United Therapeutics
A biotechnology company developing therapies for rare diseases, especially pulmonary hypertension, alongside technologies intended to expand the supply of transplantable organs.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
United Therapeutics Corporation is an American biotechnology company whose commercial business is centered on rare diseases, particularly pulmonary arterial hypertension and related pulmonary conditions. Its principal medicines include Remodulin, Tyvaso, Tyvaso DPI, Orenitram, and Unituxin; it also markets Adcirca under a licensing arrangement with Eli Lilly. The company sells products directly in the United States and Canada and uses distribution partners in other international markets. The company was founded in 1996 by Martine Rothblatt after Rothblatt’s daughter was diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension, then a fatal orphan disease. Rothblatt established the PPH Cure Foundation and redirected resources from an earlier communications and satellite career toward drug development and disease research. United Therapeutics’ first major commercial breakthrough was Remodulin, a treprostinil-based prostacyclin vasodilator approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2002 for pulmonary arterial hypertension. The medicine gave patients an alternative to Flolan and established the company as a specialist pulmonary-disease pharmaceutical business. United Therapeutics subsequently broadened its product portfolio through internal development, licensing, acquisitions, and new delivery systems. Tyvaso is an inhaled treprostinil product, while Tyvaso DPI delivers treprostinil through a dry-powder inhaler. Orenitram is an oral extended-release formulation of treprostinil. Tyvaso and Tyvaso DPI are also approved for pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease. The Remunity pump, cleared in 2020, provides continuous subcutaneous delivery of Remodulin through a wearable delivery system. Unituxin, approved in 2015, is a monoclonal antibody used as part of treatment for children with high-risk neuroblastoma. A second strategic pillar is organ transplantation and regenerative medicine. Through subsidiaries including Revivicor, Lung Biotechnology, Lung Bioengineering, Miromatrix Medical, and IVIVA Medical, United Therapeutics works on xenotransplantation, organ preservation, organ recellularization, and bioprinting. The objective is to reduce dependence on scarce donated human organs. Its research has included genetically modified pig organs, ex vivo lung perfusion, human-cell-based bioengineered organs, and autologous printed tissue. In 2022, a genetically modified pig heart supplied by Revivicor was transplanted into a living human recipient in collaboration with the University of Maryland Medical Center, marking a major clinical xenotransplantation milestone even though the recipient later died. United Therapeutics converted to a public benefit corporation in 2021. Its stated public-benefit purpose combines the development of novel pharmaceutical therapies with technologies that expand the availability of transplantable organs. The company operates co-headquarters in Maryland and North Carolina, with additional research, manufacturing, engineering, and biotechnology facilities in the United States and Canada. Its operating model combines a profitable specialty-pharmaceutical franchise with long-horizon organ-manufacturing programs intended to address structural shortages in transplantation.
