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Aspire Biopharma Partners with Microsize to Develop Rapid-delivery Sublingual Powder Formulation of Alprazolam for Faster Anxiety Relief
Collaboration aims to create the first-ever sublingual alprazolam powder, addressing the need for faster-acting anxiety medication.Phase 1 clinical trial of
About this update from Aspire Biopharma Holdings, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"Collaboration aims to create the first-ever sublingual alprazolam powder, addressing the need for faster-acting anxiety medication.Phase 1 clinical trial of the patent-pending, rapid-onset formulation planned for mid-2026.Alprazolam remains a top 40 prescribed medication in the US, with over 15.8 million prescriptions in 2023. ESTERO, FL / ACCESS Newswire / March 3, 2026 / Aspire Biopharma Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:ASBP) (\"Aspire\" or the \"Company\"), a biopharmaceutical company developing multi-faceted, patent-pending drug delivery technology, today announced a strategic partnership with Microsize (Quakertown, Pennsylvania), the largest independent North American contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) focused on cGMP micronization and particle size engineering.Aspire has engaged Microsize to accelerate the development of a novel sublingual powder formulation of alprazolam, the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) in the widely prescribed anti-anxiety medication Xanax®.Addressing the Need for Faster ReliefAlthough traditional oral alprazolam tablets are highly effective, they can take 25 minutes or more to take effect as they pass through the gastric system and liver. Aspire's novel sublingual formulation is designed to bypass the digestive tract, delivering the medication directly into the bloodstream for faster, more predictable relief of anxiety disorders and panic attacks.\"Our collaboration with Microsize is a critical milestone in bringing a modern, fast-acting alternative to millions of patients suffering from anxiety\" said Kraig Higginson, Interim CEO of Aspire Biopharma. \"Microsize's unparalleled expertise in particle engineering, together with the support of Pace®, a leading testing and analytical lab, will allow us to optimize our sublingual powder, accelerating our journey toward a Phase 1 clinical trial planned for mid-2026. We are aiming to be the first alprazolam sublingual product on the market.\"Industry-Leading Technical CollaborationMicrosize specializes in particle size reduction, micronization, and solubility enhancement for drugs. To complement this development, Aspire has also engaged Pace®, a leading science and technology company with a nationwide network of laboratories, to manage drug-excipient compatibility, formulation development, batch manufacturing, and stability studies.Mar...