Diurnal

Diurnal, a UK-based specialty pharmaceutical company founded in 2004, develops hormone therapeutics for chronic and rare endocrine diseases. In November 2022, Diurnal was acquired by Neurocrine Biosciences, a US-based biopharmaceutical company, for approximately £48.3 million ($56.5 million). The acquisition was intended to leverage Neurocrine's resources to accelerate the development of Diurnal's portfolio and establish a commercial presence for Neurocrine in Europe.

The company focuses on creating products that mimic the body's natural circadian rhythms to address unmet needs in hormone replacement. Its business model centers on developing and commercializing treatments for conditions resulting from cortisol and testosterone deficiencies. Diurnal's approach involves using approved drug substances with modified delivery systems, which helps to de-risk and shorten the development process.

Diurnal has two key commercial-stage products. Alkindi® (marketed as Alkindi Sprinkle in the US) is an immediate-release hydrocortisone formulation specifically designed for pediatric patients with adrenal insufficiency (AI), including congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). It offers age-appropriate, taste-masked dosing for neonates, infants, and children. Efmody® is a modified-release hydrocortisone capsule for treating adolescents and adults with CAH. The company's pipeline has also included treatments for hypogonadism and hypothyroidism.

Keywords: specialty pharmaceutical, endocrinology, hormone therapeutics, rare diseases, adrenal insufficiency, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, circadian rhythm, hydrocortisone, cortisol deficiency, Neurocrine Biosciences, Alkindi, Efmody, pediatric endocrinology, hormone replacement therapy, orphan drugs, pharmaceutical development, CAH, AI, testosterone deficiency