History
United Therapeutics began in 1996 after Martine Rothblatt’s daughter was diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Rothblatt created the PPH Cure Foundation to support research into the disease and then built a biotechnology company around the development of therapies for underserved patients. The company’s early corporate history included acquisitions such as SynQuest in 1999 and Cooke Pharma in 2000. The pivotal early product was Remodulin, a treprostinil formulation that received FDA approval in 2002 for pulmonary arterial hypertension. It offered an alternative to Flolan and became the foundation of United Therapeutics’ commercial business. The company later expanded its pulmonary-hypertension portfolio with Tyvaso, an inhaled formulation, and Orenitram, an oral extended-release formulation. Adcirca, tadalafil for pulmonary arterial hypertension, was marketed under license from Eli Lilly. United Therapeutics continued to invest in different delivery technologies and additional indications. The Remunity pump was cleared in 2020 for continuous subcutaneous delivery of Remodulin. The company’s INCREASE study supported the 2021 approval of Tyvaso for pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease. In 2022, the FDA approved Tyvaso DPI, extending treprostinil treatment into a dry-powder inhaler format for both pulmonary arterial hypertension and PH-ILD. Unituxin, approved in 2015, gave the company a presence in pediatric oncology through its use in high-risk neuroblastoma. The company’s strategic direction changed significantly with its 2011 acquisition of Revivicor. Revivicor’s genetic-engineering capabilities helped United Therapeutics pursue xenotransplantation, including programs for kidneys, hearts, and lungs. Other collaborations and licensing relationships have involved organizations such as Eli Lilly, DEKA Research & Development, MannKind, and the National Cancer Institute. United Therapeutics also developed Lung Biotechnology and Lung Bioengineering to work on organ preservation and transplantation logistics. Research programs have included genetically modified pig organs, ex vivo perfusion of donor lungs, recellularized organs made with human cells, and bioprinted tissue scaffolds. In 2021, researchers associated with United Therapeutics participated in experimental kidney xenotransplantation studies in deceased human bodies. The same year, Unither Bioelectronics supported an early inter-hospital flight transporting lungs for transplantation. In January 2022, a Revivicor pig heart was transplanted into a living human recipient at the University of Maryland Medical Center. The recipient died in March 2022, but the procedure represented an important proof of concept for clinical xenotransplantation. United Therapeutics acquired IVIVA Medical in 2023 and completed its acquisition of Miromatrix Medical later that year. These transactions reinforced its interest in bioengineering and human-cell-based organ manufacturing. The company converted to a public benefit corporation in 2021, committing its charter to both pharmaceutical innovation and expansion of transplantable-organ availability. It maintains co-headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, and Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, with additional facilities in the United States and Quebec, Canada. Its subsidiaries include Revivicor, Lung Biotechnology, Lung Bioengineering, Miromatrix Medical, IVIVA Medical, and several international and Canadian operating entities.
- 2023
IVIVA and Miromatrix transactions
[1]United Therapeutics acquired IVIVA Medical and completed its acquisition of Miromatrix Medical.
- 2022
First Revivicor pig-heart transplant into a living human
[1]A genetically modified pig heart was transplanted into a human recipient in a University of Maryland collaboration.
- 2021
Public benefit corporation conversion
[1]Shareholders approved the company’s conversion into a public benefit corporation.
- 2020
Remunity system cleared
[1]The FDA cleared the Remunity pump for continuous subcutaneous delivery of Remodulin.
- 2015
Unituxin approved
[1]Unituxin received FDA approval for use in treating children with high-risk neuroblastoma.
- 2011
Revivicor acquired
[1]The acquisition brought genetic-engineering and xenotransplantation capabilities into United Therapeutics’ organ-supply strategy.
- 2002
Remodulin approved
[1]The FDA approved Remodulin for pulmonary arterial hypertension, establishing the company’s principal commercial franchise.
- 1996
United Therapeutics founded
[1]Martine Rothblatt founded the company to pursue treatments for pulmonary arterial hypertension and other rare diseases.
Products and positioning
A rare-disease biotechnology company combining established pulmonary-hypertension medicines with transformative organ-transplantation and regenerative-medicine technologies.
Pulmonary hypertension medicine · 2002
Remodulin
Remodulin is a treprostinil-based prostacyclin vasodilator for pulmonary arterial hypertension. It is delivered through infusion and became United Therapeutics’ foundational commercial product after FDA approval in 2002. The Remunity system later provided a wearable subcutaneous delivery option.
Inhaled pulmonary hypertension medicine · 2009
Tyvaso
Tyvaso is an inhaled treprostinil product used for pulmonary arterial hypertension and pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease. Its development and the INCREASE study expanded United Therapeutics’ reach beyond its original PAH indication.
Dry-powder inhaler medicine · 2022
Tyvaso DPI
Tyvaso DPI is a dry-powder inhaler formulation of treprostinil. Approved in 2022, it is indicated for pulmonary arterial hypertension and PH-ILD and offers an alternative administration format to nebulized Tyvaso.
