Marinus Pharmaceuticals
Marinus Pharmaceuticals was a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company that developed and commercialized ZTALMY (ganaxolone), the first FDA-approved treatment for seizures associated with CDKL5 deficiency disorder, serving pediatric patients with this rare genetic neurological condition before being acquired by Immedica Pharma in 2025.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersBranford, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Marinus Pharmaceuticals does
Marinus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was a Delaware-incorporated, publicly traded biopharmaceutical company (NASDAQ: MRNS) headquartered in Branford, Connecticut, with 51-100 employees. The company reformulated, developed, and commercialized therapeutics for neurological, psychiatric, and pain disorders, with its entire commercial focus centered on ZTALMY (ganaxolone oral suspension) — the first and only FDA-approved treatment for seizures associated with CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD), a rare developmental epileptic encephalopathy. Ganaxolone is a proprietary neuroactive steroid that acts as a positive allosteric modulator of GABA-A receptors, and ZTALMY was approved for patients aged two years and older.
The company's business model centered on direct commercialization of ZTALMY through US specialty pharmacy channels following March 2022 FDA approval, supplemented by international distribution via regional partners — including Immedica Pharma in Europe/UK and Tenacia Biopharmaceuticals/Golden Age Health in Mainland China following the 2024 NMPA approval. Capital was raised through a mix of debt financing (notably $30 million from Oaktree Capital Management and $32.5 million in revenue interest financing from Sagard Healthcare Partners), a $60 million post-IPO equity offering in November 2022, and earlier venture rounds. In January 2025, Marinus was acquired by Swedish rare disease company Immedica Pharma AB for approximately $151 million in a cash tender offer at $0.55 per share, representing a 48% premium over the prior closing price.
Marinus Pharmaceuticals firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Marinus Pharmaceuticals
- Legal name
- Marinus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
- Website
- https://marinuspharma.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Marinus Pharmaceuticals was a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company that developed and commercialized ZTALMY (ganaxolone), the first FDA-approved treatment for seizures associated with CDKL5 deficiency disorder, serving pediatric patients with this rare genetic neurological condition before being acquired by Immedica Pharma in 2025.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Marinus Pharmaceuticals industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Rare Neurological Disease Pharmaceuticals
- NAICS
- Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Neurology & Psychiatry (CNS) Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Epilepsy & Seizure Disorders (HLAKAIAB)
Keywords
Where Marinus Pharmaceuticals is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Branford
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Marinus Pharmaceuticals business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Pharmaceutical Product Sales: Revenue generated from sales of ZTALMY (ganaxolone) in the US market following FDA approval. The product is comercializado through specialty pharmacy channels.
- Revenue Interest Financing: Non-dilutive capital arrangement with Sagard Healthcare Partners involving tiered payments based on U.S. net sales of ganaxolone, providing upfront capital while maintaining product revenue potential.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marinus Pharmaceuticals product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Marinus Pharmaceuticals reformulated, developed, and commercialized ZTALMY (ganaxolone) oral suspension, the first and only FDA-approved treatment for seizures associated with CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD) in patients aged two years and older. The company focused on rare neurological and epileptic encephalopathy indications, holding regulatory approvals in the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, and China. Following FDA approval in 2022, the product was commercialized through US specialty pharmacy channels and through regional partners internationally.
Product overview
Marinus Pharmaceuticals was a pharmaceutical company focused on rare neurological diseases. The company's primary product was ZTALMY (ganaxolone), an FDA-approved oral suspension medication for treating seizures associated with CDKL5 deficiency disorder. Following acquisition by Immedica Pharma in 2025, ZTALMY became part of Immedica's rare disease portfolio within the RARE Neurology therapeutic area.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ZTALMY (ganaxolone): FDA-approved treatment for seizures associated with CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD). The first and only approved treatment for CDKL5 deficiency disorder in the United States.
Products and services
- ZTALMY (ganaxolone) oral suspension ZTALMY (ganaxolone) is an FDA-approved oral suspension medication for the treatment of seizures associated with CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD), a rare developmental and epileptic encephalopathy. It is the first and only FDA-approved therapy for CDD seizures, indicated for patients aged two years and older, and is distributed through US specialty pharmacy channels. The active pharmaceutical ingredient, ganaxolone, is a neuroactive steroid that acts as a positive allosteric modulator of GABA-A receptors.
Quantifiable outcome
- First FDA-approved treatment for CDKL5 deficiency disorder seizures
Companies that use Marinus Pharmaceuticals
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Marinus Pharmaceuticals technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Marinus Pharmaceuticals partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered major.
- Tenacia BiopharmaceuticalsmajorCommercialization agreement granting exclusive rights to Golden Age Health for ZTALMY (ganaxolone oral suspension) in Mainland China, marking the first and only approved treatment for CDKL5 deficiency disorder in China.
