Synta Pharmaceuticals

What Synta Pharmaceuticals does

Synta Pharmaceuticals, founded in 2000 and originally based in Lexington, Massachusetts, was a biopharmaceutical company initially focused on developing small-molecule drugs for cancer and chronic inflammatory diseases. The company underwent a transformative strategic shift in 2016 when it acquired Madrigal Pharmaceuticals in a transaction valued at approximately $253.9 million. Following this acquisition, the combined entity refocused on metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and now operates as Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: MDGL), with the original SNTA ticker delisted. Rezdiffra (resmetirom), a thyroid hormone receptor beta (THR-beta)-selective agonist, is the company's sole commercial product and the first U.S. FDA-approved treatment for MASH, approved in 2024, with European Commission approval following in 2025.

The drug targets the underlying metabolic dysfunction in MASH, with the clinical goal of halting or reversing liver fibrosis before patients progress to cirrhosis, liver failure, liver cancer, transplant, or premature mortality. MASH is identified as the leading cause of liver transplantation in the U.S. for women and is expected to soon become the leading cause for men, indicating a substantial addressable population. The company has continued to expand its intellectual property position, announcing three new resmetirom patents in July 2026 to reinforce exclusivity around the molecule.

The business model is a traditional specialty pharmaceutical model. Rezdiffra is distributed through pharmacy channels following physician prescription, supplemented by the company's branded patient support program (Madrigal Patient Support) and a dedicated medical professional portal (madrigalmedical.com). The company operates in the United States and has expanded into five European markets (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom) via regional websites following EU approval. The firmographic data indicates 51-100 employees, which appears to reflect the legacy Synta entity rather than the current commercial Madrigal Pharmaceuticals organization. The company is publicly traded and engaged in active investor relations, with quarterly earnings calls and conference participation into 2026.

Name

Synta Pharmaceuticals

Legal name

Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Website

https://syntapharma.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Synta Pharmaceuticals acquired Madrigal Pharmaceuticals in 2016 and now operates as Madrigal Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: MDGL), a biopharmaceutical company commercializing Rezdiffra (resmetirom), the first FDA-approved treatment for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Pharmaceuticals — Liver Disease Therapeutics

NAICS

Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (32541)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Gastroenterology & Hepatology Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Endocrinology & Metabolic Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAD)

Keywords

• Small molecule drugs
• Liver disease therapeutics
• MASH treatment
• Biopharmaceutical research
• Thyroid receptor agonists

Headquarters

HQ city

Lexington

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 channels6 records

Core offering

Synta Pharmaceuticals (operating through its acquisition of Madrigal Pharmaceuticals) develops and commercializes Rezdiffra (resmetirom), the first U.S. FDA-approved treatment for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). The therapy is a thyroid hormone receptor beta-selective agonist small molecule designed to halt or reverse liver scarring (fibrosis) and resolve MASH before patients experience cirrhosis, liver failure, or transplant. The medicine has additionally received European Commission approval and is supported by a branded patient access program.

Product overview

Madrigal Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company offering a single focused product: Rezdiffra (resmetirom). This is the first U.S. FDA-approved treatment for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a serious liver disease. The company's research program achieved this breakthrough, and the European Commission has also granted approval for the medicine. The product targets patients at risk of progressive liver scarring, cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Rezdiffra (resmetirom) Rezdiffra (resmetirom) is the first and only FDA-approved treatment for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), designed to halt or reverse liver scarring (fibrosis) and resolve MASH before patients experience cirrhosis complications. It is a thyroid hormone receptor beta-selective agonist indicated for patients at risk of progressive liver scarring who have not yet experienced the devastating complications of cirrhosis. The European Commission has also granted approval of Rezdiffra for the European market.
• Madrigal Patient Support Madrigal Patient Support is the company's branded patient access and support program designed to assist patients prescribed Rezdiffra in accessing the medication through prescription pharmacy channels.

Quantifiable outcome

• First U.S. FDA-approved treatment for MASH
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Novo Nordisk: Novo Nordisk is advancing semaglutide in MASH/NASH and is a broad incumbent in metabolic disease with established infrastructure and large-scale commercial capabilities that could pressure Madrigal's first-mover position.
• Eli Lilly: Eli Lilly is running tirzepatide in MASH trials and operates broadly in metabolic and endocrine therapeutics, making it a key large-cap competitor whose MASH data could disrupt the category.
• Pfizer: Pfizer has been active in MASH R&D (e.g., ervogastat/clesacostat programs) and is a broad incumbent with metabolic and liver ambitions, making it a comparable large-cap player in the same therapeutic space.
• Gilead Sciences: Gilead has invested in MASH/NASH drug development (including earlier programs such as simtuzumab and cilofexor) and is a broad biopharmaceutical incumbent in liver disease with established hepatology commercial channels.
• Boehringer Ingelheim: Boehringer Ingelheim is developing survodutide (BI 456906) in partnership with Zealand Pharma for MASH, positioning it as a broad incumbent entering the same liver/metabolic indication with significant R&D and commercial resources.

Emerging players

• 89bio: 89bio is developing pegozafermin for MASH, another late-stage liver-directed therapy targeting the same patient population as Rezdiffra. It is a direct emerging competitor in the MASH therapeutic category.
• Akero Therapeutics: Akero is a clinical-stage biotech developing efruxifermin (an FGF21 analog) for MASH, directly competing with Madrigal in the same therapeutic indication with a different mechanism. It represents the next wave of MASH competition.
• Madrigal competitor — Viking Therapeutics: Viking Therapeutics is developing VK2809 and other candidates in metabolic/liver disease including MASH, representing an emerging clinical-stage player with overlapping therapeutic focus.
• Inventiva Pharma: Inventiva is developing lanifibranor, a pan-PPAR agonist for MASH/NASH, making it a direct emerging European competitor in the same liver-targeted indication.

Direct peers

• Intercept Pharmaceuticals: Intercept was the leading specialty pharma developing obeticholic acid for NASH/MASH, making it the most direct historical competitor to Madrigal in the same liver-targeted indication. Both companies pursued the same pioneer status in chronic liver disease therapeutics.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sphrmctcl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/synta-pharmaceuticals

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds8 records

Investors6 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 Synta Pharmaceuticals