Here's Why Shares in Agios Pharmaceuticals Soared This Week (And What to Expect Next in 2026)May 2, 2026
Shares in Agios Pharmaceuticals(NASDAQ: AGIO) rose by 11.2% this week, putting the stock into positive territory for the year. The move comes after a well-received first-quarter earnings report that showed strong progress in Aqvesme's U.S. commercial launch. Management also provided an update on the progress of its pipeline, including mitapivat for sickle cell disease (SCD) and tebapivat for Lower-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) and SCD.
Agios has a busy 2026 ahead
The pharmaceutical company already has mitapivat approved to treat hemolytic anemia in adults with Pyruvate Kinase (PK) deficiency under the brand name Pyrukynd. It also has mitapivat, which was more recently approved in the U.S. to treat adult thalassemia under the brand name Aqvesme, and the addition of Aqvesme sales (the first quarter of full sales) helped sales grow to $20.7 million from just $8.7 million in the same quarter of 2025. Management expects "very strong demand" for Aqvesme in the coming quarters.
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Where next for Agios Pharmaceuticals
As readers already know, the company recently suffered a setback when a rival developer of a pyruvate kinase-R (PKR) activator, NovoNordisk, reported top-line results from a trial indicating that its drug, etavopivat, was superior to mitapivat in treating SCD. In a nutshell, etavopivat achieved both of its primary endpoints in SCD, but mitapivat failed to meet one of them: reducing the annualized rate of pain crisis events.
It's unclear what the market potential for mitapivat (SCD) will be. Still, management confirmed it was aligned with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) "on a path toward U.S. accelerated approval for mitapivat in sickle cell disease" with filing expected in the second quarter. Image source: Getty Images.
That said, investors probably have higher hopes for its next-generation PKR, tebapivat, which management confirmed will have Phase 2 top-line results available in MDS in the first half of 2026, and then SCD in the second half of 2026. All told, a good start for Aqvesme, progress on mitapivat approval in SCD, and the hope of some positive news on tebapivat make for an exciting year for the company.
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Here's Why Shares in Agios Pharmaceuticals Soared This Week (And What to Expect Next in 2026) was originally published by The Motley Fool
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AGIO Beats on Q1 Earnings & Sales, Stock Up 13% on New Drug MomentumApr 30, 2026
Agios Pharmaceuticals AGIO reported a loss of $1.69 per share for the first quarter of 2026, narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $1.81. In the year-ago quarter, the company had incurred a loss of $1.55 per share.
Total revenues for the first quarter of 2026 came in at $20.7 million, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $13.8 million. Revenues surged 138% year over year, primarily driven by the U.S. commercial launch of Aqvesme and continued strong growth in Pyrukynd sales.
The company’s lead drug, mitapivat, is marketed under two brand names in the United States — Pyrukynd and Aqvesme. While Pyrukynd is approved for the treatment of hemolytic anemia in adult patients with pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency, Aqvesme is approved to treat anemia in adults with alpha- or beta-thalassemia.
Aqvesme received approval in the United States in December 2025 and was subsequently launched in January following the implementation of its Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy program. Agios reported a strong initial uptake, with 242 prescriptions written as of March 2026.
Shares of AGIO rose 13% on Wednesday, likely due to the better-than-expected sales performance of its marketed products. Year to date, the stock has risen 3.1% against the industry’s 1.4% decline.Zacks Investment Research
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Outside the United States, mitapivat continues to be marketed as Pyrukynd for both PK deficiency and thalassemia indications. In March 2026, Pyrukynd received approval for thalassemia in the United Arab Emirates. Meanwhile, a marketing authorization application seeking label expansion for Pyrukynd in the thalassemia indication is currently under review in the EU.
AGIO's Q1 Earnings in Detail
The top line entirely comprises product revenues from Pyrukynd and Aqvesme. However, the company did not disclose separate sales figures for the two drugs.
Agios generated $18.8 million of product revenues from the sales of both drugs in the United States. The reported figure was up 116% year over year, driven by strong early momentum of the U.S. commercial launch of Aqvesme in thalassemia.
The company added $1.9 million from ex-U.S. territories, reflecting demand for Pyrukynd in the thalassemia indication across the Gulf Council Countries.
Research & development expenses increased by approximately 11.6% year over year to $81.1 million in the first quarter due to higher costs related to pipeline development.
