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ZS Pharma

Full company profile

uuid002ti5j

Namestring
ZS Pharma
Websiteurl
zspharma.com
Company typeenum
Private
Founded yearint
2008
Short descriptiontext

ZS Pharma was a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing proprietary ion trap therapies for hyperkalemia and liver diseases, founded in 2008 in Coppell, Texas, and acquired by AstraZeneca in 2015.

Ownership categoryenum
Headcount rangeband
51–100
akta.pro rankint
HeadquartersCoppell, United States
HQ citystring
Coppell
HQ countrystring
United States
HQ regionstring
North America
Markets served

Serves global market

Keyword5 values
specialty pharmaceuticals, ion trap therapy, hyperkalemia treatment, potassium binder, liver disease therapy
Industry3 codes
1Primary Care & General Medicine Pharmaceuticals
CodeHLAIAAAAPrimaryYes
2Endocrinology & Reproductive Health Pharmaceuticals (incl. Women’s Health)
CodeHLAIAAAJPrimaryNo
3Clinical Trial Pharmacy & IMP Management at Site
CodeHLAGACAKPrimaryNo
NAICS code2 codes
  • Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing3254
  • Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing325412
SIC code1 code
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations2834
Product category
Specialty Pharmaceuticals
Social media profiles1 record
Cost components5 values
Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
GTM typeB2B
B2B
Offering typeHardware or Manufacturing
Hardware or Manufacturing
Core offering1 text field

ZS Pharma develops ion-trap therapies for the treatment of life-threatening medical conditions such as hyperkalemia and liver diseases. Its lead candidate, ZS-9 (sodium zirconium cyclosilicate), is an oral, non-absorbed potassium-binding agent designed to selectively capture potassium ions in the gastrointestinal tract for patients with elevated serum potassium levels.

Differentiator
Functional benefit
Problem solved
Product and service1 record
1ZS-9 (sodium zirconium cyclosilicate)
CategorySpecialty Pharmaceuticals / Cardiovascular-Renal Therapeutics
No data
Peers10 records
1Galenica Group
TypeBroad incumbent
Description

Swiss specialty pharma group that acquired Relypsa and owns the global ex-US Veltassa rights, operating in nephrology and hospital-channel distribution directly comparable to the commercial infrastructure ZS Pharma would need.

2Chinook Therapeutics
TypeEmerging player
Description

Clinical-stage biotech focused on kidney diseases (IgA nephropathy and other CKD indications), targeting the same nephrology specialist prescribers ZS Pharma's franchise relies on and increasingly competing for hyperkalemia-adjacent patient share.

3Ardelyx
TypeDirect peer
Description

Late-stage clinical biotech developing gastrointestinal-based therapies, including tenapanor for hyperkalemia in CKD — a near-direct mechanistic and indication overlap with ZS Pharma's ion-trap approach. Comparable in size, stage, and orphan/specialty commercial strategy.

4Keryx Biopharmaceuticals
TypeDirect peer
Description

Marketed ferric citrate (Auryxia) for hyperkalemia in CKD and for iron-deficiency anemia in dialysis — overlapping patient population, nephrology specialty channel, and hyperkalemia indication with ZS Pharma's lead asset.

5AstraZeneca
TypeBroad incumbent
Description

Acquirer of ZS Pharma (delisted ZSPH from NASDAQ in 2015), AstraZeneca commercializes sodium zirconium cyclosilicate as Lokelma globally and is the strategic exit path that validated ZS Pharma's technology and economics.

6Akebia Therapeutics
TypeEmerging player
Description

Develops vadadustat and other therapies for anemia of CKD, selling into the same dialysis and nephrology channels targeted by hyperkalemia therapies; comparable in clinical-stage maturity and renal-focused commercial strategy.

7Relypsa
TypeDirect peer
Description

Developed patiromer (Veltassa), the most direct competing oral potassium binder for hyperkalemia, putting it head-to-head with ZS-9 in CKD, CHF, and RAAS-inhibitor populations. Relypsa was acquired by Galenica/Vifor in 2016, making it the closest parallel in indication, mechanism class, and exit path to ZS Pharma.

8Aurinia Pharmaceuticals
TypeEmerging player
Description

Specialty pharma developing voclosporin (Lupkynis) for lupus nephritis — overlapping nephrology specialty channel, CKD patient pool, and commercial infrastructure requirements with a hyperkalemia-focused launch.

