Adapt Pharma

What Adapt Pharma does

Adapt Pharma was a specialty pharmaceutical company founded in 2014 and headquartered in Radnor, United States, focused on developing and commercializing treatments for endemic public health threats, with a primary emphasis on opioid overdose response. The company's core product was NARCAN Nasal Spray, the first FDA-approved nasal naloxone spray for opioid overdose reversal, which received FDA approval in 2013 and became available over-the-counter in 2023. The company developed novel nasal spray drug delivery technology and biological countermeasures, ultimately distributing over 85 million doses of NARCAN across North America. Its customer base spanned public health agencies, healthcare providers, and communities addressing the opioid crisis, alongside national security and biodefense customers. Distribution occurred through B2B healthcare wholesale channels for commercial products and direct government contracts for biodefense products, with marketing conducted through organic social media (LinkedIn, Instagram, X), podcast content (Countermeasures on Spotify and Apple Podcasts), press releases, and investor relations communications.

Name

Adapt Pharma

Website

https://adaptpharma.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Adapt Pharma is a pharmaceutical company that developed NARCAN Nasal Spray, the first FDA-approved nasal naloxone spray for opioid overdose reversal, serving public health agencies, healthcare providers, and biodefense customers. Acquired by Emergent BioSolutions in 2018.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pharmaceuticals - Opioid Overdose Treatment

NAICS

Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Primary Care & General Medicine Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAA), Vaccine Delivery & Administration Systems (needle-free, microneedle patches, intranasal/oral) (HLAAAEAF)

Keywords

• Opioid overdose treatment
• Nasal naloxone spray
• Biodefense countermeasures
• Pharmaceutical manufacturing
• Public health preparedness

Headquarters

HQ city

Radnor

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Adapt Pharma developed and commercialized NARCAN Nasal Spray, the first FDA-approved nasal naloxone spray for the emergency treatment of opioid overdose. The company specialized in pharmaceutical development and manufacturing of medical countermeasures addressing public health threats, distributing over 85 million doses of NARCAN across North America. Following its acquisition by Emergent BioSolutions, the NARCAN business transitioned to over-the-counter availability in 2023.

Product overview

Adapt Pharma developed NARCAN Nasal Spray as its primary commercial product — the first nasal naloxone spray to receive FDA approval for opioid overdose reversal. The product portfolio consists of NARCAN Nasal Spray, which was the company's core over-the-counter offering for the opioid epidemic response.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NARCAN Nasal Spray The first FDA-approved nasal naloxone spray for the emergency treatment of opioid overdose. It became available over-the-counter in 2023, and Emergent BioSolutions (formerly Adapt Pharma's NARCAN business) has distributed over 85 million doses across North America.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner providing approximately $64.5 million contract modification for BAT (Botulism Antitoxin Heptavalent) to support U.S. Biodefense Strategy. ASPR is a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• Strategic Manufacturing PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeverages specialized in-house capabilities to support biopharma innovators, governments, and non-government organizations with their development and manufacturing needs.
• Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegulatory approval obtained for ACAM2000 (Smallpox and Mpox Vaccine) for the prevention of smallpox and mpox disease in high-risk individuals in Saudi Arabia.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Emergent BioSolutions: Parent company of Adapt Pharma since 2018. Operates the NARCAN franchise as part of its broader biodefense and public health countermeasures portfolio, including BAT and ACAM2000. The closest comparable for capital structure, regulatory posture, and biodefense contract exposure.
• Indivior: Specialty pharmaceutical company focused on opioid use disorder treatments (e.g., Suboxone). Comparable in its focus on the opioid public health crisis and adjacent therapeutic categories.
• Teva Pharmaceutical Industries: Generic pharmaceutical manufacturer with naloxone products and broad OTC/generic infrastructure. Comparable as a potential generic competitor leveraging large-scale manufacturing and distribution for nasal naloxone.
• Sandoz (Novartis): Major generic pharmaceutical manufacturer offering naloxone products and broad OTC/generic capabilities. Comparable as a potential low-cost nasal naloxone entrant in retail channels.

Direct peers

• Amphastar Pharmaceuticals: Markets naloxone injectable products and has been a long-standing competitor in the opioid overdose reversal category. Comparable as a directly competing naloxone supplier to first responders and health systems.
• kaléo (Auvi-Q / Evzio): Developed Evzio, an auto-injector formulation of naloxone for opioid overdose reversal. Comparable as a direct competitor offering an alternative delivery device (auto-injector vs. nasal spray) for the same clinical indication.
• Hikma Pharmaceuticals: Manufactures and markets generic naloxone nasal spray products in the U.S. Comparable as a direct generic competitor to NARCAN in the post-OTC nasal naloxone category.

Emerging players

• Opiant Pharmaceuticals: Developed intranasal nalmefene (OPNT003) for opioid overdose. Comparable as a developer of nasal delivery opioid antagonists, with a next-generation alternative to NARCAN's naloxone.

Others

• Aptar Pharma: Leading supplier of nasal spray drug delivery devices and components to pharmaceutical companies. Comparable as the underlying device technology provider for nasal spray pharmaceutical products in the same category.
• West Pharmaceutical Services: Supplier of drug delivery components and containment systems used in nasal and injectable pharmaceutical products. Comparable as an enabling technology provider in the drug delivery ecosystem that underpins nasal spray products.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/adapt-pharma

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Adapt Pharma