What Visen Pharmaceuticals does

Visen Pharmaceuticals (维昇药业, 2561.HK) is a Greater China-focused biopharmaceutical company founded in November 2018 by Ascendis Pharma A/S (Nasdaq: ASND) and Vivo Capital, with Sofinnova Ventures participating in the founding round. The company holds an exclusive license from Ascendis to develop and commercialize TransCon (Transient Conjugation) technology-based endocrine therapies across mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. Visen is headquartered in Suzhou with offices in Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, and Taipei, employs 51-100 staff, and listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange Main Board on March 21, 2025, following a $150 million Series B round in January 2021 led by Sequoia China Fund.

Visen operates a platform-plus-product model built on the TransCon technology, which temporarily connects carrier molecules with biologically active parent drugs through a cleavable linker, enabling programmable release of unmodified active drug with extended dosing intervals. The pipeline comprises three lead assets: lonapegsomatropin (TransCon hGH / 维臻高®), a once-weekly long-acting growth hormone that received NMPA approval in January 2026 for pediatric growth hormone deficiency (GHD); palopegteriparatide (TransCon PTH), a prodrug restoring 24-hour physiological PTH levels for adult hypoparathyroidism, with Hainan Boao early-access approval in September 2025; and navepegritide (TransCon CNP), a weekly C-type natriuretic peptide therapy in Phase 2 development for achondroplasia. Lonapegsomatropin is the only long-acting growth hormone proven superior to daily formulations in head-to-head Phase 3 trials (heiGHt and briGHt).

Visen's revenue model combines pharmaceutical product sales with licensing economics under the Ascendis arrangement. Commercialization in China is executed through a layered channel-partner architecture: Shanghai Pharmaceuticals for national import and distribution, Anke Bio for regional promotion of lonapegsomatropin, Unique Healthcare and Harmony Healthcare for non-public and premium medical channels, and WuXi Biologics for technology transfer and localized manufacturing at a Chengdu dual-chamber lyophilization production line capable of over 10 million vials annually. End customers are dispersed patient populations across pediatric endocrinology (GHD), adult endocrinology (hypoparathyroidism with an estimated 400,000+ addressable patients in China), and pediatric rare disease (achondroplasia with ~50,000 patients in China), reached via hospitals and specialty clinics. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, and the company remains in very early commercialization following the January 2026 lonapegsomatropin approval.

Name

Visen Pharmaceuticals

Legal name

维昇药业

Website

https://visenpharma.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Visen Pharmaceuticals (2561.HK) is a Greater China biopharmaceutical company commercializing endocrine therapies based on the TransCon drug delivery platform licensed from Ascendis Pharma, targeting pediatric growth hormone deficiency, adult hypoparathyroidism, and pediatric achondroplasia across mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Endocrine Pharmaceuticals

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Endocrinology & Metabolic Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Endocrinology & Reproductive Health Pharmaceuticals (incl. Women’s Health) (HLAIAAAJ), Rare Endocrine & Growth Disorder Therapies (HLAIAIAJ)

Keywords

• Endocrine therapeutics
• Growth hormone therapy
• Biopharmaceutical products
• Rare disease drugs
• TransCon technology platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Shanghai

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Pharmaceutical Product Sales: Visen Pharmaceuticals generates revenue through sales of innovative endocrine drugs in the Greater China market. The company's first commercial product, lonapegsomatropin (维臻高/维昇高), received NMPA approval in January 2026 and is being commercialized through partnerships with distributors and promotion companies.
2. Licensing and Royalty Income: Visen holds exclusive rights from Ascendis Pharma to develop and commercialize endocrine treatments in Greater China (mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan). Revenue is generated through product sales under these licensing arrangements.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Visen Pharmaceuticals develops and commercializes innovative endocrine therapeutics in the Greater China region under an exclusive license to Ascendis Pharma's TransCon technology platform. Its portfolio addresses growth hormone deficiency (GHD), hypoparathyroidism, and achondroplasia through long-acting prodrug formulations that enable weekly dosing instead of daily injections. The company's first commercial product, Lonapegsomatropin (维臻高®), received NMPA approval in January 2026.