9Vifor Pharma
TypeBroad incumbent
Description

Acquired Relypsa and commercializes Veltassa globally, making Vifor the principal commercial incumbent in hyperkalemia and the most direct competitor ZS-9 would face on launch. Vifor also operates broadly in nephrology and iron-deficiency, so it competes across ZS Pharma's specialty-pharma adjacency.

10AMAG Pharmaceuticals
TypeEmerging player
Description

Specialty pharma with a women's-health and renal-focused commercial footprint (e.g., Ferumoxytol/Venofer-adjacent franchises) overlapping the nephrology call-point and specialty distribution channels relevant to a hyperkalemia launch.

Market position
Customer concentration

Classification, Details

Ideal customer profile1 record

Each record includes

Profile, Firmographic size, Sales motion, Sales cycle length, Buying structure, Purchase trigger, Buyer persona, Geography, Industry vertical, Primary use case, Description, Pain points, Evidence proof points, Target buyer

Technology focused
No
API detail
Has APIbool
No

Docs URL, Description

AI maturity
App detail

Has app

Core technology
Revenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Number of profiles
Profiles4 records

Each record includes

Name, Designation, Designation category, Overview, Profile commentary, Source

No data
No data
Funding overview

Funding stage, Last funding date, Total funding USD

Funding rounds6 records

Each record includes

Round, Amount USD, Date, Pre money valuation, Total investors, Investors, News

Investors10 records

Each record includes

Name, Type, Date of entry, Rounds participated, Website

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

M&A

Each record includes

Name, Acquisition type, Announced date, Completed date, Status, Website, News

Investment

Each record includes

Name, Round, Announced date, Lead investor, Website, News

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

ZS Pharma

Specialty Pharmaceuticalszspharma.com

ZS Pharma was a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing proprietary ion trap therapies for hyperkalemia and liver diseases, founded in 2008 in Coppell, Texas, and acquired by AstraZeneca in 2015.

ZS Pharma firmographics

Firmographics
Name
ZS Pharma
Website
https://zspharma.com
Company type
Private
Founded year
2008
Headcount range
51–100 employees
Short description
ZS Pharma was a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing proprietary ion trap therapies for hyperkalemia and liver diseases, founded in 2008 in Coppell, Texas, and acquired by AstraZeneca in 2015.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

ZS Pharma industry classification

Industry
Product category
Specialty Pharmaceuticals
NAICS
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)
SIC
Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)
akta.pro primary industry
Primary Care & General Medicine Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAA)
akta.pro secondary industries
Endocrinology & Reproductive Health Pharmaceuticals (incl. Women’s Health) (HLAIAAAJ), Clinical Trial Pharmacy & IMP Management at Site (HLAGACAK)

Keywords

  • Specialty pharmaceuticals
  • Ion trap therapy
  • Hyperkalemia treatment
  • Potassium binder
  • Liver disease therapy

Where ZS Pharma is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city
Coppell
HQ country
United States
HQ region
North America

Markets served

ZS Pharma business model

Business model
GTM type
B2B
Offering type
Hardware or Manufacturing
Cost components
Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

ZS Pharma product offering

Product offering

Core offering

ZS Pharma develops ion-trap therapies for the treatment of life-threatening medical conditions such as hyperkalemia and liver diseases. Its lead candidate, ZS-9 (sodium zirconium cyclosilicate), is an oral, non-absorbed potassium-binding agent designed to selectively capture potassium ions in the gastrointestinal tract for patients with elevated serum potassium levels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

  • ZS-9 (sodium zirconium cyclosilicate)

Companies that use ZS Pharma

Customer profile

Ideal customer profiles1 record

ZS Pharma technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API
No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

ZS Pharma competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Broad incumbents

  • Galenica Group: Swiss specialty pharma group that acquired Relypsa and owns the global ex-US Veltassa rights, operating in nephrology and hospital-channel distribution directly comparable to the commercial infrastructure ZS Pharma would need.
  • AstraZeneca: Acquirer of ZS Pharma (delisted ZSPH from NASDAQ in 2015), AstraZeneca commercializes sodium zirconium cyclosilicate as Lokelma globally and is the strategic exit path that validated ZS Pharma's technology and economics.
  • Vifor Pharma: Acquired Relypsa and commercializes Veltassa globally, making Vifor the principal commercial incumbent in hyperkalemia and the most direct competitor ZS-9 would face on launch. Vifor also operates broadly in nephrology and iron-deficiency, so it competes across ZS Pharma's specialty-pharma adjacency.