- Golden Age HealthmajorExclusive commercialization rights for ZTALMY in Mainland China, leveraging GAH's patient-focused platform to accelerate access for families affected by CDKL5 deficiency disorder, listed in China's National Rare Disease Catalog.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Marinus Pharmaceuticals competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Specialty biopharma with leading rare epilepsy franchise (Epidiolex/Xywav) following the GW Pharmaceuticals acquisition. Comparable as a competitor in the same rare pediatric epilepsy commercial landscape.
- UCB: Global neurology-focused biopharma with established rare epilepsy franchise (post-Zogenix acquisition). Comparable in CNS specialty commercial scale, regulatory strategy, and rare pediatric epilepsy focus.
- Lundbeck: Specialty neurology biopharma with a portfolio across epilepsy, migraine, and rare neurological disorders. Comparable as a CNS-focused commercial partner with established rare neurology distribution capabilities.
- BioMarin Pharmaceutical: Established rare disease biopharma with a portfolio of orphan therapies across multiple therapeutic areas including neurology. Comparable as a commercial-stage rare disease specialist with similar regulatory and pricing dynamics.
Emerging players
- Ovid Therapeutics: Neurology-focused biopharma developing therapies for rare developmental and epileptic encephalopathies, directly overlapping Marinus' therapeutic area and target indications.
- Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical: Clinical and commercial-stage rare disease biopharma developing therapies for rare genetic and neurological disorders. Comparable as a rare-disease focused commercial-stage peer with similar regulatory and reimbursement dynamics.
Direct peers
- Zogenix (UCB): Developed FINTEPLA (fenfluramine) for Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, two rare developmental and epileptic encephalopathies that overlap mechanistically and clinically with CDD. Acquired by UCB in 2022 for ~$1.9B.
- Sage Therapeutics: CNS-focused biopharma developing neuroactive steroid GABA-A modulators (e.g., ZULRESSO, ZURZUVAE). Closest mechanistic peer to ganaxolone given shared GABA-A PAM pharmacology and neurology/CNS positioning.
- GW Pharmaceuticals (Jazz Pharmaceuticals): Developed Epidiolex (cannabidiol) for rare pediatric epilepsies, the closest precedent for a CNS-focused rare-epilepsy franchise. Jazz acquired GW in 2021 and now competes commercially with Marinus/ZTALMY in adjacent orphan seizure indications.
Others
- Immedica Pharma AB: Swedish rare disease specialty pharma and parent company of Marinus following the 2025 acquisition. Comparable as the commercial platform now responsible for ZTALMY's continued global commercialization in rare neurology.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Marinus Pharmaceuticals social profiles
Digital presenceMarinus Pharmaceuticals financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Marinus Pharmaceuticals leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Marinus Pharmaceuticals funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds13 records
Investors8 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Marinus Pharmaceuticals M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Marinus Pharmaceuticals
What does Marinus Pharmaceuticals do?
Marinus Pharmaceuticals reformulated, developed, and commercialized ZTALMY (ganaxolone) oral suspension, the first and only FDA-approved treatment for seizures associated with CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD) in patients aged two years and older. The company focused on rare neurological and epileptic encephalopathy indications, holding regulatory approvals in the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, and China. Following FDA approval in 2022, the product was commercialized through US specialty pharmacy channels and through regional partners internationally.
Is Marinus Pharmaceuticals a public or private company?
Marinus Pharmaceuticals is a public company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Marinus Pharmaceuticals founded?
Marinus Pharmaceuticals was founded in 2012. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Marinus Pharmaceuticals based?
Marinus Pharmaceuticals is headquartered in Branford, United States, in the North America region.
How does Marinus Pharmaceuticals make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Pharmaceutical Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are revenue Interest Financing.
Who are Marinus Pharmaceuticals's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Jazz Pharmaceuticals, UCB, Lundbeck and BioMarin Pharmaceutical. Emerging players are Ovid Therapeutics and Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical. Direct peers are Zogenix (UCB), Sage Therapeutics and GW Pharmaceuticals (Jazz Pharmaceuticals). Immedica Pharma AB is listed as an others.
Does Marinus Pharmaceuticals have an API?
No public API is recorded for Marinus Pharmaceuticals.
What industry is Marinus Pharmaceuticals in?
Marinus Pharmaceuticals's product category is Rare Neurological Disease Pharmaceuticals. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIAAAF, Neurology & Psychiatry (CNS) Pharmaceuticals, with a secondary code of HLAKAIAB, Epilepsy & Seizure Disorders. Its NAICS code is 325412 and its SIC code is 2834.