Product overview

VISEN Pharmaceuticals (维昇药业) is an innovative biopharmaceutical company specializing in endocrine-related therapies. The company operates a platform-plus-products model, with its TransCon technology platform serving as the foundation for three core commercial and near-commercial products: 维臻高®/隆培生长激素 (Lonapegsomatropin) for growth hormone deficiency, 帕罗培特立帕肽 (Palopegteriparatide) for hypoparathyroidism, and 那韦培肽 (Navepegritide) for achondroplasia. The company focuses on adult endocrinology, pediatric endocrinology, and rare endocrine diseases, with products addressing growth hormone deficiency, hypoparathyroidism, and achondroplasia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 维臻高®: 注射用隆培生长激素品牌名称，用于治疗儿童生长激素缺乏症

Products and services

• TransCon Technology Platform (TransCon 技术平台) Proprietary drug delivery technology platform that temporarily connects carrier molecules with biologically active parent drugs via a unique linker structure, enabling controlled release of unmodified parent drugs at programmable rates. Supports systemic and local delivery for proteins, peptides, and small molecules. Licensed exclusively from Ascendis Pharma for the Greater China region.
• 维臻高® / Lonapegsomatropin (TransCon hGH, 注射用隆培生长激素) Long-acting growth hormone (LAGH) administered once weekly for treatment of pediatric growth hormone deficiency (GHD). Uses TransCon technology to release unmodified human growth hormone with natural 22kDa structure. The only long-acting growth hormone proven superior to daily formulations in head-to-head Phase 3 trials (heiGHt and briGHt); briGHt China Phase 3 showed 10.66 cm/year vs 9.75 cm/year annual height velocity at 52 weeks (p=0.0010). 6-month room temperature storage stability.
• Palopegteriparatide (帕罗培特立帕肽, TransCon PTH) TransCon PTH prodrug designed to restore physiological PTH levels throughout 24 hours for treatment of adult chronic hypoparathyroidism. First hormone replacement therapy for this indication, addressing all aspects of the disease including normalizing blood calcium, urinary calcium, and blood phosphorus levels. Approved in EU (November 2023), UK MHRA (June 2024), and US FDA (August 2024).
• Navepegritide (那韦培肽, TransCon CNP)

