Freespira

Kirkland, WA, United States All United States companies → — Founded 2013

Mental Health Platform Specialty-Focused AI

Family Medicine Internal Medicine Psychiatry

Series E — $48.9M

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Freespira

Mental & Behavioral Health AI

Freespira is an FDA-cleared digital therapeutic that helps reduce or stop panic attacks and PTSD symptoms by teaching breathing regulation in just 28 days.

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About Freespira

Freespira is a healthcare AI company that has developed an FDA-cleared digital therapeutic for the at-home treatment of panic disorder, panic attacks, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The company’s solution combines a compact breathing sensor with a tablet and personalized coaching support. The core of the treatment is capnometry-guided respiratory intervention, which helps patients normalize their breathing patterns and reduce CO2 hypersensitivity, a physiological factor often associated with these conditions. The program is medication-free and designed to deliver rapid and lasting symptom relief within a 28-day course, with patients completing two 17-minute breathing sessions daily.

For physicians, Freespira offers an evidence-based, non-pharmacological adjunctive treatment option for patients diagnosed with panic disorder and/or PTSD. The treatment aims to correct underlying abnormal respiratory physiology by training patients to stabilize their breathing rate and exhaled CO2 levels. Clinical studies have indicated that a significant majority of patients experience a reduction or elimination of symptoms post-treatment, with benefits lasting at least a year. Furthermore, health economic outcome data suggests potential reductions in medical costs, including emergency department visits and pharmacy costs. Freespira can be integrated into patient care through referrals from various healthcare providers, including behavioral health, primary care, psychiatry, and case management, and post-treatment reports are available to providers.

Focus Areas

Digital Therapeutics Panic Disorder PTSD Anxiety Behavioral Health Respiratory Regulation

Business Intelligence

Key Investors	Lightspeed Venture Partners, Slayton Capital, Medvest Capital, Vesalius Ventures, Aphelion Capital, Russell Siegelman, Kleiner Perkins
Partnerships	Highmark health plans, Comcast, Veterans Benefits Administration, Children's Community Health Plan
Technology	The Freespira system combines a compact breathing sensor with a tablet and a custom app. The sensor measures breathing rate and exhaled CO2 levels, providing real-time feedback to guide users in normalizing their breathing patterns. The platform also includes personalized coaching support.
FDA Clearances	1 cleared products (estimated)

What Physicians Need to Know

Specialization

Freespira specializes in Digital Therapeutics for Panic Disorder, PTSD, and Anxiety by addressing dysfunctional breathing patterns and CO2 hypersensitivity.

Key Differentiators

Freespira is the first FDA-cleared, medication-free, at-home digital therapeutic for panic disorder and PTSD. It offers a 28-day treatment protocol with real-time breathing feedback and personalized coaching.

Technology Stack

The Freespira system includes a compact breathing sensor that samples breathing through a nasal cannula, and a tablet with a dedicated app that provides real-time feedback on breathing patterns. It utilizes capnometry-guided respiratory intervention to help patients normalize CO2 levels and respiratory rates.

Clinical Efficacy

Clinical trials and real-world data show significant reduction or elimination of panic attacks and PTSD symptoms. For panic disorder, u226580% of patients reported significant reduction or elimination of symptoms post-treatment, with a majority maintaining clinical response through 12 months. For PTSD, 89% of patients reported a significant decrease in symptoms, and 50% were in remission at 6 months.

Cost Savings

Published health economic outcome data indicates significant reductions in medical costs (35%), emergency department visits (65%), and pharmacy costs (68%).

Physician Tip

For physicians, Freespira offers an FDA-cleared, evidence-based, and medication-free adjunctive treatment option for patients suffering from panic disorder and PTSD. It addresses the physiological root cause of these conditions by correcting dysfunctional breathing and CO2 hypersensitivity. The at-home nature of the treatment, combined with personal coaching, can improve patient adherence and accessibility, especially for those who may struggle with traditional in-person therapies or medication side effects. Physicians can refer patients via the Freespira website, phone, or fax, and receive post-treatment reports. It can be used alongside existing pharmacological and/or non-pharmacological interventions.

