Startup Akita Biosciences, newly launched by faculty members of Brigham & Women’s Hospital to develop intranasal therapies, has announced the availability of its first nasal product. The company says that Profi prophylactic nasal spray is “a drug-free formulation composed predominantly of ingredients that have previously been used intranasally at doses higher than in this product and which are on the FDA’s Inactive Ingredient Database (IID) and Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) lists.”
Akita is selling Profi directly to consumers via a web site, which lists the ingredients as pectin, gellan, purified water, phenethyl alcohol, polysorbate 80, and benzalkonium chloride. The site indicates that the product can be shipped within the US and to Japan.
Co-founder Nitin Joshi commented, “Our studies identified a formulation of intranasal-safe ingredients that have excellent physical barrier properties against different respiratory pathogens. The formulation rapidly neutralized a broad spectrum of viruses and bacteria, including Influenza A and B, SARS-CoV-2, RSV, adenovirus, E. coli, and K. pneumoniae; reducing the pathogen load by more than 99.99%.”
CEO Alex Revelos said, “Akita Biosciences developed a radically simple approach that works with the natural defenses in the nose. . . . I’m thrilled to offer an easy-to-use option to support health and bring peace of mind this season.”
Akita says that it is also developing other nasal products. According to company’s web site, Akita Biosciences “is pioneering a modular nasal platform, enabling the drop-in of numerous drug molecules to maximize their therapeutic potential and improve human health,” with technology that “enables rapid onset, can control mucosal absorption, and optimize the residence time for molecules and biologics.”
Read the Akita Biosciences press release.
