Impact of FDA's Delay in Reviewing TransCon CNP at Ascendis Pharma (ASND) on Its Investment Narrative
FDA Extension Impact: Ascendis Pharma's TransCon CNP therapy for achondroplasia has had its FDA review date extended to February 28, 2026, which may affect the company's competitive position in the rare disease market.
Investment Outlook: The FDA's delay is not expected to significantly impact Ascendis Pharma's short-term investment outlook unless further regulatory issues arise, despite positive trial results supporting the therapy's efficacy.
Revenue Projections: Ascendis Pharma is projected to achieve €2.2 billion in revenue and €826.6 million in earnings by 2028, necessitating substantial annual growth, although regulatory delays could negatively affect share prices.
Diverse Valuation Estimates: Fair value estimates for Ascendis Pharma's stock vary widely among analysts, ranging from €193 to €738 per share, reflecting differing perspectives on the company's future performance amid ongoing regulatory challenges.
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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.









