Deciphera Pharmaceuticals

What Deciphera Pharmaceuticals does

Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, LLC is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2003 and headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing kinase inhibitors for the treatment of cancer and rare diseases. The company's core technology is its proprietary switch-control kinase inhibitor platform, which leverages structural insights into kinase biology to design potent and selective inhibitors capable of addressing primary and secondary resistance mutations, including the broad spectrum of KIT and PDGFRA mutations relevant in gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). Two products are currently approved and commercialized: QINLOCK (ripretinib), an oral switch-control KIT/PDGFRA inhibitor approved for fourth-line GIST and available in over 40 countries, and ROMVIMZA (vimseltinib), an oral CSF1R inhibitor approved for tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT) in the US (2024) and EU (September 2025). The clinical pipeline extends beyond kinase inhibition into BTK inhibition (tirabrutinib, FDA NDA accepted with PDUFA date of December 18, 2026 for R/R PCNSL), antisense oligonucleotides (sapablursen for polycythemia vera, Phase 3 INTREPID initiated June 2026), and earlier-stage assets in autophagy inhibition, GCN2 activation, EP4 antagonism, S1P5 agonism, and PD-1 x CD3 bispecifics.

Deciphera generates revenue primarily through direct sales of QINLOCK and ROMVIMZA via a specialty field sales force targeting oncologists, hematologists, and neurologists in the United States and Europe, supplemented by licensing and milestone revenue associated with programs such as tirabrutinib (licensed from parent ONO Pharmaceutical) and sapablursen (licensed from Ionis Pharmaceuticals). Distribution is anchored by Deciphera's own commercial infrastructure across six European countries (Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain) and integrated with ONO Pharmaceutical's global network for markets including Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. Patient access programs are administered through DecipheraAccessPoint.com. The company became a wholly-owned subsidiary of ONO Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. on June 11, 2024 following a $2.4 billion acquisition, and now functions as ONO's primary platform for clinical development and commercial operations in the US and European markets.

Name

Deciphera Pharmaceuticals

Legal name

Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, LLC

Website

https://deciphera.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Deciphera Pharmaceuticals is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company developing kinase inhibitors and other targeted therapies for rare cancers and hematologic diseases, commercializing QINLOCK for advanced GIST and ROMVIMZA for TGCT, now operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of ONO Pharmaceutical.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Oncology Pharmaceuticals

NAICS

Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Gastroenterology Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Neurology & CNS Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAC), Endocrinology & Reproductive Health Pharmaceuticals (incl. Women’s Health) (HLAIAAAJ)

Keywords

• Kinase inhibitor therapeutics
• Oncology drug development
• Targeted cancer therapies
• Rare disease pharmaceuticals
• Switch-control kinase platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Waltham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Product Sales (Commercialized Pharmaceuticals): Deciphera generates revenue from the sale of its approved pharmaceutical products, including QINLOCK (ripretinib) for advanced GIST and ROMVIMZA (vimseltinib) for TGCT, marketed directly to healthcare providers in the US and EU.
2. Licensing and Milestone Revenue: As a member of ONO Pharmaceutical, Deciphera participates in licensing arrangements and receives development milestones. Sapablursen was licensed from Ionis Pharmaceuticals to ONO and its affiliates including Deciphera for development and commercialization globally.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Deciphera Pharmaceuticals discovers, develops, and commercializes kinase inhibitor medicines for the treatment of cancer and related diseases. Its commercial portfolio includes QINLOCK (ripretinib), approved for advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) in patients who have received prior treatment with three or more kinase inhibitors, and ROMVIMZA (vimseltinib), approved for symptomatic tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT). The company also advances a pipeline of investigational therapies for oncology, hematology, and neurodegenerative diseases using its proprietary Switch-Control Kinase Inhibitor Platform.

Product overview

Deciphera Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing medicines for cancer treatment. The company operates two approved products (QINLOCK and ROMVIMZA) and a diverse pipeline of drug candidates at various clinical stages. QINLOCK (ripretinib) is a switch-control KIT/PDGFRA inhibitor approved for fourth-line GIST, while ROMVIMZA (vimseltinib) is a CSF1R inhibitor approved for TGCT. The pipeline includes tirabrutinib (BTK inhibitor with FDA NDA accepted for PCNSL), sapablursen (TMPRSS6 antisense oligonucleotide in Phase 3 for polycythemia vera), and multiple oncology candidates including ONO-4578, ONO-2808, ONO-4685, DCC-3009, inlexisertib, and DCC-2812. The company's proprietary switch-control kinase inhibitor platform underpins its drug discovery efforts. Deciphera became a member of ONO Pharmaceutical in June 2024.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• QINLOCK (ripretinib) QINLOCK is an orally administered switch-control kinase inhibitor approved for the treatment of adult patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) who have received prior treatment with 3 or more kinase inhibitors, including imatinib. It inhibits the full spectrum of KIT and PDGFRA mutations and is prescribed by oncologists.
• ROMVIMZA (vimseltinib) ROMVIMZA is an oral switch-control tyrosine kinase inhibitor specifically designed to selectively and potently inhibit CSF1R. Approved for treatment of adults with symptomatic tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT) for which surgical resection will potentially cause worsening functional limitation or severe morbidity.
• Tirabrutinib Tirabrutinib is a highly selective irreversible second-generation Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor under development for the treatment of relapsed or refractory primary central nervous system lymphoma (R/R PCNSL). FDA NDA accepted with PDUFA date December 18, 2026. Approved in Japan as Velexbru.
• Sapablursen Sapablursen is an investigational antisense oligonucleotide designed to reduce TMPRSS6 production, increasing hepcidin expression to treat polycythemia vera. Currently in Phase 3 INTREPID study. Received Fast Track, Orphan Drug, and Breakthrough Therapy designations from FDA.
• ONO-4578 ONO-4578 is an EP4 antagonist being developed for colorectal cancer in combination with nivolumab. Currently in Phase 2 clinical trials.
• ONO-2808 ONO-2808 is a selective S1P5 receptor agonist being developed for multiple system atrophy (MSA), a rare progressive neurodegenerative disease. Currently in Phase 2 with plans to initiate pivotal Phase 3 study.
• ONO-2020 ONO-2020 is an epigenetic regulator being developed for Alzheimer's Disease.
• DCC-3009 DCC-3009 is a next-generation KIT inhibitor designed to inhibit the broad spectrum of known primary and secondary drug-resistant mutations in GIST, spanning KIT exons 9, 11, 13, 14, 17, and 18.
• Inlexisertib (DCC-3116) Inlexisertib is an investigational orally administered potent and highly selective switch-control inhibitor of ULK kinase designed to inhibit autophagy in cancer cells. Being investigated in Phase 1/2 study as single agent and in combination with sotorasib and QINLOCK in advanced/metastatic solid tumors.
• DCC-2812 DCC-2812 is a GCN2 activator in preclinical development for advanced/metastatic renal cell carcinoma, urothelial cancer, or castration-resistant prostate cancer.
• ONO-4685 ONO-4685 is a PD-1 x CD3 bispecific antibody being developed for T-cell lymphoma and plaque psoriasis. Currently in Phase 1 clinical trials.

