          <C>
Years ending December 31,
  1997..........................................................................   $     728     $     193
  1998..........................................................................         956            62
  1999..........................................................................         947            60
  2000..........................................................................         989           109
  2001 and thereafter...........................................................      14,627            --
                                                                                  -----------        -----
Total minimum payments required.................................................   $  18,247           424
                                                                                  -----------        -----
                                                                                  -----------
Less amount representing interest...............................................                       (71)
                                                                                                     -----
Present value of future lease payments..........................................                       353
Less current portion............................................................                      (166)
                                                                                                     -----
Noncurrent portion..............................................................                 $     187
                                                                                                     -----
                                                                                                     -----
</TABLE>
 
    The above operating lease amounts have been reduced by $435,000 during the
nine months ended September 30, 1997.
 
NOTE 3--SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
COMMON STOCK
 
    EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
 
    In February 1994, the Company's Board of Directors adopted the Employee
Stock Purchase Plan (the "Purchase Plan"). Under the Purchase Plan, 150,000
shares of common stock have been reserved for purchase by the Company's
employees pursuant to section 423(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. As of
December 31, 1996 and September 30, 1997, no shares of common stock have been
issued under the Purchase Plan.
 
STOCK OPTION PLANS
 
    EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
 
    The Company's 1994 Equity Incentive Plan (the "Equity Incentive Plan") was
adopted by the Board of Directors in February 1994. The Equity Incentive Plan is
an amendment and restatement of the Company's 1992 Stock Option Plan. The
purpose of the Equity Incentive Plan is to attract and retain qualified
personnel, to provide additional incentives to employees, officers, consultants
and employee directors of the Company and to promote the success of the
Company's business. Pursuant to the Equity Incentive Plan, the Company may grant
or issue incentive stock options to employees and officers and non-
 
                                      F-12
<PAGE>
                           INHALE THERAPEUTIC SYSTEMS
 
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                               DECEMBER 31, 1996
 
 (INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND 1997
                   AND AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
NOTE 3--SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (CONTINUED)
qualified stock options, restricted stock purchase awards, stock bonuses and
stock appreciation rights to consultants, employees, officers and employee
directors.
 
    The maximum term of a stock option under the Equity Incentive Plan is ten
years, but if the optionee at the time of grant has voting power of more than
10% of the Company's outstanding capital stock, the maximum term of an incentive
stock option is five years. The exercise price of incentive stock options
granted under the Equity Incentive Plan must be at least equal to 100% (or 110%
with respect to holders of more than 10% of the voting power of the Company's
outstanding capital stock) of the fair market value of the stock subject to the
option on the date of the grant. The exercise price of non-qualified stock
options, and the purchase price of restricted stock purchase awards, granted
under the Equity Incentive Plan are determined by the Board of Directors. Stock
appreciation rights authorized for issuance under the Equity Incentive Plan may
be tandem stock appreciation rights, concurrent stock appreciation rights or
independent stock appreciation rights.
 
    The Equity Incentive Plan may be amended at any time by the Board, although
certain amendments would require shareholder approval. The Equity Incentive Plan
will terminate in February 2004 unless earlier terminated by the Board.
 
    NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS' STOCK OPTION PLAN
 
    In February 1994, the Company's Board of Directors adopted the Non-employee
Directors' Stock Option Plan under which options to purchase up to 200,000
shares of the Company's common stock at fair market value may be granted to the
Company's non-employee directors. During the year ended December 31, 1996,
options to purchase a total of 60,000 shares were granted to non-employee
directors of the Company at an exercise price ranging from $10.13 to $17.50 per
share. As of December 31, 1996, options on 6,000 shares had been exercised and
options to purchase 81,000 shares were exercisable.
 
                                      F-13
<PAGE>
                           INHALE THERAPEUTIC SYSTEMS
 
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                               DECEMBER 31, 1996
 
