What Strongbridge Biopharma does

Strongbridge Biopharma was a clinical and commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Dublin, Ireland (NASDAQ: SBBP), founded in 1996 and focused on rare diseases. The company developed and commercialized a portfolio of FDA-approved therapies: Gvoke (glucagon injection), the first FDA-approved autoinjector for severe hypoglycemia; Keveyis (dichlorphenamide), the first FDA-approved treatment for primary periodic paralysis; and Recorlev (levoketoconazole), a cortisol synthesis inhibitor for Cushing's syndrome. The underlying portfolio was built around proprietary formulation technology platforms (XeriSol and XeriJect) that enable ready-to-use, stable drug formulations across multiple therapeutic categories.

Strongbridge's business model was a specialty pharmaceutical commercial model targeting small patient populations through a focused sales force of 51-100 employees, with revenue derived from product sales of its orphan-disease drugs, supplemented by royalties and partnership economics from licensing arrangements. The company raised approximately $196.5 million across multiple equity and debt rounds between 2014 and 2020 from investors including HealthCap, Vivo Capital, CAM Capital, RA Capital Management, New Enterprise Associates, Boxer Capital, Broadfin Capital, CRG, Horizon Technology Finance, and Oxford Finance. In June 2015, Strongbridge expanded its commercial footprint through the acquisition of Aspire Pharmaceuticals for an undisclosed amount.

Strongbridge was acquired by Xeris Biopharma Holdings, Inc. in Fall 2021 and ceased standalone operations. The acquisition was effectively a strategic exit that integrated Strongbridge's rare-disease portfolio and infrastructure into Xeris's broader biopharmaceutical platform.

Name

Strongbridge Biopharma

Website

https://strongbridgebio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Strongbridge Biopharma was a Dublin-headquartered, NASDAQ-listed rare disease biopharmaceutical company (NASDAQ: SBBP) that developed and commercialized FDA-approved therapies for severe hypoglycemia, primary periodic paralysis, and Cushing's syndrome before being acquired by Xeris Biopharma in Fall 2021.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Pharmaceuticals / Rare 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)

Keywords

• Rare disease therapeutics
• Specialty pharmaceuticals
• Prescription drug development
• Endocrine disorder treatments
• Biopharmaceutical commercialization

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Core offering

Strongbridge Biopharma was a specialty biopharmaceutical company that developed and commercialized FDA-approved prescription drug treatments for rare diseases, with a focus on endocrine and neurological disorders. Its marketed portfolio included Keveyis (dichlorphenamide) for primary periodic paralysis and Recorlev (levoketoconazole) for endogenous hypercortisolemia in adult Cushing's syndrome patients. Following its 2021 acquisition by Xeris Biopharma Holdings, the products are now commercialized using the acquirer's XeriSol and XeriJect proprietary formulation technology platforms.

Product overview

Xeris Biopharma Holdings is a growth-oriented biopharmaceutical company with a diversified portfolio of three FDA-approved products. The portfolio consists of Gvoke (glucagon injection) for severe hypoglycemia, Keveyis (dichlorphenamide) for primary periodic paralysis, and Recorlev (levoketoconazole) for Cushing's syndrome. The company also maintains a product pipeline utilizing proprietary formulation technology platforms including XeriSol and XeriJect for developing ready-to-use solutions across various therapeutic categories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Keveyis (dichlorphenamide) Keveyis is a prescription drug treatment for primary periodic paralysis, indicated for patients with primary hyperkalemic periodic paralysis, primary hypokalemic periodic paralysis, and related variants. It is targeted at patients with rare neurological channelopathies who have limited FDA-approved therapeutic options.
• Recorlev (levoketoconazole) Recorlev is a cortisol synthesis inhibitor indicated for the treatment of endogenous hypercortisolemia in adult patients with Cushing's syndrome for whom surgery is not an option or has not been curative. It is intended for endocrinologists managing adult Cushing's syndrome patients who are not surgical candidates or whose surgery has not been curative.
• Gvoke (glucagon) injection Gvoke HypoPen is an antihypoglycemic glucagon injection indicated for subcutaneous use for the treatment of severe hypoglycemia in adult and pediatric patients aged two years and older with diabetes. It is intended for patients with diabetes at risk of severe hypoglycemic events and the healthcare providers who treat them.

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Xeris Biopharma HoldingsOthers · 1 January 2021Strongbridge Biopharma was acquired by Xeris Biopharma Holdings in Fall 2021. Brian Conner, who served as Chief Compliance Officer at Strongbridge Biopharma prior to the acquisition, joined Xeris as SVP, Quality and Chief Compliance and Risk Officer following the transaction.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BridgeBio Pharma: Clinical and commercial rare-disease biopharma developing therapies for genetic and endocrine diseases. Comparable as a rare-disease-focused biopharma with a pipeline-to-commercial model overlapping Strongbridge's approach.
• Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical: Commercial-stage rare-disease biopharma with multiple approved products for rare metabolic and endocrine disorders. Closely comparable business model to Strongbridge's rare-disease commercial approach.
• Clementia Pharmaceuticals: Clinical-stage rare-disease biopharma (acquired by Ipsen) developing a therapy for fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva. Comparable as a small rare-disease biopharma that exited via strategic acquisition.
• Xeris Biopharma Holdings: Acquirer of Strongbridge and developer of Gvoke, Keveyis, and Recorlev. Directly comparable as a rare-disease and specialty endocrine biopharma with a three-product commercial portfolio overlapping Strongbridge's Keveyis and Recorlev.
• Amryt Pharma: Specialty rare-disease biopharma focused on endocrine and metabolic rare conditions, acquired by Chiesi Farmaceutici. Comparable commercial model and rare-disease therapeutic focus to Strongbridge.

Broad incumbents

• Recordati Rare Diseases: Specialty pharma division of Recordati focused on rare metabolic and endocrine diseases. Comparable as a commercial rare-disease platform that markets approved therapies in small, underserved patient populations similar to Strongbridge's Cushing's and periodic paralysis franchises.
• BioMarin Pharmaceutical: Established rare-disease biopharma commercializing therapies for rare endocrine and metabolic conditions. Comparable as a scaled rare-disease commercial platform with first-in-class orphan drugs.
• Alexion Pharmaceuticals: Large rare-disease biopharma (acquired by AstraZeneca) commercializing therapies for rare conditions including endocrine and metabolic disorders. Comparable as a scaled rare-disease commercial operator with first-in-class orphan drugs.
• Novartis Rare Diseases: Major biopharma with a dedicated rare-disease franchise spanning endocrine and metabolic conditions. Comparable as a broad incumbent in rare-disease therapeutics with overlapping therapeutic areas.

Emerging players

• Crinetics Pharmaceuticals: Late-stage rare endocrine disease biopharma developing therapies for Cushing's syndrome and acromegaly, directly overlapping Recorlev's Cushing's indication. Comparable as an emerging competitor in Strongbridge's core therapeutic niche.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds7 records

Investors12 records

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Strongbridge Biopharma