What Azitra does

Azitra, Inc. (NYSE American: AZTR) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Branford, Connecticut, that develops engineered live biotherapeutic products (LBPs) and recombinant proteins for precision dermatology. The company is built around a single Microbiome Dermatology Platform comprising three pillars: a proprietary microbial library of approximately 1,500 unique bacterial strains (including 900+ Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates and 60+ other skin commensal species), engineered S. epidermidis strains that can deliver therapeutic proteins topically to the skin (using auxotrophic variants such as D-alanine auxotrophs), and an advanced genetic engineering stack that combines the licensed SyMPL toolset from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center with the NRPMiner AI/ML discovery engine co-developed with Chemia Biosciences at Carnegie Mellon. The company is pre-revenue with no approved or marketed products; its pipeline includes ATR-12 (LEKTI-secreting S. epidermidis, Phase 1b for Netherton syndrome; FDA Rare Pediatric Disease Designation and Fast Track Designation), ATR-04 (D-alanine auxotrophic S. epidermidis, Phase 1/2 for EGFR inhibitor-associated rash; FDA Fast Track Designation; clinical site at MD Anderson), ATR-01 (filaggrin-delivering engineered microbe, preclinical for ichthyosis vulgaris), ATR-COSF (recombinant filaggrin for cosmetic applications, announced June 2026), and a co-development program with Bayer Consumer Health targeting sensitive and eczema-prone skin. Revenue is not yet generated; future cash inflows are expected from a mix of prescription drug sales, biopharma partnership milestones and royalties, and capital markets activity. The company is led by President and CEO Francisco Salva (former Acerta Pharma founder and Pharmacyclics corporate finance leader) and cofounder/COO Travis Whitfill, and is funded through recurring dilutive equity and warrant issuances on NYSE American, with approximately $10.1M of cash at the end of Q1 2026, a $10.5M initial / up to $31.4M March 2026 financing led by Stonepine Capital and Nantahala Capital, and an outstanding NYSE American non-compliance notice requiring equity restoration by April 1, 2027.

Name

Azitra

Legal name

Azitra, Inc.

Website

https://azitrainc.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Azitra is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing engineered live biotherapeutic products and recombinant proteins for skin diseases. Its pipeline targets Netherton syndrome, EGFR inhibitor-associated rash, ichthyosis vulgaris, and cosmeceutical applications using a proprietary S. epidermidis platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Microbiome Dermatology Biopharmaceuticals

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Microbiome Manufacturing, Formulation & Delivery Technologies (encapsulation, spores, oral delivery) (HLAAAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Psoriasis & Eczema Specialty Care (HLAKACAL)

Keywords

• Live biotherapeutic products
• Microbiome dermatology therapeutics
• Engineered skin bacteria
• Topical protein therapeutics
• Rare skin disease drugs

Headquarters

HQ city

Branford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Pre-revenue clinical-stage biopharmaceutical: Azitra is pre-revenue with no approved products; future revenue is expected from prescription drug sales, biopharma partnerships, and milestone payments once pipeline assets reach commercialization.
2. Bayer consumer health co-development: Joint Development Agreement (announced December 2019) with Bayer Consumer Health for development and potential commercialization of consumer products using engineered microbes for sensitive/eczema-prone skin.
3. Equity financings (capital raises): Operating funding sourced primarily through public offerings, private placements, and registered direct offerings; no product revenue yet.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Azitra is a clinical-stage dermatology biopharmaceutical company developing engineered live biotherapeutic products (LBPs) and topical protein therapeutics derived from skin commensal bacteria. Its pipeline includes ATR-12 for Netherton syndrome, ATR-04 for EGFR inhibitor-induced rash, ATR-01 for ichthyosis vulgaris, and ATR-COSF, a cosmeceutical program co-developed with Bayer Consumer Health. The company leverages a proprietary Microbiome Dermatology Platform combining a 1,500+ strain microbial library, SyMPL genetic engineering toolset, and NRPMiner AI/ML discovery engine to identify and develop treatments for rare and serious skin diseases.

Product overview

Azitra is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company built around a unified Microbiome Dermatology Platform that combines a proprietary microbial library (~900 unique S. epidermidis strains plus ~60 other skin commensal species), engineered microbial drug-delivery capability, and advanced genetic engineering (SyMPL licensed from FHCC, plus NRPMiner AI/ML with Chemia Biosciences/Carnegie Mellon). On top of this single platform, Azitra offers a modular pipeline of named programs: clinical-stage live biotherapeutic products ATR-12 (LEKTI-secreting S. epidermidis for Netherton syndrome, Phase 1b) and ATR-04 (auxotrophic S. epidermidis for EGFR inhibitor-associated rash, Phase 1/2 with FDA Fast Track designation); preclinical ATR-01 (filaggrin-delivering live biotherapeutic for ichthyosis vulgaris, advancing toward IND); the new ATR-COSF cosmetic ingredient program (recombinant filaggrin targeting fine lines and wrinkles); and a Bayer consumer health co-development program for sensitive/eczema-prone skin. The platform is augmented by AI/ML screening across the strain library to identify drug-like molecules and therapeutic characteristics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ATR-12 ATR-12 is Azitra's lead clinical-stage engineered live biotherapeutic product (LBP) candidate designed to treat Netherton syndrome, a rare and severe genetic skin disorder. It has received FDA Fast Track, Rare Pediatric Disease, and Orphan Drug Designations, reflecting its potential to address a significant unmet medical need.
• ATR-04 ATR-04 is a clinical-stage engineered live biotherapeutic product candidate being developed for the treatment of skin rashes induced by epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors used in cancer therapy. It targets a significant dermatological side effect of oncology treatment to enable continued cancer therapy.
• ATR-01 ATR-01 is Azitra's preclinical-stage engineered live biotherapeutic product candidate for the treatment of ichthyosis vulgaris, a common genetic skin disorder characterized by dry, scaly skin. It represents an early-stage pipeline asset leveraging the company's Microbiome Dermatology Platform.
• ATR-COSF ATR-COSF is Azitra's cosmeceutical program co-developed with Bayer Consumer Health for cosmetic skincare applications, developed under a strategic co-development and option-to-license agreement. It leverages the company's engineered skin commensal bacteria platform for consumer beauty and skincare markets.