 (INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND 1997
                   AND AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
NOTE 3--SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (CONTINUED)
    A summary of activity under the Equity Incentive Plan and the Non-Employee
Directors' Stock Option plan is as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           OPTIONS OUTSTANDING
                                                                       ---------------------------  WEIGHTED-AVERAGE
                                                    OPTIONS AVAILABLE   NUMBER OF   EXERCISE PRICE   EXERCISE PRICE
                                                        FOR GRANT        SHARES       PER SHARE         PER SHARE
                                                    -----------------  -----------  --------------  -----------------
                                                              (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE INFORMATION)
<S>                                                 <C>                <C>          <C>             <C>
Balance at December 31, 1993......................          1,212             484   $   0.06-15.25      $    0.12
  Shares authorized...............................            690              --               --             --
  Options granted.................................           (708)            708       0.22-10.25           5.43
  Options exercised...............................             --            (336)       0.06-0.56           0.12
  Options canceled................................              8              (8)      0.22-10.25           5.39
                                                            -----           -----   --------------         ------
Balance at December 31, 1994......................          1,202             848       0.06-15.25           4.50
  Options granted.................................           (428)            428       7.63-12.00           9.34
  Options exercised...............................             --             (33)       0.06-2.78           0.36
  Options canceled................................             10             (10)      0.22-10.00           1.84
                                                            -----           -----   --------------         ------
Balance at December 31, 1995......................            784           1,233       0.06-15.25           6.32
  Shares authorized...............................          1,500              --               --             --
  Options granted.................................           (620)            620      10.13-19.25          14.05
  Options exercised...............................             --             (85)      0.06-12.00           5.22
  Options canceled................................            109            (109)      0.31-15.25           8.33
                                                            -----           -----   --------------         ------
Balance at December 31, 1996......................          1,773           1,659       0.06-19.25           9.13
  Options granted (unaudited).....................           (635)            635      16.13-22.75          18.98
  Options exercised (unaudited)...................             --            (106)      0.06-16.13           5.95
  Options canceled (unaudited)....................             32             (32)      0.56-19.25          15.56
                                                            -----           -----   --------------         ------
Balance at September 30, 1997 (unaudited).........          1,170           2,157   $   0.06-22.75      $   12.10
                                                            -----           -----   --------------         ------
                                                            -----           -----   --------------         ------
</TABLE>
 
    At December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994, options were exercisable to purchase
approximately 514,000, 335,000 and 157,000 at weighted-average exercise prices
of $5.83, $4.31 and $1.62 per share, respectively.
 
                                      F-14
<PAGE>
                           INHALE THERAPEUTIC SYSTEMS
 
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                               DECEMBER 31, 1996
 
 (INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND 1997
                   AND AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
NOTE 3--SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (CONTINUED)
    Exercise prices for options outstanding as of December 31, 1996 ranged from
$0.06 to $19.25 per share. The weighted-average contractual life of those
options is 8.2 years.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               OPTIONS OUTSTANDING
                               ---------------------------------------------------       OPTIONS EXERCISABLE
                                                                WEIGHTED-AVERAGE    ------------------------------
                                            WEIGHTED-AVERAGE        REMAINING                    WEIGHTED-AVERAGE
                                             EXERCISE PRICE     CONTRACTUAL LIFE                  EXERCISE PRICE
RANGE OF EXERCISE PRICES         NUMBER         PER SHARE          (IN YEARS)         NUMBER         PER SHARE
- -----------------------------  -----------  -----------------  -------------------  -----------  -----------------
                                              (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AND YEAR INFORMATION)
<S>                            <C>          <C>                <C>                  <C>          <C>
$ 0.06- 5.56.................         483       $    3.21                6.88              244       $    1.83
  5.75- 9.13.................         435            8.04                7.95              166            7.76
  9.88-14.50.................         484           11.66                9.03               86           10.96
 15.25-19.25.................         257           17.32                9.55               18           17.80
                                    -----          ------                 ---              ---          ------
$ 0.06-19.25.................       1,659       $    9.13                8.20              514       $    5.83
                                    -----          ------                 ---              ---          ------
                                    -----          ------                 ---              ---          ------
</TABLE>
 
    Pro forma information regarding net loss and loss per share is required by
Statement 123, which also requires that the information be determined as if the
Company has accounted for its employee stock options granted subsequent to
December 31, 1994 under the fair value method of that Statement. The fair value
for these options was estimated at the date of grant using a Black-Sholes option
pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions for 1995 and 1996:
risk-free interest rate of 6.4%; a dividend yield of 0.0%; volatility factors of
the expected market price of the Company's common stock of 0.62; and a
weighted-average expected life of 6 years.
 
    The Black-Sholes options valuation model was developed for use in estimating
the fair value of traded options which have no vesting restrictions and are
fully transferable. In addition, option valuation models require the input of
highly subjective assumptions including the expected stock price volatility.
Because the Company's employee stock options have characteristics significantly
different from those of traded options, and because changes in the subjective
input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, in management's
opinion, the existing models do not necessarily provide a reliable single
measure of the fair value of its employee stock options.
 
