Ascendis Pharma
Ascendis Pharma is a Denmark-headquartered, Nasdaq-listed biopharmaceutical company that uses its proprietary TransCon transient-conjugation platform to develop once-weekly prodrug therapies for rare endocrine diseases, with three FDA-approved products — YUVIWEL (achondroplasia), SKYTROFA (growth hormone deficiency), and YORVIPATH (hypoparathyroidism).
- Company typePublic
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersPalo Alto, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Ascendis Pharma does
Ascendis Pharma A/S is a Denmark-headquartered, Nasdaq-listed (ASND) global biopharmaceutical company founded in 2007 that develops sustained-release prodrug therapeutics using its proprietary TransCon (transient conjugation) platform. The platform links an unmodified parent drug — with established biological activity — to an inert carrier via a cleavable linker, producing predictable, sustained systemic release that can extend dosing intervals from daily to weekly or up to six months while preserving the parent drug's mechanism of action. Three products are FDA-approved: YUVIWEL (navepegritide/TransCon CNP) for achondroplasia in children aged 2+ (approved February 2026 with orphan exclusivity through February 2033), SKYTROFA (lonapegsomatropin/TransCon hGH) for pediatric growth hormone deficiency (approved 2021, expanded to adult GHD July 2025), and YORVIPATH (palopegteriparatide/TransCon PTH) for chronic hypoparathyroidism in adults (approved 2023). The investigational pipeline targets label expansions (adult GHD, Turner syndrome, idiopathic short stature, SHOX deficiency, SGA), a TransCon CNP + TransCon hGH combination, and additional indications in infants and adolescents; the company discontinued its TransCon IL-2 β/γ oncology program in 2026 to concentrate resources on the endocrinology franchise.
The company earns revenue primarily through direct commercialization of its approved rare-disease products, with full-year 2025 product revenue of €720 million (YORVIPATH €477M, SKYTROFA €206M, other €37M), an ~87% gross margin, and €616M in cash; Q1 2026 revenue was €247M, up 154% year-over-year. YUVIWEL is priced at approximately $498,000 per patient per year. The go-to-market combines a dedicated rare-endocrinology field sales force targeting endocrinologists and pediatric specialists across the US and major European countries, supplemented by partner distribution in Japan (Teijin), Greater China (VISEN Pharmaceuticals, a co-controlled JV), and Canada (Pendopharm). Capital is raised via a mix of public equity offerings ($281.3M ADS offering September 2024), capped synthetic royalty funding agreements with Royalty Pharma ($150M each for SKYTROFA in 2023 and YORVIPATH in 2024), and convertible debt (the $575M 2.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2028 are being redeemed in April 2026). The company employs 1,100+ people across Denmark, Germany, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and the US, and its publicly stated Vision 2030 targets at least €5 billion in annual revenue with blockbuster status for each of TransCon PTH, hGH, and CNP.
Ascendis Pharma firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ascendis Pharma
- Legal name
- Ascendis Pharma A/S
- Website
- https://ascendispharma.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Ascendis Pharma is a Denmark-headquartered, Nasdaq-listed biopharmaceutical company that uses its proprietary TransCon transient-conjugation platform to develop once-weekly prodrug therapies for rare endocrine diseases, with three FDA-approved products — YUVIWEL (achondroplasia), SKYTROFA (growth hormone deficiency), and YORVIPATH (hypoparathyroidism).
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ascendis Pharma industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Rare Endocrine Disease Therapeutics
- NAICS
- Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Rare Endocrine & Growth Disorder Therapies (HLAIAIAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Endocrinology & Reproductive Health Pharmaceuticals (incl. Women’s Health) (HLAIAAAJ)
Keywords
Where Ascendis Pharma is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Palo Alto
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices10 records
Markets served
Ascendis Pharma business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Product Sales - YORVIPATH: Sales of YORVIPATH (palopegteriparatide) for chronic hypoparathyroidism in adults. Generated €477 million in full-year 2025 revenue, up significantly from €101 million in the same period last year. Approved in US, EU, EEA, and UK.
- Product Sales - SKYTROFA: Sales of SKYTROFA (lonapegsomatropin) for growth hormone deficiency. Contributed €206 million in full-year 2025 revenue, with €53 million in Q4. Approved for pediatric GHD and under expansion for adult GHD.
