Lumos Pharma
Lumos Pharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing LUM-201, an investigational once-daily oral growth hormone secretagogue for Pediatric Growth Hormone Deficiency (PGHD), currently in a multinational Phase 3 trial. The Austin, Texas-based company was acquired by Double Point Ventures in December 2024 and has no commercial revenue.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersAustin, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Lumos Pharma does
Lumos Pharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Austin, Texas (with an additional office in Ames, Iowa) developing therapeutics for rare diseases, with primary focus on LUM-201 (ibutamoren), an investigational once-daily, orally administered small-molecule growth hormone secretagogue that promotes endogenous pulsatile Growth Hormone secretion via agonism of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor. The lead indication is Pediatric Growth Hormone Deficiency (PGHD), a rare condition affecting approximately 1 in 3,500 children that causes growth retardation, short stature, and maturation delays; LUM-201 is positioned as an oral alternative to daily or weekly injectable recombinant human growth hormone. LUM-201 is licensed exclusively from Merck, has been studied in more than 1,300 patients (including 150+ children), met all primary and secondary endpoints in Phase 2 OraGrowtH210 and OraGrowtH212 trials, and is currently in a multinational Phase 3 efficacy and safety study (OraGrowtH, NCT06948214). The company pairs the drug with a proprietary Predictive Enrichment Marker (PEM) strategy — a two-test laboratory protocol — to identify patients likely to respond to therapy.
Lumos has no commercial revenue and no products on market; its business model is contingent on FDA approval of LUM-201, at which point it intends to commercialize through traditional pharmaceutical distribution channels targeting pediatric endocrinologists and healthcare providers, with a Compassionate Use / Expanded Access program already operating in the U.S. Beyond the lead program, the company carries a legacy ERVEBO Ebola vaccine co-developed with Merck and government agencies, and has expanded its pipeline via an exclusive worldwide license with Ellipses Pharma for nanoparticle formulations of two oncology therapeutics. In December 2024, the company was taken private via an acquisition by Double Point Ventures for $38 million, which installed its partners as Executive Chairman and Director; the executive team combines former NewLink Genetics operational leadership (legal, finance, quality, CMC) with deep pediatric endocrinology and GHSR discovery expertise (including the scientists who originally discovered and developed LUM-201 at Merck).
Lumos Pharma firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lumos Pharma
- Legal name
- Lumos Pharma, Inc.
- Website
- https://lumos-pharma.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Lumos Pharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing LUM-201, an investigational once-daily oral growth hormone secretagogue for Pediatric Growth Hormone Deficiency (PGHD), currently in a multinational Phase 3 trial. The Austin, Texas-based company was acquired by Double Point Ventures in December 2024 and has no commercial revenue.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lumos Pharma industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Rare Disease Therapeutics (Pediatric Endocrine)
- NAICS
- Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Rare Endocrine & Growth Disorder Therapies (HLAIAIAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Endocrinology & Metabolic Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAD), Specialty Care Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAB)
Keywords
Where Lumos Pharma is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Austin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Lumos Pharma business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- LUM-201 Commercialization (Future): As a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, Lumos Pharma currently has no revenue. The company is developing LUM-201 for Pediatric Growth Hormone Deficiency (PGHD). If approved by the FDA, LUM-201 would provide an alternative to daily or weekly injectable growth hormone treatments. The company plans to commercialize through traditional pharmaceutical distribution channels targeting pediatric endocrinologists and healthcare providers.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Lumos Pharma product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lumos Pharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing LUM-201 (ibutamoren), an investigational once-daily oral small molecule growth hormone secretagogue for the treatment of Pediatric Growth Hormone Deficiency (PGHD). LUM-201 is administered as a capsule containing minitablets and promotes endogenous pulsatile Growth Hormone secretion through GHSR agonism, offering an oral alternative to current daily or weekly injectable recombinant human growth hormone. The asset is being advanced under license from Merck & Co. and is currently in the Phase 3 OraGrowtH clinical program.
Product overview
Lumos Pharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing therapeutics for rare diseases. The company's lead product candidate is LUM-201, an oral growth hormone secretagogue for Pediatric Growth Hormone Deficiency (PGHD), currently in Phase 3 clinical trials (OraGrowtH program). LUM-201 is administered as a once-daily capsule containing minitablets. The company also maintains legacy products including the ERVEBO vaccine for Zaire ebolavirus, developed through a collaboration with Merck and government agencies. Through a partnership with Ellipses Pharma, Lumos is also developing nanoparticle formulations for oncology indications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- LUM-201 (ibutamoren) An investigational, once-daily, orally administered small molecule growth hormone secretagogue (also known as ibutamoren) being developed for the treatment of Pediatric Growth Hormone Deficiency (PGHD). LUM-201 promotes endogenous pulsatile Growth Hormone secretion from the pituitary gland through agonism of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor and is administered as a capsule containing minitablets. It has been studied in more than 1,300 patients across adult and pediatric populations and is paired with a proprietary Predictive Enrichment Marker (PEM) strategy to identify likely responders.
- ERVEBO (Ebola Zaire vaccine) A vaccine for the prevention of disease caused by Zaire ebolavirus, developed through a collaboration involving Lumos Pharma, Merck & Co., BARDA, DTRA, and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).