    For purposes of pro forma disclosures, the estimated fair value of the
options is amortized to expense over the options' vesting period, generally five
years. The Company's pro forma information follows (in thousands, except for
loss per share):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                       1996       1995
                                                                                    ----------  ---------
<S>                                                                                 <C>         <C>
Pro forma net loss................................................................  $  (11,252) $  (8,106)
                                                                                    ----------  ---------
                                                                                    ----------  ---------
Pro forma net loss per share......................................................  $    (1.00) $   (0.82)
                                                                                    ----------  ---------
                                                                                    ----------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
    Because FAS 123 is applicable only to options granted subsequent to December
31, 1994 the pro forma effect of the statement will not be fully reflected until
approximately the year 2000.
 
                                      F-15
<PAGE>
                           INHALE THERAPEUTIC SYSTEMS
 
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                               DECEMBER 31, 1996
 
 (INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND 1997
                   AND AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
NOTE 3--SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (CONTINUED)
WARRANTS
 
    In October 1996 the Company issued two warrants ("the warrants") to purchase
a total of 20,000 shares of Common Stock (10,000 shares each) at a price of
$13.125 per share in connection with a facility lease. The warrants expire in
October 2006 and were both outstanding at December 31, 1996.
 
    As of December 31, 1996, a third warrant to purchase 32,727 shares of Common
stock at $3.06 per share issued in connection with equipment financing
arrangements was outstanding and is exercisable through September 2003.
 
RESERVED SHARES
 
    A total of 4,152,727 shares of common stock have been reserved for issuance
at December 31, 1996 for the various equity incentive plans and the warrants.
 
NOTE 4--INCOME TAXES
 
    As of December 31, 1996, the Company had federal net operating loss
carryforwards of approximately $23.0 million. The net operating loss and credit
carryforwards will expire at various dates beginning in 2006 through 2011 if not
utilized.
 
    Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences
between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting
and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components of the
Company's deferred tax assets as of December 31 are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                       1996       1995
                                                                                    ----------  ---------
                                                                                       (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                                 <C>         <C>
Deferred tax assets:
  Net operating loss carryforwards................................................  $    7,900  $   5,200
  Research credits (expiring 2006-2011)...........................................         900        500
  Capitalized research expenses...................................................         600        400
  Deferred revenue................................................................       1,000        200
  Other...........................................................................         700        600
                                                                                    ----------  ---------
Total deferred tax assets.........................................................      11,100      6,900
  Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets.....................................     (11,100)    (6,900)
                                                                                    ----------  ---------
Net deferred tax assets...........................................................  $       --  $      --
                                                                                    ----------  ---------
                                                                                    ----------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
    Because of the Company's lack of earnings history, the deferred tax assets
have been fully offset by a valuation allowance. The valuation allowance
increased by $3.0 million during the year ended December 31, 1995. The deferred
tax assets, all of which are offset by a valuation allowance, have increased
through September 30, 1997 due to continuing losses.
 
                                      F-16
<PAGE>
                           INHALE THERAPEUTIC SYSTEMS
 
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
 
                               DECEMBER 31, 1996
 
 (INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND 1997
                   AND AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 IS UNAUDITED)
 
NOTE 4--INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED)
    Utilization of net operating losses and credits may be subject to
substantial annual limitation due to the ownership change limitations provided
by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. The annual limitation may result in the
expiration of net operating losses and credits before utilization.
 
NOTE 5--STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS DATA (IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                                                  -------------------------------
                                                                                    1996       1995       1994
                                                                                  ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                               <C>        <C>        <C>
Supplemental disclosure of cash flows information:
  Interest paid.................................................................  $      57  $      86  $     123
                                                                                  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                  ---------  ---------  ---------
Deferred compensation related to the issuance of certain
  stock options.................................................................  $      --  $      --  $     760
                                                                                  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                                  ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
NOTE 6--SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (UNAUDITED)
 
    In February 1997 the Company received $30.4 million in net proceeds from a
private placement of 1,800,000 shares its Common Stock to a group of
institutional investors at a price of $18 per share.
 
    In April 1997 the Company provided the landlord of its facility in Belmont,
California a short term loan of $5.0 million. The loan bears interest at 8.5%.
The Company receives monthly interest payments and the principal is due and
payable at the end of the six-month loan term. In addition, the loan is secured
by a deed of trust on the facility. The loan is recorded on the balance sheet at
September 30, 1997 as a note receivable.
 
