Ascendis Pharma Faces FDA Setback as TransCon CNP Decision Postponed to 2026
FDA Review Extension: The FDA has extended the review period for Ascendis Pharma's New Drug Application for TransCon CNP (navepegritide) for children with achondroplasia by three months, now targeting a decision by February 28, 2026.
Positive Trial Results: Recent results from the ApproaCH Trial indicate that TransCon CNP significantly improved annualized growth velocity and health-related quality of life in children with achondroplasia compared to placebo.
Additional Data on TransCon PTH: Ascendis Pharma also reported positive outcomes from a pooled analysis of TransCon PTH in adults with hypoparathyroidism, showing sustained improvements in renal function and a high percentage of patients achieving normocalcemia.
Stock Performance: Ascendis Pharma's stock has seen a slight increase, trading at $213.03, reflecting positive investor sentiment following the recent announcements.
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- Clinical Trial Results: BridgeBio Pharma's PROPEL 3 Phase 3 trial for oral infigratinib in children demonstrated a significant annualized height velocity increase, with an LS mean treatment difference of +1.74 cm/year compared to placebo, highlighting the drug's potential in treating achondroplasia.
- Statistical Significance: In a pre-specified exploratory analysis of children under 8, infigratinib showed statistical significance against placebo with an LS mean decrease of -0.05, marking a significant breakthrough in randomized trials for achondroplasia treatment.
- Regulatory Plans: BridgeBio intends to meet with regulatory authorities in the second half of 2026 to discuss plans for submitting a New Drug Application (NDA) and Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for infigratinib, reflecting the company's confidence in future market opportunities.
- Competitive Landscape: While BioMarin's Voxzogo is the first FDA-approved drug for achondroplasia, the positive results from BridgeBio's infigratinib clinical trials may shift the competitive dynamics and enhance the company's position in the rare disease market.
- 2025 Revenue Growth: Ascendis Pharma reported total revenue of €720 million for 2025, reflecting strong market demand with Yorvipath generating €187 million in Q4 and €477 million for the full year, establishing a solid foundation for future financial stability.
- Yorvipath Market Expansion: By the end of 2025, over 5,300 patients were treated with Yorvipath across nearly 2,400 healthcare providers, achieving a 70% insurance approval rate, which supports significant growth potential for 2026 and beyond, indicating a robust market opportunity.
- Skytrofa's Strong Performance: Skytrofa generated €206 million in revenue for 2025, capturing approximately 7% market share, with plans to expand its indications through clinical trials, further solidifying its position in the growth hormone deficiency market and driving long-term growth.
- Positive Future Outlook: Ascendis Pharma anticipates achieving an operating cash flow of around €500 million in 2026 and aims for at least €5 billion in annual product revenue by 2030, demonstrating confidence in its strategic planning and growth trajectory.
- Strong Earnings Report: Ascendis Pharma's FY GAAP EPS of €0.55 exceeds expectations by €4.67, indicating a significant improvement in profitability that may attract increased investor interest.
- Revenue Growth: The reported total revenue of €247.5M reflects robust performance in the market, further solidifying its position in the biopharmaceutical sector.
- Increased Acquisition Speculation: Following the earnings report, Ascendis Pharma's stock price rose amid heightened speculation regarding potential acquisitions, which could lead to more strategic partnership opportunities for the company.
- Positive Market Reaction: Investors reacted positively to Ascendis Pharma's financial performance, which is expected to drive the stock price higher in the short term, enhancing market confidence in its future growth prospects.
- 2025 Financial Performance: Ascendis Pharma reported product revenue of €240 million in Q4 2025 and €684 million for the full year, driven by continued growth of YORVIPATH, with an expected operating cash flow of €500 million in 2026, indicating strong market demand and profitability.
- R&D and Market Expansion: R&D expenses for 2025 were €304 million, slightly down from 2024, primarily due to completed clinical trials, while selling, general, and administrative expenses surged to €458 million, reflecting ongoing investments in global market expansion.
- Pipeline Progress: The FDA has initiated priority review for TransCon CNP, with a key decision expected on February 28, 2026, while TransCon PTH is commercially available in over 30 countries, further solidifying Ascendis' position in the global market.
- Future Outlook and Strategic Goals: Ascendis Pharma aims to achieve at least €5 billion in global annual product revenue by 2030, showcasing its ambition in the biopharma sector and driving long-term growth through continuous innovation and market expansion.
- Earnings Release Date: Ascendis Pharma (ASND) is set to announce its Q4 earnings on February 11 after market close, with a consensus EPS estimate of -$3.92, reflecting a staggering 712.5% year-over-year decline, indicating significant challenges in profitability.
- Revenue Growth Expectations: Despite the negative EPS outlook, the consensus revenue estimate stands at $290.25 million, representing a 66.9% year-over-year increase, suggesting potential sales growth that may attract investor interest.
- Historical Performance Review: Over the past year, Ascendis has only beaten EPS estimates 25% of the time while exceeding revenue estimates 75% of the time, indicating relative stability in revenue but a need for improvement in profitability.
- Estimate Revision Dynamics: In the last three months, EPS estimates have seen 3 upward revisions and 7 downward revisions, while revenue estimates experienced 3 upward and 6 downward revisions, reflecting market divergence and uncertainty regarding the company's future performance.
- FDA Drug Approval: On January 13, 2026, Sentynl Therapeutics' Zycubo received FDA approval as the first treatment for pediatric patients with Menkes disease, representing a significant breakthrough in the treatment of rare neurodegenerative disorders and is expected to enhance patient quality of life.
- Food Labeling Reform: On January 21, 2026, the U.S. regulator issued a Request for Information aimed at improving gluten ingredient disclosure in foods, particularly focusing on allergic reactions to rye and barley, which could drive significant changes in food industry labeling transparency.
- Future Review Outlook: As February 2026 approaches, several drugs are set for FDA review, with the industry eagerly anticipating the regulatory outcomes, as successful approvals could present substantial market opportunities for related biotech firms.
- Biotech Stock Focus: The FDA's review decisions will directly impact the performance of biotech stocks, prompting investors to closely monitor the upcoming review results to assess market dynamics and investment strategies.