Quantifiable outcome

• ATR-12 received FDA Fast Track Designation and Rare Pediatric Disease Designation for Netherton syndrome (no approved therapy).
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Bayer (Consumer Health)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2019Joint Development Agreement signed in December 2019 with Bayer Consumer Health to co-develop engineered microbe-based consumer products for sensitive and eczema-prone skin. Represents a strategic commercial validation of Azitra's platform outside of prescription drug development.
• Chemia Biosciences (Carnegie Mellon University)coreTechnology or IntegrationResearch collaboration with Chemia Biosciences at Carnegie Mellon to develop the NRPMiner AI/ML platform for identifying non-ribosomal peptides and other bioactive molecules produced by skin microbes.
• Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (FHCC)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerInbound licensing of the SyMPL (synthetic biology) toolset from Fred Hutch, enabling Azitra to genetically engineer skin commensal bacteria that were previously intractable.
• MD Anderson Cancer CentercoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerClinical trial site conducting the Phase 1/2 study of ATR-04 in oncology patients with EGFR inhibitor-associated skin rash.
• Maxim Group LLCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPlacement agent and underwriter for Azitra's public offerings and private placements; hosts the Maxim Growth Summit where Azitra presents to institutional investors.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• AOBiome Therapeutics: Clinical-stage company developing live biotherapeutic and microbiome-based therapeutics for skin conditions (acne, eczema, rosacea). Directly comparable to Azitra as a fellow engineered-microbe dermatology therapeutics developer using commensal skin bacteria.
• Arcutis Biotherapeutics: Late-stage commercial dermatology biopharmaceutical company with approved products (Zoryve) and a pipeline in atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, and other inflammatory skin conditions. Closely comparable as a publicly traded dermatology-focused biotech advancing topical therapeutics.
• Vyne Therapeutics: Clinical-stage dermatology biopharmaceutical company developing therapies for immuno-inflammatory skin diseases including atopic dermatitis and vitiligo. Comparable to Azitra as a small-cap, clinical-stage dermatology biotech with a topical therapeutics focus.
• AnaptysBio: Clinical-stage immunology biotech developing antibodies for inflammatory skin diseases (e.g., atopic dermatitis, alopecia areata) with multiple Phase 2/3 programs. Comparable as a small-to-mid cap dermatology-focused biotech with a similar capital-markets profile.
• Seres Therapeutics: Pioneer in microbiome therapeutics with an approved live biotherapeutic (Vowst) and a pipeline in IBD and oncology. Closely comparable to Azitra as a fellow live biotherapeutic platform company pioneering engineered-microbe therapies, with more advanced clinical assets.
• Vedanta Biosciences: Clinical-stage company developing live biotherapeutic products (defined bacterial consortia) for gastrointestinal and infectious disease indications. Comparable to Azitra as a peer live biotherapeutic platform company, though focused on GI rather than skin indications.

Emerging players

• Siolta Therapeutics: Clinical-stage microbiome therapeutics company developing live biotherapeutics for inflammatory diseases. Comparable to Azitra as a small clinical-stage microbiome therapeutics company, though with a different therapeutic area focus.
• Eligo Bioscience: Developer of engineered microbiome-based therapeutics (Eligobiotics) for skin and other inflammatory diseases, using synthetic biology to program skin commensals. Closely comparable to Azitra as a fellow synthetic biology + skin microbiome therapeutics developer, though at an earlier stage.

Broad incumbents

• Dice Therapeutics (acquired by Eli Lilly): Was a clinical-stage oral small-molecule immunology biotech developing oral therapeutics for chronic diseases in immunology, including psoriasis. Comparable as a mid-cap dermatology/immunology biotech that was acquired, providing a useful exit-comparable for Azitra.

Others

• L'Oréal (Beauty/life sciences): Global consumer beauty leader with significant microbiome-related R&D investments in skincare and a strategic interest in the cosmeceutical market that Azitra is targeting via ATR-COSF and Bayer partnership. Adjacent comparable as a potential acquirer or commercialization partner for microbiome-based consumer skincare.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/azitrainc

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds16 records

Investors14 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Azitra