Freespira is designed as an at-home system that includes a breathing sensor and a tablet with a dedicated app. The data from the sensor is transmitted via Bluetooth to the tablet. While the core treatment is self-contained, Freespira provides weekly check-ins with a care coordinator/coach, which can be done via secure video. Freespira also works with health plans, self-insured employers, and the Veterans Administration for patient access and coverage.

At a glance

Founded 2013

HQ Kirkland, WA, United States · United States

Team size 49

CEO Joseph Perekupka

Funding Series E — $48.9M

FDA clearances 1 (estimated)

Products 1

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Products by Freespira

1 product in the directory

Freespira

Mental & Behavioral Health AI

Freespira is an FDA-cleared digital therapeutic that helps reduce or stop panic attacks and PTSD symptoms by teaching breathing regulation in just 28 days.

What the Web Says

Freespira is a 28-day at-home breath training program designed to treat symptoms of panic attacks, panic disorder, anxiety, and PTSD by retraining breathing patterns. Many users have reported significant positive outcomes, including reduced anxiety, fewer panic attacks, improved sleep, and a greater sense of control. The program involves using a sensor and tablet for guided breathing exercises twice daily, with support from a care specialist. While generally well-received for its effectiveness and supportive staff, some users have encountered technical issues with the equipment and challenges with scheduling coaching appointments.

Overall: Positive

Strengths

Reduces panic attacks and anxiety symptoms.
Helps with PTSD symptoms.
Improved sleep and ability to calm oneself.
Medication-free treatment.
Supportive and knowledgeable staff/coaches.
Convenient at-home treatment with equipment mailed directly.

Limitations

Limited independent reviews available on some platforms like Reddit, leading to initial skepticism for some users.
Potential for technical issues with the tablet and sensor connectivity.
Scheduling difficulties for coaching appointments.
Can be expensive, and insurance coverage may vary.
Some users with breathing-related anxiety or OCD found the initial sessions uncomfortable.
Evidence for effectiveness, while positive, is based on a small number of non-comparative studies, leading to low confidence in some findings by health technology assessments.

Based on reviews from: Reddit, Trustpilot, Freespira.com (customer testimonials), New York State Department of Health (Health Technology Assessment)

Last updated: 2026-06-19

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Press & Coverage

PR Newswire

FREESPIRA ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF ITS 5TH GENERATION DEVICE, MARKING THE MOST ADVANCED MEDICAL DEVICE FOR THE TREATMENT OF STRESS AND ANXIETY DISORDERS

Freespira launched its fifth-generation device, Freespira Sensor Technology v5 (FST5), which combines the sensor and display into a single user-friendly unit, making it the most advanced medical device for anxiety and stress disorders. The FST5 is the first FDA-cleared at-home treatment for panic disorder and PTSD that targets physiological root causes through real-time respiratory guidance and one-on-one video coaching.

2026-02

Business Wire

Freespira Receives FDA Clearance for Adolescents Ages 13u201317; Clinically Validated, At-Home Treatment Reduces Panic Disorder Symptom Severity by 54% and PTSD Symptom Severity by 44%

Freespira announced FDA 510(k) clearance to extend its at-home treatment for anxiety disorders, including panic disorder and PTSD, to adolescents aged 13u201317. This makes Freespira the only prescription, medication-free treatment addressing the physiological root causes of these symptoms in this age group.

2025-05

GeekWire

Seattle-area company lands FDA clearance for drug-free treatment to address teen anxiety and trauma

Freespira received FDA clearance for its technology to treat adolescents aged 13-17 with breathing training and video-based coaching for anxiety, panic attacks, and trauma. The company plans to seek more funding to expand operations and will launch a new device combining the sensor and tablet into a single unit.

2025-05

PR Newswire

Freespira Introduces the Zero Risk Program for Health Plans, a First for Mental Health Devices

Freespira launched its Zero Risk program for health plans, a performance guarantee designed to reduce the risks for payors covering its FDA-cleared medical device for anxiety disorders. This program follows Freespira's recent FDA indication to treat adolescents, addressing the critical need for medication-free treatment options for this population.