Quantifiable outcome

• Lonapegsomatropin achieved 10.66 cm/year vs 9.75 cm/year (daily comparator) annual height velocity at 52 weeks (p=0.0010) in China briGHt Phase 3 trial
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Unique Healthcare (卓正医疗)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 27 May 2026Strategic partnership for commercialization of lonapegsomatropin through non-public medical services. Unique Healthcare (2677.HK) provides standardized clinical application and full-cycle health services using their network of 20+ facilities and 400+ physicians.
• XtalPi (晶泰科技)majorTechnology or Integration · 5 February 2026Long-term strategic partnership for AI-powered drug discovery. XtalPi (2228.HK) provides AI and robot laboratory platform for early-stage R&D. Partnership valued at tens of millions of RMB, focusing on endocrine/metabolic therapeutic areas.
• Dongfu Long Technology Group (东富龙科技集团)coreTechnology or Integration · 6 November 2025Strategic partnership for dual-chamber lyophilization technology development. Dongfu Long (300171.SZ) is a leading pharmaceutical equipment provider, collaborating to build China's first commercial dual-chamber lyophilization production line.
• Lingang New Area Management Committee (临港新片区管委会)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 November 2025Industrial cooperation agreement signed at CIIE 2025. Partnership with Shanghai Free Trade Zone Lingang New Area for local production, customs clearance, and business development support.
• Lingang Group (临港集团物贸平台)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 November 2025Industrial collaboration for supply chain and logistics optimization, leveraging Lingang Group's port and bonded zone resources for import/export services.
• Anke Bio (安科生物)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 14 July 2025Strategic cooperation framework for commercialization of lonapegsomatropin. Anke Bio (300009.SZ) authorized for exclusive promotion in specific regions of China, leveraging their 30+ years of biotech experience and 20+ year sales team.
• Harmony Healthcare (和睦家医疗)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Strategic cooperation for market access and patient services in the premium healthcare segment in China.
• WuXi Biologics (药明生物)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 18 December 2023Technology transfer and localized production partnership. WuXi Biologics (2269.HK) handles commercial manufacturing technology transfer for lonapegsomatropin, including construction of China's first dual-chamber lyophilization production line at Chengdu site.
• Peking University Clinical Research Institute (北京大学临床研究所)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 December 2023Partnership for China's first large-scale hypoparathyroidism disease registry study (PaTHway R). Study enrolled 500+ patients across multiple centers to understand disease epidemiology and burden in China.
• Shanghai Pharmaceuticals (上海医药)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 November 2023Strategic partnership for innovative drug lifecycle services. Shanghai Pharmaceuticals' subsidiary Shangphar International provides bonded import, national distribution, supply chain optimization, and innovative value-added services for VISEN's commercialized products in mainland China.
• China Alliance for Rare Disease (中国罕见病联盟)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 September 2020Strategic cooperation for achondroplasia research and awareness. Supported ApproaCH epidemiological study covering 14 centers and ~500 patients. Renewed partnership in May 2025 expanding to broader pediatric growth and development field.
• Ascendis Pharma A/ScoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 7 November 2018Ascendis Pharma (Nasdaq: ASND) is the parent company and technology licensor. Founded in Denmark, Ascendis granted VISEN exclusive rights to develop and commercialize TransCon-based endocrine products in Greater China (mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan). VISEN was established in 2018 with Ascendis and Vivo Capital as founding investors.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BioMarin Pharmaceutical: BioMarin commercializes Voxzogo (vosoritide), the first FDA-approved CNP therapy for achondroplasia, and is the closest global competitor to Visen's navepegritide in achondroplasia. Both target the FGFR3 pathway with CNP analogues for the same rare skeletal dysplasia indication.
• Ascendis Pharma A/S: Ascendis Pharma is the originator and licensor of the TransCon technology platform used across Visen's entire pipeline. Both companies develop TransCon-based endocrine therapies (hGH, PTH, CNP) using the same prodrug conjugation technology, making them the closest direct peer despite different geographies.
• Anhui Anke Biotechnology Group: Anhui Anke is a leading Chinese pediatric growth hormone producer and is also Visen's regional promotion partner. Its established domestic GH franchise (安苏萌) creates direct overlap with lonapegsomatropin in hospital and clinic channels across China.
• GenScience Pharmaceutical (长春高新): GenScience is one of China's largest domestic pediatric growth hormone manufacturers (via subsidiary Changchun GenSci), directly competing with lonapegsomatropin in the pediatric GHD market. Both target the same Chinese pediatric endocrinology prescribers with daily and long-acting GH products.
• Ipsen: Ipsen has global rights to palopegteriparatide (TransCon PTH) for hypoparathyroidism outside Greater China and is currently launching the same molecule in EU/UK/US markets. Both Ipsen and Visen commercialize the identical Ascendis-licensed endocrine asset in their respective territories.

Broad incumbents

• Eli Lilly: Lilly markets Humatrope (somatropin) and has a broad endocrinology/metabolic portfolio. As a global incumbent in pediatric and adult endocrine disorders, Lilly is a relevant competitor across Visen's therapeutic areas.
• Novo Nordisk: Novo Nordisk markets Norditropin, a leading daily growth hormone with established global and China presence. Its broad endocrine and metabolic portfolio (including Sogroya, a competing long-acting GH) makes it a major incumbent across Visen's endocrinology indications.
• Pfizer (via Hospira/legacy): Pfizer commercializes Genotropin, one of the legacy global pediatric growth hormone brands. As a broad pharma incumbent with established Chinese commercial infrastructure, Pfizer represents an entrenched competitor in pediatric GHD.
• Takeda Pharmaceutical: Takeda commercializes Natpara/Natrel (parathyroid hormone), the legacy treatment for hypoparathyroidism in the US. As a broad rare disease and endocrine player, Takeda competes directly with Visen's palopegteriparatide in the hypoparathyroidism space.

Emerging players

• Theratechnologies: Theratechnologies is a specialty endocrine biopharma focused on growth hormone-releasing peptide therapies (tesamorelin) for HIV-related lipodystrophy and other endocrine conditions. It is comparable to Visen as a smaller, specialty-focused endocrine company with similar revenue scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors11 records

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Visen Pharmaceuticals