- CEO
- Ronald H. W. Cooper
- Full Time Employees
- 130
- Sector
- Healthcare
- Industry
- Biotechnology
- Address
- 10 Post Office Square Boston MA United States of America 02109
- IPO Date
- May 11, 2007
- Business
- Albireo Pharma, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and potential commercialization of novel bile acid modulators targeting rare liver and gastrointestinal diseases, particularly orphan pediatric liver disorders. The company’s main products include Bylvay (odevixibat), a once-daily oral ileal bile acid transport inhibitor (IBATi) approved in the U.S. and EU for the treatment of pruritus in progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) patients, and Elobixibat, another bile acid transporter inhibitor approved in Japan for chronic constipation. Albireo also has a pipeline of clinical-stage candidates including A3907, a systemic bile acid transport inhibitor in Phase II development for primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), and A2342, an oral NTCP inhibitor in Phase I trials targeting viral and cholestatic diseases. The company operates primarily in the United States, with key subsidiaries and operations in Gothenburg, Sweden, serving global markets.
Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Albireo was spun out from AstraZeneca and has since established itself as an innovator in bile acid modulation therapies. The company’s products and pipeline address significant unmet medical needs in rare pediatric liver diseases and associated gastrointestinal disorders.
A major recent development for Albireo Pharma is its acquisition by Ipsen, completed in mid-2024. Ipsen, a global biopharmaceutical company specializing in oncology, rare diseases, and neuroscience, acquired Albireo for approximately $952 million, significantly expanding its rare disease portfolio with Albireo’s bile acid modulators. This acquisition integrates Albireo’s marketed product Bylvay and its clinical-stage assets A3907 and A2342 into Ipsen’s pipeline, complementing Ipsen’s existing liver disease research and development efforts. The acquisition marks a strategic expansion for Ipsen into rare pediatric liver diseases with Albireo’s innovative therapies now supported by Ipsen’s global commercial and development resources. This transaction reflects Albireo’s transition from a standalone biotech to a critical component of Ipsen’s rare disease franchise, enhancing its global market reach and accelerating development programs.
Albireo’s product commercialization, research, and clinical development efforts focus on orphan liver conditions such as progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis, Alagille syndrome, and primary sclerosing cholangitis, targeting pediatric and adult patients with limited existing treatments. Its core therapeutic modality centers on bile acid transport modulation, providing unique pharmacological approaches to rare liver and gastrointestinal diseases.
Overall, Albireo Pharma, Inc. delivers innovative bile acid modulator therapeutics with approved products and a strong clinical pipeline while undergoing significant corporate transformation through integration into Ipsen’s global pharmaceutical operations, supporting expanded development and commercialization in rare disease markets worldwide. The company maintains headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts, with key operational presence in Europe through its subsidiary in Gothenburg, Sweden.