    In October 1997 the Company filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with
the Securities and Exchange Commission for an underwritten public offering of up
to 1,725,000 shares of common stock. The registration statement has not yet
become effective and there can be no assurance that the offering will be
completed.
 
                                      F-17
<PAGE>
                                 [COMPANY LOGO]
THE HEADING "ABSORPTION OF MACROMOLECULE DRUGS IN THE DEEP LUNG" OVER PICTURE OF
CLUSTER OF ALVEOLI AND MAGNIFICATION OF THE PROCESS OF TRANSCYTOSIS AND THE
FOLLOWING CAPTION: "AEROSOL PARTICLE IN ALVEOLUS DISSOLVES IN SURFACE FLUID
ALLOWING MACROMOLECULES TO BE TRANSPORTED NATURALLY THROUGH THE ALVEOLAR
EPITHELIAL AND CAPILLARY ENDOTHELIAL CELLS INTO THE BLOOD THROUGH TRANSCYTOSIS."
<PAGE>
- ---------------------------------------------
                                   ---------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------
                                   ---------------------------------------------
 
    NO DEALER, SALES REPRESENTATIVE OR ANY OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO
GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THIS
OFFERING OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS, AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE,
SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN
AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR ANY OF THE UNDERWRITERS. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT
CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES
OTHER THAN THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK TO WHICH IT RELATES OR AN OFFER TO, OR A
SOLICITATION OF, ANY PERSON IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH AN OFFER OR
SOLICITATION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY
SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT
THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY OR THAT THE INFORMATION
CONTAINED HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE HEREOF.
 
                                 --------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        Page
                                                         ---
<S>                                                  <C>
Prospectus Summary.................................           3
Risk Factors.......................................           5
The Company........................................          15
Use of Proceeds....................................          15
Dividend Policy....................................          15
Capitalization.....................................          16
Price Range of Common Stock........................          17
Dilution...........................................          18
Selected Financial Data............................          19
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
  Condition and Results of Operations..............          20
Business...........................................          24
Management.........................................          44
Principal Shareholders.............................          47
Underwriting.......................................          49
Legal Matters......................................          50
Experts............................................          50
Additional Information.............................          51
Available Information..............................          51
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference....          51
Index to Financial Statements......................         F-1
</TABLE>
 
                                1,500,000 SHARES
 
                                     [LOGO]
 
                                  COMMON STOCK
                               -----------------
 
                                   PROSPECTUS
                                         , 1997
 
                              -------------------
                                LEHMAN BROTHERS
 
                         BANCAMERICA ROBERTSON STEPHENS
 
                     VECTOR SECURITIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
 
                          VOLPE BROWN WHELAN & COMPANY
 
- ---------------------------------------------
                                   ---------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------
                                   ---------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
                                    PART II
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
 
    The following table sets forth all expenses, other than the underwriting
discounts and commissions, payable by the Registrant in connection with the sale
of the Common Stock being registered. All the amounts shown are estimates except
for the registration fee and the NASD filing fee.
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                         <C>
Registration fee..........................................................  $  16,107
NASD filing fee...........................................................      5,186
Nasdaq listing fee........................................................     17,500
Blue sky qualification fees and expenses..................................      5,000
Printing and engraving expenses...........................................    150,000
Legal fees and expenses...................................................    100,000
Accounting fees and expenses..............................................     50,000
Transfer agent and registrar fees.........................................      5,000
Miscellaneous.............................................................    151,207
                                                                            ---------
    Total.................................................................  $ 500,000
                                                                            ---------
                                                                            ---------
</TABLE>
 
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS.
 
    The Registrant's Bylaws provide that the Registrant shall indemnify its
directors and executive officers and may indemnify its officers, employees and
other agents to the fullest extent permitted by California law. The Registrant
is also empowered under its Bylaws to enter into indemnification contracts with
its directors and officers and to purchase insurance on behalf of any person
whom it is required or permitted to indemnify. Pursuant to California law, the
Registrant's directors shall not be liable for monetary damages for breach of
the directors' fiduciary duty of care of the Registrant and its shareholders.
However, this provision does not eliminate the duty of care, and in appropriate
circumstances, equitable remedies such as injunctive or other forms of
non-monetary relief will remain available under California law. In addition,
each director will continue to be subject to liability for (i) acts or omissions
that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing and culpable violation of law,
(ii) acts or omissions that a director believes to be contrary to the best
interests of the Company or its shareholders or that involve the absence of good
faith on the part of the director, (iii) any transaction from which a director
derived an improper personal benefit, (iv) any transaction that constitutes an
illegal distribution or dividend under California law, and (vii) any transaction
involving an unlawful conflict of interest between the director and the
Registrant under California law. The provision also does not affect a director's
responsibilities under any other law, such as the federal securities laws or
state or federal environmental laws.
 
