Hyperion Therapeutics

About Hyperion Therapeutics

Hyperion Therapeutics, Inc. operated as a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical firm focused on developing and delivering treatments for orphan diseases. Founded in 2006 by individuals including Mark Blumling and Chris Rivera, the company centered its efforts on addressing unmet needs in the orphan and hepatic disease sectors. A significant milestone was achieved in February 2013 when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved its primary product, RAVICTI® (glycerol phenylbutyrate) Oral Liquid. This approval marked Hyperion's transition to a commercial-stage entity.

The company's business was concentrated on the market for urea cycle disorders (UCDs), a group of rare genetic conditions that cause dangerous ammonia accumulation in the blood. Hyperion's product portfolio included two key assets: RAVICTI and BUPHENYL® (sodium phenylbutyrate). RAVICTI, a liquid taken with meals, was developed to help the body dispose of ammonia and offered a more palatable alternative to the existing standard of care, BUPHENYL, thereby addressing patient compliance issues. The company marketed these products directly in the United States and through partners internationally, generating revenue from their sales. For the full year of 2014, combined net sales for RAVICTI and BUPHENYL were $113.6 million.

The firm's trajectory culminated in a major strategic transaction. In March 2015, Horizon Pharma plc announced its definitive agreement to acquire Hyperion Therapeutics. The deal, valued at approximately $1.1 billion, was finalized in May 2015. This acquisition integrated RAVICTI and BUPHENYL into Horizon's orphan disease business unit, expanding its portfolio and leveraging its existing infrastructure. Following the acquisition, Hyperion Therapeutics' common stock ceased trading and the company was delisted from NASDAQ.