What Akita Biosciences does

Akita Biosciences is a private, early-stage consumer health and biotechnology company founded in 2022 and headquartered in Boston, MA, with additional presence in Miami, FL and Columbus, OH. The company develops and commercializes over-the-counter nasal spray products built on proprietary technology originating from co-founders Dr. Jeffrey Karp and Dr. Nitin Joshi's laboratories at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital. Its flagship consumer product, Profi Nasal Spray, is a drug-free formulation designed to create a protective gel-like barrier in the nasal passages, with preclinical claims of 99.99% neutralization of airborne pathogens (influenza, SARS-CoV-2, RSV) and 8+ hours of protective effect.

The underlying platform encompasses multiple proprietary capabilities: Pathogen Capture and Neutralizing Spray (PCANS), a 3D Cleansing Matrix for nasal coating, molecule encapsulation up to approximately 150 kDa, rapid therapeutic onset of 2–3 minutes, extended residence time of 3–24 hours compared to approximately 1 hour for standard sprays, and transient nasal epithelium permeabilization. Beyond the current OTC product, the platform architecture positions the company to pursue broader applications including respiratory infection prophylaxis, nasal vaccines, and nose-to-brain drug delivery.

Akita operates a direct-to-consumer business model, selling Profi Nasal Spray through its proprietary e-commerce site (profispray.com) and through Amazon marketplace. The company targets health-conscious individual consumers seeking drug-free, preventive respiratory health and nasal hygiene solutions. Revenue is generated through one-time OTC product sales; no subscription, licensing, or recurring revenue model is disclosed. The company has not publicly disclosed pricing, customer counts, or revenue figures. The company is led by CEO and co-founder Alex Revelos, co-founder and Chief Strategy Advisor Christopher Lee, PhD, and scientific co-founders Dr. Karp and Dr. Joshi. Akita received a Flu Lab grant in April 2025 and was named one of Fast Company's World's Most Innovative Companies of 2025.

Name

Akita Biosciences

Legal name

Akita Biosciences

Website

https://akitabiosciences.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Akita Biosciences is a private, early-stage biotech founded in 2022 that develops and sells Profi Nasal Spray, a drug-free over-the-counter nasal spray based on proprietary Harvard-originated PCANS technology, targeting health-conscious US consumers through direct-to-consumer e-commerce channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Consumer Respiratory Health / Nasal Therapeutics

NAICS

Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing (325411), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841), Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844)

akta.pro primary industry

Nasal Drug Delivery Devices (Sprays/Powder Devices) (HLAHAIAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Vaccine Delivery & Administration Systems (needle-free, microneedle patches, intranasal/oral) (HLAAAEAF), Eye, Ear & Nasal Care (HLAIADAF), Eye, Ear & Nasal Care OTC (Eye Drops, Ear Drops/Wax Removal, Saline Sprays) (CRADAMAG)

Keywords

• Intranasal therapeutics
• Nasal spray products
• Respiratory health
• Consumer health biotech
• Over-the-counter wellness

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations

Revenue model

1. OTC Nasal Spray Products: Akita Biosciences generates revenue through the sale of over-the-counter nasal spray products, including Profi Nasal Spray. The company commercializes drug-free, science-backed formulations for nasal hygiene and everyday wellness through e-commerce channels targeting consumers in the respiratory health and preventive care market.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Akita Biosciences develops and commercializes over-the-counter nasal spray products built on a proprietary intranasal delivery platform. Its lead consumer product, Profi Nasal Spray, is a drug-free formulation designed to create a 3D cleansing matrix in the nasal passages that supports the body's natural defenses against airborne pathogens and allergens, providing 8+ hours of protection.

Product overview

Akita Biosciences offers a platform-plus-product model centered on its proprietary nasal spray technology. The core product is Profi Nasal Spray, a drug-free consumer health product for everyday nasal hygiene. The platform technology enables rapid onset (2-3 minutes), extended residence time (3-24 hours), molecule encapsulation, and mucosal absorption optimization. Applications include respiratory infection prophylaxis, nasal vaccines, nose-to-brain delivery, and precision therapeutics. The company is developing additional products in its pipeline focused on prevention and wellness innovation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Profi Nasal Spray: Drug-free, science-backed nasal spray designed to create a 3D cleansing matrix in the nasal passages for long-lasting, on-the-go coverage. Smart nasal hygiene for everyday wellness.