    The Underwriting Agreement filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this Registration
Statement provides for indemnification by the Underwriters of the Registrant and
its officers and directors for certain liabilities arising under the Securities
Act or otherwise.
 
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
 
    (a) Exhibits.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  EXHIBIT                                                EXHIBIT TITLE
- -----------  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C>          <S>
   *1.1      Form of Underwriting Agreement
    3.1(3)   Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant.
 
    3.2(1)   Bylaws of the Registrant.
 
    4.1      Reference is made to Exhibits 3.1 through 3.2.
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-1
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  EXHIBIT                                                EXHIBIT TITLE
- -----------  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C>          <S>
    4.2(1)   Restated Investor Rights Agreement among the Registrant and certain other persons named therein,
             dated April 29, 1993, as amended October 29, 1993.
 
    4.5(1)   Warrant to purchase 18,182 Shares of Series C Preferred Stock between the Registrant and Phoenix
             Leasing Incorporated, dated October 29, 1993.
 
    4.6(1)   Specimen stock certificate.
 
    4.9(2)   Stock Purchase Agreement between the Registrant and Pfizer Inc., dated January 18, 1995.
 
    4.10(8)  Warrant to purchase 10,000 shares of Common Stock between the Registrant and Thomas J. Peirona, dated
             November 1, 1996.
 
    4.11(8)  Warrant to purchase 10,000 shares of Common Stock between the Registrant and Kiet Nguyen, dated
             November 1, 1996.
 
    4.12(9)  Form of Stock Purchase Agreement between the Registrant and the Selling Shareholders dated January
             28, 1997.
 
   *5.1      Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP.
 
   10.1(4)   Registrant's 1994 Equity Incentive Plan (the "Equity Incentive Plan").
 
   10.2(1)   Form of Incentive Stock Option under the Equity Incentive Plan.
 
   10.3(1)   Form of Nonstatutory Stock Option under the Equity Incentive Plan.
 
   10.4(7)   Registrant's 1994 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan, as amended.
 
   10.5(1)   Registrant's 1994 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
 
   10.6(1)   Standard Industrial Lease between the Registrant and W.F. Batton & Co., Inc., dated September 17,
             1992, as amended September 18, 1992.
 
   10.7(1)   Master Equipment Lease between the Registrant and Phoenix Leasing Incorporated, dated August 15, 1992
             and Schedules i to 4 thereto.
 
   10.8(1)   Senior Loan and Security Agreement between the Registrant and Phoenix Leasing Incorporated, dated
             September 15, 1993.
 
   10.9(1)   Sublicense Agreement between the Registrant and John S. Patton, dated September 13, 1991.
 
   10.10(2)  Offer Letter, dated September 16, 1994, from the Registrant to Jack M. Anthony.
 
   10.11(2)  Addendum to Lease dated September 17, 1992, between the Registrant and W.F. Batton & Marie A. Batton.
 
   10.12(6)  Lease dated May 31, 1995, between the Registrant and W.F. Batton & Marie A. Batton.
 
   10.13(6)  Addendum Number One to Lease dated September 17, 1992, between the Registrant and W.F. Batton & Marie
             A. Batton.
 
   10.14(6)  Addendum to Lease dated May 31, 1995 between the Registrant and W.F. Batton & Marie A. Batton.
 
   10.15(6)  Addendum Number Two to Lease dated September 17, 1992, between the Registrant and W.F. Batton & Marie
             A. Batton.
 
   10.16(5)  Stock Purchase Agreement between the Registrant and Baxter World Trade Corporation, dated March 1,
             1996.
 
   10.17(8)  Sublease and Lease Agreement, dated October 2, 1996 between the Registrant and T.M.T. Associates
             L.L.C.
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-2
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  EXHIBIT                                                EXHIBIT TITLE
- -----------  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C>          <S>
   23.1      Consent of Independent Auditors
 
  *23.2      Consent of Cooley Godward LLP (filed with Exhibit 5.1)
 
   27.1      Financial Data Schedule (10)
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
 
(1) Incorporated by reference to the indicated exhibit in the Company's
    Registration Statement (No. 33-75942), as amended.
 
