NOVATO (California), April 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE), — Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. NASDAQ: RARE, a biopharmaceutical firm that focuses on the development and commercialization novel products for severe rare and ultra-rare genetic disorders, today released its inaugural ESG Report. This report provides an overview on the Company’s ESG milestones. It also includes commitments and aspirations.
Ultragenyx’s founding principles have been to ensure that we are able to develop new treatments quickly, improve access to treatments, maintain a people-first culture, do the right thing for people living with rare diseases, stated Emil D. Kakkis (M.D., Ph.D.), Chief Executive Officer and President. This report is an evolution of our ESG journey and introduces our ESG strategy. We look forward to continuing to build on this foundation as our long-term goals are established and our commitments are made.
Ultragenyx developed a set a priorities and a strategic ESG framework in 2021. It was based upon five pillars: People, Communities and Planet. These are some of the key ESG commitments by Ultragenyx, as well as high-level 2021 highlights.
- Patients: We have a commitment to patients, including developing life-changing therapies for rare and extremely rare diseases and ensuring that the majority of people have access to our medicines.
- More than 380 patients have been approved in 43 countries for Ultragenyx treatment through various global expanded accessibility programs. There are currently more 400 active participants in 55 investigator sponsored clinical trials.
- We donated more than $2.2 million to 100 rare disease patient advocacy organizations in 18 countries in 2021 to help them reach their goals.
- People: We are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and safe environment that is both healthy and safe. We also want to be a company where employees feel valued and respected. Our commitments include fair and equitable compensation practices, which are transparent and free of bias.
- Our workforce is diverse with 58% of the global workforce being women and 43% of the leadership positions at the VP or above.
- We exceeded our goal to maintain an employee engagement score of above 85% in 2021 and maintained a voluntary turnover rate below 10%.
- Communities: We commit to building stronger and more healthy communities by being a thoughtful, responsible neighbor, providing employment, and supporting public healthcare and wellness.
- We donated $130,000 to 11 community-based organisations in 2021. In 2020-2021, we donated $330,000 to local businesses to help provide meals for first responders and at-risk groups during the pandemic.
- We increased the number volunteer days for employees who have medical licenses, certifications, and/or training. This will allow them to volunteer their services at local hospitals that require COVID-19 initial response efforts.
- Planet: We have committed to developing an environment strategy that recognizes and minimizes our impact on the planet’s health and maximizes our contribution to it.
- Our new Massachusetts gene therapy manufacturing facility, which is expected to open in 2023, was piloted by sustainable building design standards.
- We began purchasing 100% renewable electricity in 2021 for our Novato, California headquarters campus.
- Governance: We commit to maintaining strong corporate governance structures, both at the board and company leadership levels, and upholding high standards of ethics and professionalism.
- Under the leadership of our chief information officer, information security leader, and chief information officer, we consolidated information security as well as cyber resilience activities.
- 100% of full time employees received cybersecurity training by 2021.
The complete report can be accessed digitally on our website, www.ultragenyx.com, under Corporate Sustainability.
Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc.
Ultragenyx is an innovative biopharmaceutical company that focuses on bringing new therapies to patients suffering from rare and extremely rare genetic diseases. The company has developed a diverse portfolio containing approved medicines and treatment candidate that aims to treat diseases with high unmet biological need and clear biology. Often, there are no approved treatments for the underlying disease.
The company’s management team has extensive experience in rare disease therapeutics development and commercialization. Ultragenyx’s strategy focuses on time- and cost-efficient drug design, with the goal to deliver safe and effective treatments to patients in the shortest possible time.
Ultragenyx is available at www.ulternyx.com. For more information, visit the company’s site.
Forward-Looking Statements, Use of Digital Media
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our views on our future performance and are either aspirational statements or reflect our views. Forward-looking statements are identified by words such as aim and anticipate, believe, commit and endeavor, endeavor, estimate and expect, goal, intend and may, plan and seek, strive to, target, work or similar terms and variations. These forward-looking statements relate to the Company’s goals and expectations regarding corporate responsibility, sustainability products, patients, product candidates, employees and environmental matters. They also address business risks and opportunities. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results not to be as expected. These statements are based a variety of assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable. However they are susceptible to many uncertainties and business risks. These statements could also be based upon standards for measuring progress that are still being developed, controls and processes that continue evolving, and assumptions that may change in the future. Actual results could differ materially from those indicated in forward-looking statements. You can read the Ultragenyx Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), February 15, 2022, and the subsequent periodic reports filed with SEC, for a more detailed description of the risks and uncertainties that could lead to actual results being different from those stated in these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements do not promise or guarantee that goals and targets will be achieved. The Company disclaims any obligation to revise any forward-looking statements or other statements. This applies regardless of whether the information is updated by future events or new information. The Company can adjust any goals or targets, or create new ones, to reflect changes within our business. Ultragenyx’s investor relations website and social media outlets are used by the company to publish important information, including information that may prove to be of interest to investors, as well as its SEC filings and press releases. Ultragenyx’ investor website has financial and other information.https://ir.ultragenyx.com/) and LinkedIn website (https://www.linkedin.com/company/ultragenyx-pharmaceutical-inc-/).
Contacts
Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc.
Investors
Josh Higa
[email protected]
Media
Jeff Blake
[email protected]
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