Oral pulmonary hypertension medicine · 2013
Orenitram
Orenitram is an oral extended-release formulation of treprostinil for pulmonary arterial hypertension. It forms part of the company’s strategy to provide different routes of administration for prostacyclin-pathway therapy.
Oncology biologic · 2015
Unituxin
Unituxin is a monoclonal antibody approved in 2015 for use in children with high-risk neuroblastoma. It represents United Therapeutics’ non-pulmonary addition to its rare-disease portfolio.
Pulmonary hypertension medicine · 2009
Adcirca
Adcirca is tadalafil for pulmonary arterial hypertension, marketed by United Therapeutics under a licensing agreement with Eli Lilly and Company.
Regenerative medicine and transplantation technology
Organ manufacturing platforms
United Therapeutics develops xenotransplantation, ex vivo organ perfusion, recellularization, and bioprinting technologies through subsidiaries and research partners. The programs aim to create or preserve transplantable organs, including lungs, kidneys, and hearts.
Controversies
2020
United Therapeutics sues Liquidia over Tyvaso patents
United Therapeutics filed a lawsuit in a U.S. district court against Liquidia, alleging infringement of patents relating to its Tyvaso product. The suit followed Liquidia's application seeking FDA approval to market LIQ861; the source reports no court determination on the allegations.
Marketing campaigns
- 2021Public benefit corporation mission
United States
The company formalized a corporate-purpose campaign around developing medicines for patients with serious diseases and expanding the supply of transplantable organs.
Outcome. Shareholders approved conversion to a public benefit corporation.
- 2020Living wage and workplace responsibility program
United States
United Therapeutics established a minimum employee living-wage target and promoted employee ownership through long-term incentive programs.
Outcome. The initiative became part of the company’s broader corporate-responsibility program.
Brand decisions
2023
Acquire IVIVA Medical and Miromatrix MedicalM&ABackground
The company sought to strengthen bioengineering and human-cell-based organ manufacturing capabilities.
Action taken
United Therapeutics purchased IVIVA Medical and completed the acquisition of Miromatrix Medical.
Aftermath
The transactions expanded the company’s regenerative-medicine and bioengineered-organ platform.
2021
Convert to a public benefit corporationStrategyBackground
Management wanted the company’s legal structure to recognize objectives extending beyond shareholder returns.
Action taken
Shareholders approved a public benefit corporation structure whose stated purpose includes pharmaceutical development and expanding organ availability.
Aftermath
United Therapeutics continued operating as a public company while formally considering stakeholder and public-benefit objectives.
2011
Acquire RevivicorM&ABackground
United Therapeutics sought capabilities beyond conventional pharmaceuticals to address the shortage of transplantable organs.
Action taken
The company acquired Revivicor and began developing genetically engineered animal organs, including the xenokidney and xenoheart programs.
Aftermath
The transaction became the foundation of United Therapeutics’ xenotransplantation strategy and contributed to later experimental kidney and heart procedures.
Recent events
United Therapeutics appoints Linda Maxwell to its board[4]
Reported:
United Therapeutics announced Linda Maxwell's appointment as an independent director to its Board of Directors, effective September 10, 2020.
United Therapeutics sues Liquidia over Tyvaso patents[3]
Reported:
United Therapeutics filed a lawsuit in a U.S. district court against Liquidia, alleging infringement of patents relating to its Tyvaso product. The suit followed Liquidia's application seeking FDA approval to market LIQ861; the source reports no court determination on the allegations.
FDA clears United Therapeutics' Remunity system for pharmacy-filled use[5]
Reported:
United Therapeutics reported that the FDA cleared its Remunity system for pharmacy-filled use.
United Therapeutics announces planned Remunity system launch by July 2020[5]
Reported:
United Therapeutics said the Remunity system launch was expected by July 2020; the source reports this as a future plan, not a completed launch.
Sources5 sources
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