Selling general and administrative expenses totaled $48.3 million, up 16.3% year over year, driven by higher stock compensation expense and expenses associated with the commercial launch of Aqvesme.
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As of March 31, 2026, cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $1.0 billion compared with $1.2 billion as of Dec. 31, 2025.
AGIO's Recent Pipeline Updates
Agios is also developing mitapivat for sickle cell disease (SCD).
Following mixed data from the phase III RISE UP study reported in November 2025, the company recently announced its intention to seek accelerated approval for mitapivat for the treatment of SCD, after a pre-supplemental new drug application (sNDA) meeting with the FDA. Based on discussions at the meeting, the regulatory authority asked Agios to submit a proposal for a confirmatory clinical study to support this pathway.
The company is closely engaged with the FDA to align on the requirements for the confirmatory study needed to support accelerated approval and expects to file the sNDA for mitapivat in SCD in the second quarter of 2026.
Agios is developing another candidate, tebapivat, a novel PK activator, for the treatment of lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (LR-MDS) and SCD in separate mid-stage studies. The company expects to report top-line data from the phase IIb study for LR-MDS in the first half of 2026. Top-line data from the SCD study is expected in the second half of 2026.
Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Quote
AGIO’s Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
AGIO currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the biotech sector are Castle Biosciences (CSTL), currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), and Indivior Pharmaceuticals INDV and Catalyst Pharmaceuticals CPRX, which carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Over the past 60 days, estimates for Castle Biosciences’ 2026 loss per share have narrowed from $1.42 to $1.40. Over the same period, loss per share estimates for 2027 have also narrowed from 79 cents to 78 cents. CSTL shares have lost 37.6% year to date.
Castle Biosciences’ earnings beat estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed in the remaining one, with the average surprise being 34.69%.
Over the past 60 days, estimates for Indivior Pharmaceuticals’ 2026 earnings per share have decreased from $3.01 to $3.00. Over the same period, EPS estimates for 2027 have plunged from $3.35 to $3.29. INDV shares have lost 4.8% year to date.
Indivior Pharmaceuticals’ earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 74.53%.
Over the past 60 days, estimates for Catalyst Pharmaceuticals’ 2026 earnings per share have risen from $2.82 to $2.87. Over the same period, EPS estimates for 2027 have surged from $3.20 to $3.25. CPRX shares have gained 21.1% year to date.
Catalyst Pharmaceuticals’ earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with the average surprise being 35.19%.
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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
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Agios Reports First Quarter 2026 Financial Results and Provides Business UpdateApr 29, 2026
Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Mitapivat (PYRUKYND® and AQVESME™) generated worldwide net revenues of $20.7 million in the first quarter of 2026, compared to $8.7 million in the first quarter of 2025 Strong initial U.S. commercial launch of AQVESME in thalassemia, with 242 prescriptions written as of March 31, 2026 Company plans to submit mitapivat sNDA for sickle cell disease in the second quarter of 2026 Pipeline advancing to multiple value-driving inflection points in 2026, including two Phase 2 readouts for next-generation PK activator tebapivat $1.0 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities as of March 31, 2026
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: AGIO), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on delivering innovative medicines for patients with rare diseases, today announced financial results and updates for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026.
“Our first-quarter performance reflects strong execution and significant progress against our 2026 strategic objectives,” said Brian Goff, Chief Executive Officer, Agios. “The solid early momentum of our U.S. commercial launch of AQVESME in thalassemia highlights both the medicine’s clinical value and strong community reception. Additionally, following collaborative engagement with the FDA, we now plan to submit our mitapivat sNDA for sickle cell disease under the U.S. accelerated approval pathway in the second quarter. 2026 marks an important growth inflection point for Agios as we continue to build a sustainable rare disease company that is rooted in hematology and focused on delivering differentiated medicines that create meaningful long-term value for patients and shareholders.”
First Quarter 2026 and Recent Corporate Highlights
Mitapivat (PYRUKYND® and AQVESME™) Commercial Performance and Update
$18.8 million in U.S. net revenue and $1.9 millionin ex-U.S. net revenue in the first quarter of 2026.
U.S. net revenue was driven by the U.S. commercial launch of AQVESME™ (mitapivat) in thalassemia in late January 2026. Ex-U.S. net revenue reflected demand for PYRUKYND® (mitapivat) in thalassemia in Saudi Arabia. 242 AQVESME prescriptions for thalassemia were written by Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS)-certified U.S. physicians as of March 31, 2026, driven by motivated prescribers and highly engaged patients.