Products and services

• Profi Nasal Spray A drug-free, science-backed over-the-counter nasal spray that creates a 3D cleansing matrix in the nasal passages, providing long-lasting, on-the-go coverage for daily nasal hygiene and respiratory wellness. It supports the body's natural defenses against airborne contaminants including cold and flu viruses, SARS-CoV-2, RSV, allergens, pollen, dust, and pet dander. Target users are individual consumers seeking preventive respiratory health and nasal hygiene solutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.99% viral reduction in preclinical studies with 100% survival in lethal flu model with single pre-exposure dose
• +5 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Brigham and Women's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundational research behind Akita's proprietary nasal spray platform was developed at Brigham and Women's Hospital by co-founders Dr. Jeff Karp (Professor of Medicine) and Dr. Nitin Joshi (Assistant Professor). The technology originated from their labs at this Harvard-affiliated teaching hospital. Dr. Karp serves as Endowed Chair and Professor, and Dr. Joshi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at BWH.
• Harvard Medical SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore technology was developed by biomedical engineers affiliated with Harvard Medical School. The company is backed by groundbreaking research from world-renowned scientists at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Jeff Karp is a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Principal Faculty at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Zarbee's (Church & Dwight): Zarbee's is a mass-market natural health brand (owned by Church & Dwight) that sells saline nasal mists and respiratory wellness products. It is comparable as an established consumer health brand expanding in the same drug-free respiratory/nasal category that Profi targets.
• Nemera: Nemera is a global drug delivery device manufacturer with a strong nasal and ophthalmic device portfolio. It is comparable as an established platform provider in nasal delivery devices, sharing Akita's interest in advanced nasal spray hardware.
• Aptar Pharma: Aptar Pharma is a global leader in nasal drug delivery devices and dispensing systems used by most major nasal therapeutics. It is comparable as the incumbent platform enabling intranasal drug delivery, representing both a potential supplier and a competitor for advanced nasal spray platform IP.
• Vir Biotechnology: Vir Biotechnology is a clinical-stage immunology company developing therapeutics and vaccines for respiratory infections including influenza, RSV, and COVID-19. It is comparable as a Harvard-adjacent biotech operating in Akita's target respiratory pathogen space, though at a much later stage and broader modality set.

Direct peers

• Xlear: Xlear is a leading consumer nasal spray brand built around saline/xylitol formulations for nasal hygiene. It is directly comparable to Akita's Profi Nasal Spray as a drug-free, daily-use consumer nasal wellness product competing for the same shelf space and shopper occasion.
• NeilMed Pharmaceuticals: NeilMed is the dominant OTC saline nasal irrigation brand (sinus rinse, saline spray). It is a direct peer competing in the same drug-free nasal hygiene category, with much broader retail distribution and brand recognition than Akita.

Emerging players

• TFF Pharmaceuticals: TFF Pharmaceuticals develops thin-film and intranasal formulations of existing drugs to enable alternative routes of administration. It is comparable as an emerging platform company pursuing nasal and pulmonary delivery of therapeutics, sharing Akita's platform-extension thesis.
• CodaBiome: CodaBiome is an early-stage consumer biotech developing oral and nasal microbiome products for respiratory and gut health. It is comparable as a science-driven consumer biotech in the respiratory wellness space, pursuing a similar DTC-plus-platform narrative.
• AeroRx Therapeutics: AeroRx Therapeutics develops inhaled and intranasal formulations for respiratory diseases. It is comparable as an emerging clinical-stage company pursuing nasal/inhaled delivery for respiratory indications, adjacent to Akita's intranasal therapeutic pipeline.
• Corsair Pharma: Corsair Pharma (formerly Exhalation Technology) is developing intranasal therapeutics for respiratory viral infections. It is comparable as a small, science-driven player focused on nasal delivery for respiratory infection prevention and treatment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 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 Akita Biosciences