(2) Incorporated by reference to the indicated exhibit in the Company's
    Registration Statement (No. 33-89502), as amended.
 
(3) Incorporated by reference to the indicated exhibit in the Company's Annual
    Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1994.
 
(4) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
    S-8 (No. 333-07969).
 
(5) Incorporated by reference to the indicated exhibit in the Company's
    Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1996.
 
(6) Incorporated by reference to the indicated exhibit in the Company's Annual
    Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995.
 
(7) Incorporated by reference to the indicated exhibit in the Company's
    Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1996.
 
(8) Incorporated by reference to the indicated exhibit in the Company's
    Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1996.
 
(9) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
    S-3 (No. 333-20787)
 
(10) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
    for the quarter ended September 30, 1997.
 
*   To be filed by amendment.
 
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS.
 
    Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers, and controlling persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the provisions described in Item 14 or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act
and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer, or controlling person of the Registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit, or proceeding) is asserted by
such director, officer, or controlling person in connection with the securities
being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the
matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
 
    The undersigned Registrant undertakes that: (1) for purposes of determining
any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the
form of prospectus as filed as part of the registration statement in reliance
upon Rule 430A and contained in the form of prospectus filed by the Registrant
pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be
deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the time it was declared
effective, and (2) for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of
prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
                                      II-3
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES
 
    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
has caused this Registration Statement on Form S-3 to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Belmont, State of
California, on the 3rd day of October, 1997.
 
                                INHALE THERAPEUTIC SYSTEMS
 
                                By:             /s/ ROBERT B. CHESS
                                     -----------------------------------------
                                                  Robert B. Chess
                                       PRESIDENT, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND
                                                      DIRECTOR
 
    KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below hereby constitutes and appoints jointly and severally, Robert B. Chess and
Judi R. Lum, and each one of them, his or her attorneys-in-fact, each with the
power of substitution, for him or her in any way and all capacities, to sign any
and all amendments (including post-effective amendments and registration
statements filed pursuant to Rule 462) to this Registration Statement and to
file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that each said attorneys-in-fact, or his substitute or
substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. Pursuant to the
requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been
signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the
capacities indicated on the 3rd day of October, 1997.
 
             NAME                         TITLE                    DATE
- ------------------------------  --------------------------  -------------------
 
     /s/ ROBERT B. CHESS        President, Chief Executive    October 3, 1997
- ------------------------------    Officer and Director
       Robert B. Chess            (PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE
                                  OFFICER)
 
       /s/ JUDI R. LUM          Vice President, Finance       October 3, 1997
- ------------------------------    and Administration and
         Judi R. Lum              Chief Financial Officer
                                  (PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL AND
                                  ACCOUNTING OFFICER)
 
      /s/ JOHN S. PATTON        Vice President and            October 3, 1997
- ------------------------------    Director
        John S. Patton
 
    /s/ MARK J. GABRIELSON      Director                      October 3, 1997
- ------------------------------
      Mark J. Gabrielson
 
     /s/ JAMES B. GLAVIN        Director                      October 3, 1997
- ------------------------------
       James B. Glavin
 
     /s/ MELVIN PERLEMAN        Director                      October 3, 1997
- ------------------------------
       Melvin Perleman
 
    /s/ TERRY L. OPDENDYK       Chairman of the Board         October 3, 1997
- ------------------------------
      Terry L. Opdendyk
 
                                      II-4
<PAGE>
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  EXHIBIT                                            EXHIBIT TITLE
- -----------  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C>          <S>                                                                                             <C>
   *1.1      Form of Underwriting Agreement
    3.1(3)   Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant.
 
    3.2(1)   Bylaws of the Registrant.
 
    4.1      Reference is made to Exhibits 3.1 through 3.2.
 
    4.2(1)   Restated Investor Rights Agreement among the Registrant and certain other persons named
             therein, dated April 29, 1993, as amended October 29, 1993.
 
    4.5(1)   Warrant to purchase 18,182 Shares of Series C Preferred Stock between the Registrant and
             Phoenix Leasing Incorporated, dated October 29, 1993.
 
    4.6(1)   Specimen stock certificate.
 
