Originally founded in Utah as Natural Products Sciences, that firm was based on work undertaken at University of Utah Medical School. Subsequently renamed NPS Pharmaceuticals, the firm operated as a commercial-stage rare disease-focused biopharmaceutical company, whose first product, GATTEX (teduglutide [rDNA origin]) for injection, was launched in the U.S. to treat adults with short bowel syndrome (SBS). A second product had been under review in the U.S. and Europe for the treatment for hypoparathyroidism (HPT). NPS Pharma was evaluating its lead pipeline candidate for the treatment of adults with autosomal dominant hypocalcemia. In January 2015, it was announced that Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPG) and NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: NPSP) had merged with Shire paying $4.9B. Previously, in September 1999 NPS had merged with Allelix Biopharmaceuticals of Toronto and had thereby lost SBIR eligibility. NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: NPSP) is a global biopharmaceutical company pioneering and delivering therapies that transform the lives of patients with rare diseases worldwide. The companys lead product, Gattex® (U.S.)/Revestive® (EU) 0.05 mg/kg/d (teduglutide [rDNA origin]) for injection for subcutaneous use is approved for the treatment of adult patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS) who are dependent on parenteral support. NPS is also developing Natpara® (rhPTH[1-84]) for the treatment of adult hypoparathyroidism and expects to submit its Biologic License Application (BLA) to the FDA in the second half of 2013. NPS's earlier stage pipeline includes NPSP795, a calcilytic compound with potential application in rare disorders involving increased calcium receptor activity, such as autosomal dominant hypocalcemia (ADH). NPS complements its proprietary programs with a royalty-based portfolio of products and product candidates that includes agreements with Amgen, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, and Kyowa HakkoKi