- Product Sales - YUVIWEL: Sales of YUVIWEL (navepegritide) for achondroplasia in children aged 2+. FDA approved February 27, 2026, with commercial launch in early Q2 2026. Priced at approximately $498,000 annually.
- Royalty Funding: $150 million capped synthetic royalty funding agreement with Royalty Pharma based on U.S. net sales of YORVIPATH. Includes upfront payment with royalty payments ceasing upon reaching a specified multiple.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | YUVIWEL (navepegritide) - approximately $498,000 per year |
| Subscription | Annual | YORVIPATH and SKYTROFA pricing based on market rates |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Ascendis Pharma product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ascendis Pharma is a global biopharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes prodrug-based therapies for rare endocrine diseases using its proprietary TransCon technology platform. The company has three FDA-approved products: YUVIWEL (navepegritide) for achondroplasia, SKYTROFA (lonapegsomatropin) for growth hormone deficiency, and YORVIPATH (palopegteriparatide) for chronic hypoparathyroidism. These therapies are designed to maintain the original mechanism of action of parent drugs while enabling sustained release that reduces dosing frequency.
Product overview
Ascendis Pharma is a global biopharmaceutical company that has developed three FDA-approved products using its proprietary TransCon (transient conjugation) technology platform: YUVIWEL (navepegritide) for achondroplasia, SKYTROFA (lonapegsomatropin) for growth hormone deficiency, and YORVIPATH (palopegteriparatide) for hypoparathyroidism. The company operates a platform-plus-products model where TransCon technology enables sustained-release prodrugs designed to improve treatment efficacy, tolerability, and convenience. Their pipeline includes additional indications for these products (TransCon hGH for Turner syndrome and adult GHD, TransCon PTH for dosing expansion, TransCon CNP for broader skeletal disorders) as well as combination therapies and an oncology candidate. The TransCon platform uses three components—an unmodified parent drug, an inert carrier, and a linker—to create prodrugs that maintain original mechanisms of action while enabling weekly or less frequent dosing.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- YUVIWEL: Trade name for navepegritide (TransCon CNP), FDA-approved once-weekly treatment for achondroplasia in children aged 2 and older
- SKYTROFA
- YORVIPATH
- TransCon
Products and services
- YUVIWEL (navepegritide) FDA-approved once-weekly treatment for children aged 2 years and older with achondroplasia. The first and only weekly therapy for this condition, providing continuous systemic exposure to C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) to rebalance bone growth.
- SKYTROFA (lonapegsomatropin) FDA-approved once-weekly human growth hormone for pediatric growth hormone deficiency. Approved in the United States, European Union, and EEA. Developed as TransCon hGH, providing sustained release of growth hormone to improve patient adherence.
- YORVIPATH (palopegteriparatide) FDA-approved parathyroid hormone replacement therapy for adults with chronic hypoparathyroidism. Approved in the United States, European Union, EEA, and UK. Designed to restore physiologic levels of PTH 24 hours a day to address both short-term symptoms and long-term complications.
Quantifiable outcome
- 86% multi-component response rate in Phase 3 PaTHway Trial at Week 182
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Ascendis Pharma
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Ascendis Pharma technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Ascendis Pharma partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered regional and core.
- Pendopharm (Pharmascience Inc.)regionalExclusive distribution agreement for YORVIPATH (TransCon PTH) in Canada for treatment of chronic hypoparathyroidism. Pendopharm responsible for regulatory approval and commercialization. YORVIPATH received Health Canada approval in February 2026.
- VISEN PharmaceuticalscoreVISEN Pharmaceuticals was formed in 2018 by Ascendis Pharma with investor syndicate led by Vivo Capital. VISEN has exclusive rights to develop and commercialize Ascendis Pharma's endocrinology rare disease therapies including TransCon hGH, TransCon PTH, and TransCon CNP in Greater China.
- Teijin PharmaregionalTeijin Pharma partnership for development and commercialization of TransCon hGH in Japan (Japan riGHt Trial) and TransCon CNP (Japan ApproaCH Trial) for pediatric GHD and achondroplasia respectively.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Ascendis Pharma competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Alexion (AstraZeneca Rare Disease): Established rare disease franchise within AstraZeneca, competing for the same specialty prescriber base. Multiple approved rare disease products with similar commercial model. Jethro Ekuta (Ascendis Chief Regulatory Officer) previously served as VP at Alexion.