Emerging players

  • Chinook Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biotech focused on kidney diseases (IgA nephropathy and other CKD indications), targeting the same nephrology specialist prescribers ZS Pharma's franchise relies on and increasingly competing for hyperkalemia-adjacent patient share.
  • Akebia Therapeutics: Develops vadadustat and other therapies for anemia of CKD, selling into the same dialysis and nephrology channels targeted by hyperkalemia therapies; comparable in clinical-stage maturity and renal-focused commercial strategy.
  • Aurinia Pharmaceuticals: Specialty pharma developing voclosporin (Lupkynis) for lupus nephritis — overlapping nephrology specialty channel, CKD patient pool, and commercial infrastructure requirements with a hyperkalemia-focused launch.
  • AMAG Pharmaceuticals: Specialty pharma with a women's-health and renal-focused commercial footprint (e.g., Ferumoxytol/Venofer-adjacent franchises) overlapping the nephrology call-point and specialty distribution channels relevant to a hyperkalemia launch.

Direct peers

  • Ardelyx: Late-stage clinical biotech developing gastrointestinal-based therapies, including tenapanor for hyperkalemia in CKD — a near-direct mechanistic and indication overlap with ZS Pharma's ion-trap approach. Comparable in size, stage, and orphan/specialty commercial strategy.
  • Keryx Biopharmaceuticals: Marketed ferric citrate (Auryxia) for hyperkalemia in CKD and for iron-deficiency anemia in dialysis — overlapping patient population, nephrology specialty channel, and hyperkalemia indication with ZS Pharma's lead asset.
  • Relypsa: Developed patiromer (Veltassa), the most direct competing oral potassium binder for hyperkalemia, putting it head-to-head with ZS-9 in CKD, CHF, and RAAS-inhibitor populations. Relypsa was acquired by Galenica/Vifor in 2016, making it the closest parallel in indication, mechanism class, and exit path to ZS Pharma.

Market position

Customer concentration

ZS Pharma social profiles

Digital presence

ZS Pharma financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

ZS Pharma leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

ZS Pharma funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors10 records

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

ZS Pharma M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about ZS Pharma

What does ZS Pharma do?

ZS Pharma develops ion-trap therapies for the treatment of life-threatening medical conditions such as hyperkalemia and liver diseases. Its lead candidate, ZS-9 (sodium zirconium cyclosilicate), is an oral, non-absorbed potassium-binding agent designed to selectively capture potassium ions in the gastrointestinal tract for patients with elevated serum potassium levels.

When was ZS Pharma founded?

ZS Pharma was founded in 2008. It employs 51 to 100 people.

Where is ZS Pharma based?

ZS Pharma is headquartered in Coppell, United States, in the North America region.

Who are ZS Pharma's main competitors?

Broad incumbents on record are Galenica Group, AstraZeneca and Vifor Pharma. Emerging players are Chinook Therapeutics, Akebia Therapeutics, Aurinia Pharmaceuticals and AMAG Pharmaceuticals. Direct peers are Ardelyx, Keryx Biopharmaceuticals and Relypsa.

Does ZS Pharma have an API?

No public API is recorded for ZS Pharma.

What industry is ZS Pharma in?

ZS Pharma's product category is Specialty Pharmaceuticals. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIAAAA, Primary Care & General Medicine Pharmaceuticals, with a secondary code of HLAIAAAJ, Endocrinology & Reproductive Health Pharmaceuticals (incl. Women’s Health). Its NAICS code is 3254 and its SIC code is 2834.