Quantifiable outcome

• QINLOCK demonstrated median PFS of 6.3 months vs 1.0 month placebo (HR 0.15, p<0.0001) in 4th-line+ GIST patients in the INVICTUS Phase 3 study.
• +3 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• ONO Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Tirabrutinib License)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerTirabrutinib, a highly selective Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor discovered and developed by ONO Pharmaceutical, is under license to Deciphera Pharmaceuticals for development and commercialization in the US market. Tirabrutinib is approved in Japan (as Velexbru), South Korea, and Taiwan for relapsed or refractory PCNSL and other indications. Deciphera filed an NDA with the FDA for tirabrutinib in R/R PCNSL with a PDUFA date of December 18, 2026.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Blueprint Medicines: Blueprint Medicines is a direct peer — both companies develop selective kinase inhibitors for rare cancers and previously had overlapping GIST programs (Blueprint's avapritinib). Both target genetically defined patient populations with limited treatment options and operate similar commercial models in rare oncology.
• Cogent Biosciences: Cogent Biosciences is a direct peer — both focus on kinase inhibitors for rare cancers including GIST, with overlapping development programs targeting KIT mutations. Both companies pursue similar precision oncology strategies for underserved patient populations with limited therapeutic options.
• Exelixis: Exelixis is a direct peer — both develop kinase inhibitors for cancer treatment with established commercial products. Exelixis's Cabometyx (cabozantinib) competes in similar oncology indications, and both companies target kinase-driven tumors with similar mechanisms of action and commercial approaches.

Broad incumbents

• Bayer: Bayer is a broad incumbent — its Stivarga (regorafenib) is approved for advanced GIST and directly competes with QINLOCK in the same indication. Bayer's broader oncology portfolio and global commercial infrastructure make it a relevant scale comparison, though kinase inhibitors are one segment of its diversified pharma business.
• Pfizer: Pfizer is a broad incumbent — its Sutent (sunitinib) is approved for GIST and other oncology indications, directly competing with QINLOCK. Pfizer's global oncology franchise, commercial scale, and resources represent both a competitive threat and a benchmark for what scaled rare oncology commercialization looks like.
• Novartis: Novartis is a broad incumbent — its Gleevec (imatinib) is the foundational GIST therapy that QINLOCK follows, and its broader oncology portfolio includes multiple kinase inhibitors and radioligand therapies. Novartis represents the standard against which specialty kinase inhibitor companies are benchmarked in the GIST and broader oncology space.
• AstraZeneca: AstraZeneca is a broad incumbent — its Calquence (acalabrutinib) competes with tirabrutinib in the BTK inhibitor space, and its broader oncology portfolio (Tagrisso, Imfinzi, Enhertu) competes in adjacent oncology indications. AstraZeneca's scale and global commercial reach represent significant competitive pressure for Deciphera's pipeline assets.
• Bristol-Myers Squibb: Bristol-Myers Squibb is a broad incumbent — its oncology portfolio includes multiple kinase inhibitors and targeted therapies, and it acquired Mirati Therapeutics in 2024 to expand its precision oncology presence. BMS represents competitive pressure across multiple Deciphera indications and a benchmark for value-based oncology acquisitions.

Others

• Ionis Pharmaceuticals: Ionis Pharmaceuticals is a strategic partner — Deciphera's parent ONO licensed sapablursen (a TMPRSS6 antisense oligonucleotide) from Ionis in March 2025. While not a direct competitor, Ionis is comparable as an antisense oligonucleotide platform company with overlapping technology and development capabilities.

Regional players

• Taiho Pharmaceutical: Taiho Pharmaceutical is a regional player — a Japanese specialty oncology company with a similar therapeutic focus and comparable product portfolio in the Japanese market. As Deciphera's parent ONO expands ripretinib into Japan, Taiho represents a regional competitor with established Japanese oncology commercial infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Deciphera
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/deciphera-pharmaceuticals

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds7 records

Investors5 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Deciphera Pharmaceuticals