    4.9(2)   Stock Purchase Agreement between the Registrant and Pfizer Inc., dated January 18, 1995.
 
    4.10(8)  Warrant to purchase 10,000 shares of Common Stock between the Registrant and Thomas J.
             Peirona, dated November 1, 1996.
 
    4.11(8)  Warrant to purchase 10,000 shares of Common Stock between the Registrant and Kiet Nguyen,
             dated November 1, 1996.
 
    4.12(9)  Form of Stock Purchase Agreement between the Registrant and the Selling Shareholders dated
             January 28, 1997.
 
   *5.1      Opinion of Cooley Godward LLP.
 
   10.1(4)   Registrant's 1994 Equity Incentive Plan (the "Equity Incentive Plan").
 
   10.2(1)   Form of Incentive Stock Option under the Equity Incentive Plan.
 
   10.3(1)   Form of Nonstatutory Stock Option under the Equity Incentive Plan.
 
   10.4(7)   Registrant's 1994 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan, as amended.
 
   10.5(1)   Registrant's 1994 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
 
   10.6(1)   Standard Industrial Lease between the Registrant and W.F. Batton & Co., Inc., dated September
             17, 1992, as amended September 18, 1992.
 
   10.7(1)   Master Equipment Lease between the Registrant and Phoenix Leasing Incorporated, dated August
             15, 1992 and Schedules i to 4 thereto.
 
   10.8(1)   Senior Loan and Security Agreement between the Registrant and Phoenix Leasing Incorporated,
             dated September 15, 1993.
 
   10.9(1)   Sublicense Agreement between the Registrant and John S. Patton, dated September 13, 1991.
 
   10.10(2)  Offer Letter, dated September 16, 1994, from the Registrant to Jack M. Anthony.
 
   10.11(2)  Addendum to Lease dated September 17, 1992, between the Registrant and W.F. Batton & Marie A.
             Batton.
 
   10.12(6)  Lease dated May 31, 1995, between the Registrant and W.F. Batton & Marie A. Batton.
 
   10.13(6)  Addendum Number One to Lease dated September 17, 1992, between the Registrant and W.F. Batton
             & Marie A. Batton.
 
   10.14(6)  Addendum to Lease dated May 31, 1995 between the Registrant and W.F. Batton & Marie A. Batton.
 
   10.15(6)  Addendum Number Two to Lease dated September 17, 1992, between the Registrant and W.F. Batton
             & Marie A. Batton.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  EXHIBIT                                            EXHIBIT TITLE
- -----------  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C>          <S>                                                                                             <C>
   10.16(5)  Stock Purchase Agreement between the Registrant and Baxter World Trade Corporation, dated
             March 1, 1996.
 
   10.17(8)  Sublease and Lease Agreement, dated October 2, 1996 between the Registrant and T.M.T.
             Associates L.L.C.
 
   23.1      Consent of Independent Auditors
 
  *23.2      Consent of Cooley Godward LLP (filed with Exhibit 5.1)
 
   27.1      Financial Data Schedule (10)
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
 
(1) Incorporated by reference to the indicated exhibit in the Company's
    Registration Statement (No. 33-75942), as amended.
 
(2) Incorporated by reference to the indicated exhibit in the Company's
    Registration Statement (No. 33-89502), as amended.
 
(3) Incorporated by reference to the indicated exhibit in the Company's Annual
    Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1994.
 
(4) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
    S-8 (No. 333-07969).
 
(5) Incorporated by reference to the indicated exhibit in the Company's
    Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1996.
 
(6) Incorporated by reference to the indicated exhibit in the Company's Annual
    Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995.
 
(7) Incorporated by reference to the indicated exhibit in the Company's
    Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1996.
 
(8) Incorporated by reference to the indicated exhibit in the Company's
    Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1996.
 
(9) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
    S-3 (No. 333-20787)
 
(10) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
    for the quarter ended September 30, 1997.
 
*   To be filed by amendment.

<PAGE>
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1
 
               CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
    We consent to the reference to our firm under the captions "Selected
Financial Data" and "Experts" and to the use of our report dated February 10,
1997, in the Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related Prospectus of Inhale
Therapeutic Systems for the registration of 1,725,000 shares of its common
stock.
 
    We also consent to the incorporation by reference therein of our report
dated February 10, 1997 with respect to the financial statements of Inhale
Therapeutic Systems included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended
December 31, 1996, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
                                          ERNST & YOUNG LLP
 
Palo Alto, California
October 3, 1997


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