- Ellipses Pharma Oncology Nanoparticle Formulations (licensed) An exclusive worldwide licensed portfolio of nanoparticle formulations of two oncology therapeutics held under license from Ellipses Pharma Limited, expanding Lumos Pharma's pipeline beyond its core focus on growth hormone deficiency.
Quantifiable outcome
- Phase 2 OraGrowtH210 and OraGrowtH212 Trials met all primary and secondary endpoints
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Lumos Pharma
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Lumos Pharma technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Lumos Pharma partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Merck & Co.coreLumos Pharma's lead therapeutic candidate LUM-201 (ibutamoren), an oral growth hormone secretagogue, is being advanced under license from Merck & Co. Prior development on the compound, including initial manufacturing, preclinical and significant clinical studies, had been completed by Merck prior to licensing. Lumos Pharma also collaborated with Merck to develop ERVEBO vaccine for Ebola prevention.
- Ellipses Pharma LimitedminorExclusive worldwide license agreement with Ellipses Pharma Limited for the development of and rights to commercialize nanoparticle formulations of two therapeutics for oncology indications. This partnership expands Lumos Pharma's pipeline beyond its core focus on growth hormone deficiency.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Lumos Pharma competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Ferring Pharmaceuticals: Markets growth hormone products (e.g., Zomacton) and has a broader reproductive/endocrine portfolio; competes in the PGHD standard-of-care space.
- Ipsen: Specialty endocrine player marketing Increlex (mecasermin) for severe primary IGF-1 deficiency — a directly adjacent rare growth-disorder therapy used in pediatric endocrinology.
- Recordati Rare Diseases: Division of Recordati focused on rare and ultra-rare diseases including endocrine/metabolic disorders — representative of the strategic acquirer profile for late-stage rare-disease assets like LUM-201.
- Pfizer (Genotropin): Sells Genotropin, a leading recombinant human growth hormone for PGHD, plus a broad rare disease and endocrine portfolio; a direct commercial competitor and a likely strategic acquirer profile.
- Novo Nordisk: Markets Norditropin, the dominant daily injectable recombinant human growth hormone and current standard of care in PGHD — the entrenched incumbent whose market share LUM-201 would aim to disrupt.
Direct peers
- Ascendis Pharma: Develops TransCon hGH (lonapegsomatropin-tcgd, Skytrofa), a once-weekly long-acting injectable growth hormone for PGHD — the most directly competing late-stage alternative to Lumos's LUM-201 and a bellwether for the pediatric growth hormone market.
- Crinetics Pharmaceuticals: Specialty endocrine company developing paltusotine, an oral small-molecule growth hormone secretagogue (same GHSR mechanism as LUM-201) for acromegaly — directly comparable oral secretagogue platform with adjacent rare endocrine indication.
Others
- Merck & Co. Original developer of LUM-201 (ibutamoren) and licensor to Lumos Pharma; current commercial comparator via broader endocrine and vaccine portfolios (ERVEBO collaboration); a key historical participant and potential strategic partner.
Emerging players
- Antisense Therapeutics: Australia-based clinical-stage biotech developing atesidorsen and other therapies for growth disorders (acromegaly, growth failure) — overlapping rare endocrine patient population and pediatric endocrinology KOL network.
- Eton Pharmaceuticals: Small specialty pharmaceutical company focused on rare diseases and endocrine/metabolic conditions — comparable small-cap, rare-disease commercial model and GTM approach to pediatric specialists.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Lumos Pharma social profiles
Digital presenceLumos Pharma financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lumos Pharma leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles17 records
Lumos Pharma funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors5 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lumos Pharma M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Lumos Pharma
What does Lumos Pharma do?
Lumos Pharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing LUM-201 (ibutamoren), an investigational once-daily oral small molecule growth hormone secretagogue for the treatment of Pediatric Growth Hormone Deficiency (PGHD). LUM-201 is administered as a capsule containing minitablets and promotes endogenous pulsatile Growth Hormone secretion through GHSR agonism, offering an oral alternative to current daily or weekly injectable recombinant human growth hormone. The asset is being advanced under license from Merck & Co. and is currently in the Phase 3 OraGrowtH clinical program.
Is Lumos Pharma a public or private company?
Lumos Pharma is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Lumos Pharma founded?
Lumos Pharma was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Lumos Pharma based?
Lumos Pharma is headquartered in Austin, United States, in the North America region.
How does Lumos Pharma make money?
One revenue line is on record: LUM-201 Commercialization (Future).
Who are Lumos Pharma's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Ipsen, Recordati Rare Diseases, Pfizer (Genotropin) and Novo Nordisk. Direct peers are Ascendis Pharma and Crinetics Pharmaceuticals. Merck & Co. is listed as an others. Emerging players are Antisense Therapeutics and Eton Pharmaceuticals.
Does Lumos Pharma have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lumos Pharma.
What industry is Lumos Pharma in?
Lumos Pharma's product category is Rare Disease Therapeutics (Pediatric Endocrine). Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIAIAJ, Rare Endocrine & Growth Disorder Therapies, with a secondary code of HLAIACAD, Endocrinology & Metabolic Specialty Pharmaceuticals. Its NAICS code is 3254 and its SIC code is 2834.