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Live signals
AstrazenecaFDA accepts for review New Drug Application for sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (ZS-9) for the treatment of hyperkalaemiaAstraZeneca announced on 18 October 2016 that the US FDA has accepted a complete re-submission of its New Drug Application for sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (ZS-9), an investigational drug for treating hyperkalaemia (high blood potassium levels), developed by its wholly-owned subsidiary ZS Pharma. The FDA classified this as a complete class 2 response, with regulatory decisions from health authorities in the EU and Australia expected in the first half of 2017. The drug has been studied across three double-blind, placebo-controlled trials and one ongoing 12-month open-label trial, collectively representing over 1,600 patients treated.GlobeNewswireASTRAZENECA COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF ZS PHARMAAstraZeneca completed its acquisition of ZS Pharma, accepting all validly tendered shares. The deal adds ZS-9, a potassium-binding compound for hyperkalaemia, to its cardiovascular and metabolic portfolio. ZS-9 is under FDA review with a goal date of 26 May 2016.AstrazenecaAstraZeneca completes acquisition of ZS PharmaAstraZeneca announced on 17 December 2015 the successful completion of its tender offer for ZS Pharma, making the biopharmaceutical company a wholly owned subsidiary following the expiration of the offer. Approximately 86.6% of ZS Pharma's outstanding shares were validly tendered at $90.00 per share in cash, representing a significant majority of the company's stock. The acquisition strengthens AstraZeneca's cardiovascular and metabolic disease portfolio with the addition of ZS-9 (sodium zirconium cyclosilicate), a potassium-binding treatment for hyperkalaemia currently under FDA review with a goal date of 26 May 2016.AstrazenecaAstraZeneca strengthens Cardiovascular and Metabolic disease portfolio with acquisition of ZS PharmaAstraZeneca announced on November 6, 2015 that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire ZS Pharma, a biopharmaceutical company based in San Mateo, California, for $90 per share in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $2.7 billion. The acquisition provides AstraZeneca access to ZS-9, a potential best-in-class treatment for hyperkalaemia currently under US FDA review with a goal date of May 26, 2016, with global peak year sales estimates exceeding $1 billion. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2015, contribute Product Sales from 2016, and become accretive to AstraZeneca's core earnings from 2018.GlobeNewswireASTRAZENECA STRENGTHENS CARDIOVASCULAR AND METABOLIC DISEASE PORTFOLIO WITH ACQUISITION OF ZS PHARMAAstraZeneca agreed to acquire ZS Pharma for $90 per share, an all-cash deal valued at about $2.7 billion. The acquisition gives access to ZS-9, a potassium-binding compound for hyperkalaemia, with estimated peak sales exceeding $1 billion. The deal is expected to close by end of 2015.GlobeNewswireZS Pharma Announces Publications in Peer-Reviewed Medical JournalsZS Pharma announced publications on its lead candidate ZS-9 for hyperkalemia in the NEJM and Kidney International. The NEJM letter reports that 45 patients with severe hyperkalemia achieved median potassium levels below 6.0 mmol/L within 1.07 hours and below 5.5 mmol/L within 4.0 hours. The company anticipates further investigation in emergency settings.GlobeNewswireZS Pharma Appoints Martin Babler to Board of DirectorsZS Pharma appointed Martin Babler, CEO of Principia Biopharma, to its board of directors. The move comes as ZS-9, the company's hyperkalemia drug candidate, nears NDA and MAA submission. Babler will provide strategic advice on global commercial initiatives.GlobeNewswireZS Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZSPH) to Ring The Nasdaq Stock Market Opening BellZS Pharma will ring the Nasdaq opening bell on Dec. 15, 2014, in Times Square. The company's lead candidate ZS-9 is in Phase 3 for hyperkalemia, and it plans to file an NDA in the first half of 2015. ZS Pharma completed its IPO in June at $18 per share.GlobeNewswireZS Pharma Announces Publication of Results From Phase 3 Study of ZS-9 in Patients With Hyperkalemia in the New England Journal of MedicineZS Pharma published results from its Phase 3 ZS003 study of ZS-9 in hyperkalemia in the New England Journal of Medicine. The 753-patient trial showed ZS-9 reduced serum potassium to normal levels within 48 hours and controlled it over 12 days. The company plans to file an NDA and MAA in the first half of 2015.GlobeNewswireZS Pharma Hosts and Webcasts Investor EventZS Pharma made available on its website a presentation from its R&D Review and Key Opinion Leader Panel, held on November 19, 2014 in New York. The company's lead candidate ZS-9, an investigational treatment for hyperkalemia, is in late-stage clinical trials. The webcast will be archived for 14 days.