R&D Highlights
Mitapivat
Thalassemia –
In March 2026, the Emirates Drug Establishment of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) approved PYRUKYND for the treatment of adult patients with non-transfusion-dependent and transfusion-dependent alpha- or beta-thalassemia. With this approval, PYRUKYND becomes the only medicine approved in the UAE for this broad patient population. Mitapivat is now approved for adults with thalassemia in the U.S., Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. A marketing application for mitapivat in thalassemia is currently under review by the European Commission.
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Sickle Cell Disease –
Agios confirmed plans to pursue U.S. accelerated approval for mitapivat in sickle cell disease, following completion of its pre-supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA’s accelerated approval pathway expedites the availability of medicines that can fill a medical need for a serious condition, with the requirement of a confirmatory clinical trial to convert to a traditional approval. The company now plans to submit an sNDA for mitapivat in sickle cell disease in the second quarter of 2026.
Tebapivat
Lower-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes (LR-MDS) –
Agios expects to report topline results from its Phase 2b trial in the first half of 2026. Based on findings from the Phase 2a trial, the Phase 2b open-label trial is evaluating three higher daily dose levels of tebapivat (10 mg, 15 mg, and 20 mg) over a 24-week period. The primary endpoint is the proportion of participants achieving transfusion independence, defined as being transfusion-free for at least 8 consecutive weeks during the 24-week period. Sickle Cell Disease –
Agios expects to report topline results from its Phase 2 trial in the second half of 2026. This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial is evaluating three daily dose levels of tebapivat (2.5 mg, 5 mg, and 7.5 mg) versus matched placebo over a 12-week period. The primary endpoint is hemoglobin response, defined as a ≥1.0 g/dL increase in average hemoglobin concentration from Week 10 through Week 12 compared with baseline.
First Quarter 2026 Financial Results
For the quarter ended March 31, 2026, net loss was $99.1 million, compared to net loss of $89.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2025.
Net product revenue from U.S. sales of mitapivat (PYRUKYND and AQVESME) for the first quarter of 2026 was $18.8 million, compared to $8.7 million for the first quarter of 2025. Net product revenue from ex-U.S. sales of mitapivat (PYRUKYND) for the first quarter of 2026 was $1.9 million. Cost of sales for the first quarter of 2026 was $1.3 million. Research and Development (R&D) Expenses were $81.1 million for the first quarter of 2026, compared to $72.7 million for the first quarter of 2025, due to workforce-related expenses supporting pipeline advancement efforts, as well as increased mitapivat process development expenses. Selling, General and Administrative (SG&A) Expenses were $48.3 million for the first quarter of 2026, compared to $41.5 million for the first quarter of 2025, due to an increase in activities to support the U.S. commercial launch of AQVESME in thalassemia, as well as an increase in stock compensation expense. Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $1.0 billion as of March 31, 2026, compared to $1.2 billion as of December 31, 2025. Agios expects that its cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, together with anticipated product revenue and interest income, will provide the financial independence to execute the U.S. commercial launch of AQVESME in thalassemia, prepare for the potential U.S. commercial launch of mitapivat in sickle cell disease, advance the company’s existing clinical programs, and opportunistically expand its pipeline through both internally- and externally-discovered assets.
First Quarter 2026 Conference Call Information
Agios will host a conference call and live webcast today at 8:00 a.m. ET to discuss the company’s first quarter 2026 financial results and recent business highlights. The live webcast will be accessible on the Investors section of the company's website (www.agios.com) under the “Events & Presentations” tab. A replay of the webcast will be available on the company’s website approximately two hours after the event.
About Agios: Fueled by Connections to Transform Rare Diseases™
At Agios, our vision is to redefine the future of rare disease treatment. Fueled by connections, we build trusted partnerships with communities – collaborating to develop and deliver innovative medicines that have the potential to transform lives. With a foundation in hematology, we combine biological expertise with real-world insights to advance a growing pipeline of rare disease medicines that reflect the priorities of the people we serve. Agios is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts. To learn more, visit www.agios.com and follow us on LinkedIn and X.
