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Intercept Pharmaceuticals is a technology company.
Intercept Pharmaceuticals develops novel medicines utilizing proprietary bile acid chemistry, focusing on the treatment of rare and chronic liver diseases. The company's scientific approach centers on the farnesoid X receptor (FXR), a nuclear receptor that regulates bile acid, lipid, and glucose metabolism, and inflammation. This targeted modulation enables the development of therapeutics for conditions with significant unmet medical needs.
The company was founded in 2002 by Mark Pruzanski and Roberto Pellicciari. Their initial insight stemmed from the potential of synthetic bile acid analogs to intervene in the complex pathology of liver conditions. Pruzanski, a physician and entrepreneur, brought leadership to translate this scientific understanding into a biopharmaceutical venture.
Intercept Pharmaceuticals serves patients afflicted with serious liver diseases, providing therapeutic options where few exist. The company’s long-term vision is dedicated to enhancing the health and quality of life for individuals battling these challenging conditions by continuing to innovate and expand their portfolio of targeted therapies.
Intercept Pharmaceuticals has raised $55.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Intercept Pharmaceuticals has raised $55.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Intercept Pharmaceuticals has raised $55.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Intercept Pharmaceuticals's investors include OrbiMed, Atlas Venture, Genextra, Lorenzo Tallarigo.
The premise of your query is incorrect: Intercept Pharmaceuticals is not a technology company—it is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapeutics for liver diseases.[1][2]
Intercept Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes novel medicines for rare and serious liver diseases.[3] The company specializes in small molecule drugs targeting chronic fibrotic and metabolic liver conditions, with its therapeutic approach centered on Farnesoid X Receptor (FXR) biology—a scientific platform the company has pioneered since its founding.[3] Intercept serves patients with conditions including primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis, and other progressive liver diseases with high unmet medical needs.[1][2] The company operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Italian pharmaceutical firm Alfasigma S.p.A. following an acquisition in 2023.[2][3]
Intercept Pharmaceuticals was incorporated in 2002 and went public on October 11, 2012.[1] The company was founded to pioneer a novel scientific platform addressing critical needs in liver health, focusing on the development of synthetic bile acid analogs and FXR agonists.[2][3] A pivotal moment came in 2016 when the FDA approved the company's lead product, Ocaliva (obeticholic acid, OCA), marking the first approval of an FXR agonist for primary biliary cholangitis.[2][4] However, the company faced significant setbacks, including an FDA rejection in 2020 for Ocaliva's NASH indication, after which the company voluntarily withdrew Ocaliva from the U.S. market effective November 14, 2025.[2][6]
Intercept operates within the rare disease and hepatology therapeutics sector, addressing conditions with significant unmet medical needs and limited treatment options. The company's focus on bile acid receptor modulation represents an important scientific approach to metabolic liver diseases, particularly as NASH and cirrhosis become increasingly prevalent globally. The timing of Intercept's acquisition by Alfasigma reflects broader industry consolidation, where larger pharmaceutical companies acquire specialized biotech firms to expand their rare disease portfolios and leverage their scientific expertise.
Intercept's trajectory has shifted significantly following the market withdrawal of its flagship product and its acquisition by Alfasigma. The company's future depends on advancing its pipeline candidates—particularly INT-787 for alcoholic hepatitis and INT-2228 for liver cirrhosis—through clinical development. As a subsidiary of a larger pharmaceutical entity, Intercept now benefits from greater resources and distribution networks, though it faces the challenge of rebuilding credibility after Ocaliva's commercial setbacks. The broader trend toward treating metabolic liver diseases positions the company's FXR-focused approach as potentially valuable, but success will hinge on demonstrating clinical efficacy and safety in upcoming trials.
Intercept Pharmaceuticals has raised $55.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $30.0M Series C in August 2012.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 1, 2012 | $30.0M Series C | OrbiMed | Atlas Venture, Genextra |
| Jan 25, 2010 | $25.0M Series B | Lorenzo Tallarigo |