Company Description
Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: AGIO) is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on delivering medicines for patients with rare diseases. With a foundation in hematology and cellular metabolism, the company concentrates on rare blood disorders and related conditions. Agios is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts and its common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol AGIO.
According to the company’s public statements, Agios is "focused on delivering innovative medicines for patients with rare diseases" and aims to "redefine the future of rare disease treatment" by building partnerships with patient communities, caregivers, advocates, and physicians. This approach combines biological expertise with real-world insights to advance a growing pipeline of rare disease medicines that reflect the priorities of the people it serves.
Core therapeutic focus and products
Agios’ work is rooted in hematology and rare blood disorders. The company has developed mitapivat, an oral pyruvate kinase (PK) activator, as a central part of its rare disease portfolio. Mitapivat is marketed in the United States under the brand name PYRUKYND for the treatment of hemolytic anemia in adults with pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency. PYRUKYND is also approved for PK deficiency in adult patients in Europe and has received approval in Saudi Arabia for adult patients with non‑transfusion‑dependent and transfusion‑dependent alpha‑ or beta‑thalassemia.
In the United States, mitapivat is also marketed under the brand name AQVESME for the treatment of anemia in adults with alpha‑ or beta‑thalassemia. AQVESME is described as the only FDA‑approved medicine for anemia in both non‑transfusion‑dependent and transfusion‑dependent alpha‑ or beta‑thalassemia. Due to the risk of hepatocellular injury, AQVESME is available only through a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program called the AQVESME REMS.
PK activation franchise and rare disease pipeline
Agios highlights its PK activation franchise as a key pillar of its strategy in rare blood disorders. Mitapivat, as an oral PK activator, is being studied across multiple indications, including thalassemia, sickle cell disease, and PK deficiency, in adults and in pediatric populations. The company reports clinical data from Phase 3 trials such as ENERGIZE and ENERGIZE‑T in thalassemia and the RISE UP Phase 3 trial in sickle cell disease, which evaluate measures such as hemoglobin response, transfusion burden, hemolysis markers, and patient‑reported fatigue.
Beyond mitapivat, Agios describes a pipeline that includes:
- Tebapivat, characterized as a more potent, once‑daily oral PK activator in development for lower‑risk myelodysplastic syndromes (LR‑MDS) and sickle cell disease.
- AG‑236, a small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting TMPRSS6 being evaluated as a potential treatment for polycythemia vera (PV).
- AG‑181, a phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) stabilizer in development for phenylketonuria (PKU), including early‑stage trials in healthy volunteers and patients.
The company states that it is progressing early‑ and mid‑stage programs across multiple high‑value indications in hematologic and rare diseases, with the goal of becoming a sustainable and diversified rare disease company.
Clinical development and regulatory footprint
Agios reports extensive clinical development activity around mitapivat and related assets. In thalassemia, the ENERGIZE and ENERGIZE‑T Phase 3 trials in adults with non‑transfusion‑dependent and transfusion‑dependent alpha‑ or beta‑thalassemia met their primary and key secondary endpoints and supported regulatory approvals and positive opinions in multiple regions. In sickle cell disease, the RISE UP Phase 3 trial in patients aged 16 years or older met the primary endpoint of hemoglobin response and key secondary endpoints related to hemoglobin concentration and indirect bilirubin, while showing a trend, but not statistical significance, in reducing sickle cell pain crises.
Regulatory interactions described by the company include U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approvals for AQVESME in thalassemia and PYRUKYND in PK deficiency, a positive opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for PYRUKYND in thalassemia, and approvals or ongoing reviews in regions such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Agios also notes the implementation of REMS requirements for AQVESME in the U.S. to address hepatocellular injury risk.
Commercial-stage operations
Agios describes itself as a commercial‑stage biopharmaceutical company with an "existing commercial presence in thalassemia and PK deficiency." The company reports net product revenue from PYRUKYND and discusses U.S. commercial launch activities for thalassemia indications, as well as partnerships for commercialization in other territories. For example, Agios entered into an exclusive agreement with Avanzanite Bioscience B.V. for commercialization and distribution of PYRUKYND across the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland, and works with NewBridge Pharmaceuticals on launch activities in Saudi Arabia.
In its public communications, Agios emphasizes disciplined capital allocation, operational efficiency, and a path to potential profitability supported by its rare disease portfolio. The company has also disclosed cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities balances in its financial updates, along with research and development and selling, general and administrative expenses related to advancing its pipeline and commercial launches.
Corporate governance and listing
Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is incorporated in Delaware and files reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under Commission File Number 001‑36014. The company’s common stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol AGIO. SEC filings describe matters such as stock incentive plan amendments, director elections, and non‑employee director compensation, as well as periodic financial results furnished via Form 8‑K.
Risk management and safety monitoring
Across its communications, Agios underscores its focus on patient safety and pharmacovigilance. The company describes processes to collect, assess, and submit safety information to regulatory authorities and has addressed external analyses of adverse event reports related to PYRUKYND. For AQVESME and PYRUKYND, the company highlights important safety information, including boxed warnings and precautions related to hepatocellular injury and acute hemolysis, recommended liver monitoring schedules, and guidance on drug interactions and hepatic impairment.
Position within pharmaceutical preparation manufacturing
Within the pharmaceutical preparation manufacturing industry, Agios is characterized by its concentration on rare diseases, particularly rare blood disorders. Its activities span discovery, clinical development, regulatory engagement, and commercialization of small‑molecule therapies such as mitapivat and other investigational agents. The company’s emphasis on hematology, PK activation, and partnerships with rare disease communities differentiates its focus within the broader manufacturing sector.