- Pfizer: Markets Genotropin growth hormone franchise and other endocrinology products. Potential competitor in SKYTROFA's market. Large pharma with broader portfolio but overlapping specialty prescriber base and rare disease capabilities.
- Novo Nordisk: Major player in growth hormone and endocrinology therapeutics (Norditropin franchise). Competes directly with SKYTROFA in GHD market and is a strategic partner ($100M payment). Several Ascendis executives previously worked at Novo Nordisk. Relevant incumbent and potential partner.
- Vertex Pharmaceuticals: Profitable rare disease biotech with multiple blockbuster franchises and high gross margins comparable to Ascendis's ~87%. Similar patient-focused commercial model targeting specialty physicians for rare conditions. Represents a relevant benchmark for rare disease commercial maturity.
- Sanofi (Genzyme): Major rare disease player through Genzyme franchise, including endocrinology and rare genetic disorders. Comparable geographic commercial reach and specialty sales infrastructure. Multiple Ascendis executives previously held roles at Genzyme-Sanofi.
- Chiesi: Global rare disease and specialty pharma with endocrinology focus. Board member Siham Imani currently heads Global Strategy at Chiesi. Overlapping therapeutic areas including rare endocrine disorders and comparable commercial presence in European markets.
Direct peers
- Swedish Orphan Biovitrum (Sobi): Specialty biopharma focused on rare diseases including endocrinology and growth disorders. Direct overlap with Ascendis's GHD franchise via partnership and distribution agreements. Comparable rare disease commercial model and European/US presence.
- BioMarin Pharmaceutical: Direct competitor in rare endocrine disease therapeutics, particularly in achondroplasia where BioMarin markets Voxzogo. Active in patent litigation with Ascendis over TransCon CNP. Comparable business model focused on rare disease drug development and commercialization.
- Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical: Rare disease biotech with multiple approved products targeting metabolic and endocrine disorders. Comparable platform-plus-product model focused on underserved rare disease populations. Similar stage of commercial scaling and pipeline expansion.
- Ipsen: Global specialty pharma with rare disease and endocrinology focus (including pediatric endocrinology). Overlap with Ascendis's endocrinology rare disease commercial footprint in Europe. Comparable target customer base of endocrinologists and rare disease specialists.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ascendis Pharma social profiles
Digital presenceAscendis Pharma financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ascendis Pharma leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles17 records
Ascendis Pharma subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries10 records
Ascendis Pharma funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds9 records
Investors11 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ascendis Pharma M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments2 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ascendis Pharma
What does Ascendis Pharma do?
Ascendis Pharma is a global biopharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes prodrug-based therapies for rare endocrine diseases using its proprietary TransCon technology platform. The company has three FDA-approved products: YUVIWEL (navepegritide) for achondroplasia, SKYTROFA (lonapegsomatropin) for growth hormone deficiency, and YORVIPATH (palopegteriparatide) for chronic hypoparathyroidism. These therapies are designed to maintain the original mechanism of action of parent drugs while enabling sustained release that reduces dosing frequency.
Is Ascendis Pharma a public or private company?
Ascendis Pharma is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Ascendis Pharma founded?
Ascendis Pharma was founded in 2007. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Ascendis Pharma based?
Ascendis Pharma is headquartered in Palo Alto, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ascendis Pharma make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Product Sales - YORVIPATH is the primary driver. The others are product Sales - SKYTROFA, product Sales - YUVIWEL and royalty Funding.
Who are Ascendis Pharma's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Alexion (AstraZeneca Rare Disease), Pfizer, Novo Nordisk, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Sanofi (Genzyme) and Chiesi. Direct peers are Swedish Orphan Biovitrum (Sobi), BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical and Ipsen.
Does Ascendis Pharma have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ascendis Pharma.
What industry is Ascendis Pharma in?
Ascendis Pharma's product category is Rare Endocrine Disease Therapeutics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIAIAJ, Rare Endocrine & Growth Disorder Therapies, with a secondary code of HLAIAAAJ, Endocrinology & Reproductive Health Pharmaceuticals (incl. Women’s Health). Its NAICS code is 325412 and its SIC code is 2834.