2025-10

MedTech World

Freespira Wins FDA Clearance to Treat Adolescents with Anxiety and PTSD at Home

Freespira has expanded its therapeutic reach with FDA 510(k) clearance for its at-home treatment for panic disorder and PTSD to include adolescents aged 13 to 17. This makes Freespira the only prescription, medication-free treatment addressing the physiological root causes of panic attacks and PTSD symptoms in younger populations.

2025-05

PubMed

Evaluating the Impact of Freespira on Panic Disorder Patients' Health Outcomes and Healthcare Costs within the Allegheny Health Network

This quality improvement program investigated Freespira's impact on panic disorder patients, finding that it reduced medical costs by 35% and improved outcomes over 12 months. The study, published in Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, showed significant reductions in panic symptoms, emergency department costs, and pharmacy costs.

2020-09

Built in Seattle

Freespira, Which Treats PTSD and Panic Attacks With Digital Tools, Raises $10M

Freespira finalized a $10 million capital raise led by Lightspeed Venture Partners to support the commercialization of its FDA-cleared digital treatment for panic attacks, panic disorder, and PTSD. The technology uses a tablet, sensor, and app to help regulate breathing and normalize carbon dioxide levels, aiming to reduce or eliminate symptoms within 28 days.

2020-12

Frontiers in Digital Health

Real-world outcomes of an innovative digital therapeutic for treatment of panic disorder and PTSD

This paper reports on real-world outcomes of Freespira, a prescription digital therapeutic for panic disorder and PTSD, showing consistent clinical benefits. The intervention, which received FDA clearance for panic disorder in 2013 and PTSD in 2018, targets normalization of dysfunctional breathing patterns via Capnometry-Guided Respiratory Intervention (CGRI).

2022-11

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Freespira and how does it address Panic Disorder, PTSD, and Anxiety?

Freespira is an FDA-cleared digital therapeutic that provides an at-home, medication-free treatment for symptoms associated with panic disorder, panic attacks, and PTSD. It works by training patients to normalize their breathing patterns, specifically addressing dysfunctional breathing linked to CO2 hypersensitivity, which is often associated with these conditions. The program involves twice-daily 17-minute sessions over 28 days, using a compact breathing sensor and a tablet with real-time feedback.

What is the clinical evidence supporting Freespira's effectiveness and compliance rates?

Freespira has demonstrated consistent clinical outcomes across multiple published studies. For panic disorder, over 80% of patients reported significant symptom reduction or elimination post-treatment, with a majority maintaining this response for 12 months. In PTSD trials, 89% of patients showed a significant decrease in symptoms, and 50% were in remission at 6 months. Adherence rates have been reported around 77% for PTSD and 84% for panic disorder.

How is Freespira typically priced and what are the coverage options for patients?

The out-of-pocket cost for the Freespira program is approximately $2,000. However, many individuals, including veterans with VA benefits, may have Freespira covered by their health insurance or employer. Freespira also offers outcomes-based pricing and performance guarantees for health plans, aligning costs with clinical improvement and potential healthcare savings.

What kind of support does Freespira offer to physicians and healthcare administrators?

Freespira provides support through care specialists who guide patients weekly, monitoring progress and answering questions. For healthcare providers, Freespira offers referral pathways via website, phone, or fax, and can provide post-treatment reports for patients. They also work with health plans, employers, and government contractors like Lovell Government Services to expand access and offer clinician support, particularly for Veterans Administration healthcare providers.

What are Freespira's partnerships and how do they facilitate access to the digital therapeutic?

Freespira partners with health plans, employers, providers, and aggregators to expand access to their digital therapeutic. Notable partnerships include Highmark Health, Children's Community Health Plan, and the Veterans Administration, which offer Freespira as a covered benefit. They also work with organizations like Brighton Marine and IBH Population Health Solutions to integrate Freespira into their behavioral health programs.

What is Freespira's regulatory status and for what age groups is it indicated?

Freespira is an FDA-cleared Class II medical device. It is indicated as an adjunctive treatment for symptoms associated with panic disorder and/or PTSD for adults 18 years of age or older. Freespira has also received FDA clearance for treating stress and anxiety symptoms in adolescents aged 13-17.

What are the contraindications or warnings for using Freespira?

Freespira is not indicated for patients younger than 13 years old, those who are pregnant, or individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or emphysema.

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