Sublingual Aspirin Trials Spark 85% Surge in Aspire Biopharma Stock

Introduction

ASPIRE BIOPHARMA HOLDINGS INC (Nasdaq: ASBP) is an early-stage biopharmaceutical company formed in September 2021. Headquartered in Humacao, Puerto Rico, with a presence in New York, the company develops patent-pending sublingual delivery systems. Its absorption pathway employs nano- and micelle-based formulations that dissolve under the tongue, bypass the gastrointestinal tract, and aim to deliver rapid, high-dose treatment for pain, inflammation, and cardiology emergencies.

Corporate Structure

Aspire Biopharma operates with a workforce of approximately 51–200 employees. Under the leadership of CEO Kraig Higginson, the company has filed two key patent applications: application 63/456,290 in March 2023 for a soluble, pH-neutral powder formulation and application 63/702,381 on October 2, 2024, for a high-dose aspirin micelle system. Its partnership with Glatt Air Techniques supports Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) production of clinical batches.

Sublingual delivery by Jaehyun Kim

Developments and News

• February 17, 2025: Aspire completed its business combination with PowerUp Acquisition Corp., and on February 20, 2025, began trading on the Nasdaq Global Market under ticker ASBP.
• March 20, 2025: Glatt Air Techniques completed the first GMP clinical batch of the company’s oral mucosal aspirin formulation. A bioavailability study in healthy volunteers was scheduled for April 2025, and Aspire intends to request FDA designation for expedited review.
• April 9, 2025: Aspire initiated its Phase 1 single-center clinical study for its fast-acting, high-dose sublingual aspirin.
• April 11, 2025: The company announced initial production of a single-dose, pre-workout supplement utilizing its sublingual delivery technology.
• April 29, 2025: Aspire received Institutional Review Board approval for its clinical trial protocol.
• May 8, 2025: The company disclosed that CEO Kraig Higginson will present at the Sidoti Virtual Investor Conference on May 21, 2025.
• August 13, 2025: Aspire filed its quarterly report on Form 10-Q with the SEC, covering financial results and ongoing development activities.

Financial and Strategic Analysis

As of August 18, 2025, ASBP shares were trading at $0.6646, reflecting an increase of 85.13% on a volume of 18,670,043 shares, compared with a 15-day average of 15,046,035 shares. The company’s market capitalization is reported to be $19.76 million, and its enterprise value is $25.18 million.

Key metrics from the trailing twelve months include:

• Net loss of $17.02 million (EPS –0.58)
• Total cash of $1.35 million
• No reported revenue
• Beta of 0.80, indicating lower volatility relative to the S&P 500

Strategically, Aspire is focusing on its patent portfolio and clinical pipeline, leveraging its partnership with Glatt Air Techniques to scale GMP production. The SPAC merger has enabled capital allocation towards bioavailability studies, FDA interactions, and Phase 2 trials targeted for late 2025.

Market Position and Industry Context

Aspire Biopharma operates within the biopharmaceutical segment focused on drug-delivery innovations. Sublingual formulations represent an emerging niche aimed at reducing onset time and improving dose management, particularly in acute care settings such as cardiology and pain management. Early-stage companies often face high R&D costs, lengthy regulatory review processes, and the necessity for additional financing. Aspire’s approach includes reliance on patent protection, achieving clinical milestones, and seeking FDA expedited pathways to enhance its potential for securing partnerships, licensing agreements, or product launches.

tl;dr

ASBP shares increased by over 85% on August 18, 2025, amid significant trading volume. The company completed its SPAC merger in February 2025 and began Nasdaq trading under ASBP. In March 2025, Aspire’s GMP partner delivered its first clinical batch of sublingual aspirin, and a bioavailability study commenced in April 2025. Phase 1 aspirin trials began on April 9, 2025. FDA meetings are scheduled for Q2 2025, with final clinical trials and an expedited application anticipated later in the year.