Available Information about Agios
To achieve broad dissemination, Agios may disclose information to the public through a variety of disclosure channels including press releases, SEC filings, and public conference calls and webcasts. Some of the information distributed through these disclosure channels may be considered material information. Investors and others should note that Agios plans to use its website (www.agios.com) as a distribution channel to announce and give notice of Agios’ upcoming events and presentations (including, but not limited to, presentations at medical or healthcare conferences). Such information, which may be deemed material, will be available on the Investors section of the company’s website under the “Events & Presentations” tab. In addition, you may sign up to automatically receive email alerts about Agios’ upcoming events and presentations (“Calendar Alerts”) by visiting the “Email Alerts” option under the “IR Resources” tab of the Investors section of the company’s website and submitting your email address.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include those regarding the potential benefits of PYRUKYND® (mitapivat), AQVESME™ (mitapivat), tebapivat, AG-236 and AG-181; Agios’ plans, strategies and expectations for its preclinical, clinical and commercial advancement of its drug development, including mitapivat, tebapivat, AG-236 and AG-181; Agios’ expectations for the review of marketing applications for mitapivat by regulatory agencies, including the FDA and European Commission; Agios’ strategic vision and goals; and the potential benefits of Agios’ strategic plans and focus. The words “anticipate,” “expect,” “goal,” “hope,” “milestone,” “plan,” “potential,” “possible,” “strategy,” “will,” “vision,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Such statements are subject to numerous important factors, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from Agios’ current expectations and beliefs. For example, there can be no guarantee that any product candidate Agios is developing will successfully commence or complete necessary preclinical and clinical development phases, or that development of any of Agios’ product candidates will successfully continue. There can be no guarantee that any positive developments in Agios’ business will result in stock price appreciation. Management's expectations and, therefore, any forward-looking statements in this press release could also be affected by risks and uncertainties relating to a number of other important factors, including, without limitation: risks and uncertainties related to the impact of pandemics or other public health emergencies to Agios’ business, operations, strategy, goals and anticipated milestones, including its ongoing and planned research activities, ability to conduct ongoing and planned clinical trials, clinical supply of current or future drug candidates, commercial supply of current or future approved products, and launching, marketing and selling current or future approved products; Agios’ results of clinical trials and preclinical studies, including subsequent analysis of existing data and new data received from ongoing and future studies; the content and timing of decisions made by the U.S. FDA, the EMA or other regulatory authorities, investigational review boards at clinical trial sites and publication review bodies; Agios’ ability to obtain and maintain requisite regulatory approvals and to enroll patients in its planned clinical trials; unplanned cash requirements and expenditures; competitive factors; Agios' ability to obtain, maintain and enforce patent and other intellectual property protection for any product candidates it is developing; Agios’ ability to establish and maintain key collaborations; uncertainty regarding any royalty payments related to the sale of its oncology business or any milestone or royalty payments related to its in-licensing of AG-236, and the uncertainty of the timing of any such payments; uncertainty of the results and effectiveness of the use of Agios’ cash and cash equivalents; and general economic and market conditions. These and other risks are described in greater detail under the caption "Risk Factors" included in Agios’ public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and Agios expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data (in thousands) (Unaudited) March 31, 2026 December 31, 2025 Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities $ 1,045,492 $ 1,164,438 Accounts receivable, net 16,132 10,577 Inventory 35,087 32,920 Total assets 1,184,990 1,297,225 Stockholders' equity 1,109,115 1,193,114
Consolidated Statements of Operations Data (in thousands, except share and per share data) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2026 2025 Revenues: Product revenue, net $ 20,746 $ 8,726 Total revenue 20,746 8,726 Operating expenses: Cost of sales $ 1,319 $ 1,085 Research and development 81,148 72,743 Selling, general and administrative 48,304 41,527 Total operating expenses 130,771 115,355 Loss from operations (110,025) (106,629) Interest income, net 10,795 16,087 Other income, net 119 1,253 Net loss $ (99,111) $ (89,289) Net loss per share - basic and diluted $ (1.69) $ (1.55) Weighted-average number of common shares used in computing net loss per share – basic and diluted 58,782,241 57,459,195
Contacts:
Investor Contact
Morgan Sanford, Vice President, Investor Relations
Agios Pharmaceuticals
morgan.sanford@agios.com
Media Contact
Eamonn Nolan, Senior Director, Corporate Communications
Agios Pharmaceuticals
eamonn.nolan@agios.com
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