Epizyme

What Epizyme does

Epizyme, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company founded in 2007 and headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that specialized in the development of small-molecule epigenetic therapies for cancer. The company's core technology centered on EZH2 inhibition, with tazemetostat (marketed as Tazverik) as its lead asset — a first-in-class, oral small-molecule inhibitor of the EZH2 histone methyltransferase, which plays a role in cancer cell proliferation. Tazverik received FDA approval in 2020 for the treatment of epithelioid sarcoma and relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma, addressing rare oncology indications with high unmet medical need, and Epizyme held proprietary positions around the underlying EZH2 inhibitor platform.

The company operated a vertically-segmented, prescription-pharmaceutical business model in which Tazverik was the sole revenue-generating product. Pricing was structured as a standard specialty oncology prescription drug, with specific pricing details not publicly disclosed. Distribution was handled through specialty pharmacies, hospital pharmacies, and oncology treatment centers via global pharmaceutical supply chains, with marketing activities focused on healthcare provider engagement, medical conferences, and oncology symposiums. Following Ipsen's 2021 acquisition, commercialization was executed through Ipsen's global pharmaceutical distribution network, and regional development partnerships were established with Eisai in Japan and HUTCHMED in China (mainland, Hong Kong, and Macau). Under Ipsen's ownership, Tazverik generated just under €47 million in annual revenue, well below the pre-safety-concern peak sales forecast of up to €500 million.

In March 2026, Ipsen voluntarily withdrew Tazverik from all markets after the SYMPHONY-1 trial revealed adverse events of secondary hematologic malignancies that made the risk-benefit profile unfavorable. Eisai and HUTCHMED mirrored the withdrawal in their respective territories. As a result of the withdrawal and the 2021 acquisition, Epizyme no longer operates as an independent revenue-generating entity and exists as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ipsen with no active commercial product, no public listing, and no replacement pipeline assets disclosed in the source data.

Name

Epizyme

Legal name

Epizyme, Inc.

Website

https://epizyme.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Epizyme is a biopharmaceutical company founded in 2007 that developed Tazverik, a first-in-class EZH2 inhibitor approved for epithelioid sarcoma and follicular lymphoma. Acquired by Ipsen in 2021, its lead product was globally withdrawn in March 2026 due to safety concerns.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Epizyme developed and commercialized Tazverik (tazemetostat), a first-in-class EZH2 inhibitor prescribed for the treatment of epithelioid sarcoma and relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma. The company specialized in small-molecule epigenetic therapies targeting histone methyltransferases, with its lead asset voluntarily withdrawn from all markets in March 2026 following safety concerns identified in the SYMPHONY-1 trial.

Product overview

Ipsen operates as a mid-sized global biopharmaceutical company offering a portfolio of innovative medicines across three therapeutic areas: Oncology, Rare Disease, and Neuroscience. The company's product portfolio includes Onivyde® for pancreatic cancer, Bylvay® (odevixibat) for rare liver diseases, and Iqirvo® (elafibranor) for primary biliary cholangitis. Ipsen also previously commercialized Tazverik® (tazemetostat), an EZH2 inhibitor for epithelioid sarcoma and relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma, which was withdrawn from all markets in 2026 following safety concerns. The company leverages expertise in neurotoxins for neuroscience applications including treatments for spasticity and cervical dystonia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tazverik (tazemetostat)

Quantifiable outcome

• Tazverik generated €47 million in revenue before withdrawal and had peak sales potential of €500 million annually

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• EisaiminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 March 2026Eisai was a development partner for Tazverik in Japan, following Ipsen's decision to withdraw the drug globally. Eisai has followed suit with their own withdrawal of the product in the Japanese market.
• HUTCHMEDminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 March 2026HUTCHMED was the development and commercialization partner for Tazverik in China (including mainland, Hong Kong, and Macau). Following Ipsen's withdrawal, HUTCHMED coordinated with health authorities and halted all sales and use of the product in China regions.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights1 record

Direct peers

• Daiichi Sankyo: Japan-headquartered global pharma that developed and markets valemetostat (EZHARMIA), an EZH1/2 inhibitor for adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma. Daiichi is the most direct mechanistic peer because it also pursues EZH-targeted epigenetic therapy in hematologic oncology indications overlapping with Epizyme's franchise.
• Constellation Pharmaceuticals: Clinical-stage epigenetic therapy developer focused on tumor histone modification (BET, EZH2 and related targets) that was acquired by MorphoSys in 2021. Highly comparable to Epizyme because it pursued the same EZH2 mechanism in oncology and was itself consolidated in a similar pharma transaction.
• Forma Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech developing small molecules against oncology targets including epigenetic regulators. Comparable to Epizyme in stage, modality (small-molecule targeted oncology), and outcome (acquired by Novo Nordisk), making it a strong analog for trajectory.
• Syndax Pharmaceuticals: Oncology company developing epigenetic-based therapies including HDAC and menin inhibitors for hematologic malignancies. Comparable to Epizyme because it operates in the same epigenetic-modulator / hematologic-oncology intersection and goes after similar r/r lymphoma and AML populations.
• Kronos Bio: Clinical-stage oncology biotech developing small molecules targeting chromatin-mediated transcription dysregulation. Directly comparable mechanism family (epigenetic/chromatin regulation) and indication overlap (hematologic cancers), with similar small-molecule targeted-oncology positioning.
• Karyopharm Therapeutics: Oncology biotech developing small-molecule therapies that modulate gene-expression pathways (XPO1 inhibition) in hematologic malignancies. Comparable in modality, indication focus (r/r lymphoma/MDS), and stage profile (specialty oncology launched by a small-cap biotech).

Broad incumbents

• Mirati Therapeutics: Oncology-focused biotech (acquired by Bristol-Myers Squibb in 2024) developing targeted therapies including KRAS inhibitors. A broader but adjacent precision-oncology peer in the same small-molecule oncology competitive set, acquired by large pharma in a parallel value-recognition transaction.
• HUTCHMED: China- and US-listed oncology company that was Epizyme's development and commercialization partner for Tazverik in Greater China. Comparable because it operates in the same targeted-oncology space, with overlapping hematologic-oncology pipeline assets and similar deal-based US-Asia commercialization approach.
• Eisai: Japan-headquartered global pharma that was Epizyme's Japan development partner for Tazverik. Comparable as a specialty oncology pharma with established epigenetic and rare-disease interests and a regional partnership model similar to the one used for Tazverik.

Others

• Ipsen: French mid-sized global biopharmaceutical company that acquired Epizyme in 2021 and now owns the Tazverik asset and residual pipeline. Included as a peer because it is the strategic acquirer of the subject company and runs the company's assets post-acquisition.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ipsen
• Instagraminstagram.com/ipsengroup
• YouTubeyoutube.com/IpsenBiopharmaceutical
• Xx.com/epizymerx

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds15 records

Investors13 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 Epizyme