Our corporate responsibility program
At Ultragenyx, our corporate responsibility strategy helps us identify, manage and communicate on topics relevant to our business and stakeholders and is structured around six key pillars:
- Innovation
- Patients
- People
- Communities
- Planet
- Governance
By focusing on these pillars, we strive to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those affected by rare and ultrarare diseases.
To learn more about our corporate responsibility priorities,download the Materiality Assessment
Our 2023 Corporate Responsibility Report
Our 2023 Corporate Responsibility Report is our third annual report and highlights our ongoing commitment to transparency.
The report details:
- Our innovative approach to drug development
- Efforts towards providing equitable access to our medicines and improved care for people impacted by the rare diseases we study
- Our commitment to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace culture
- Our philanthropic support for community initiatives
- Our efforts to reduce our environmental footprint
- Our emphasis on strong corporate governance and a culture of integrity
Our strategic pillars
Commitment
We are committed to delivering novel, disease-modifying treatments with speed and urgency to rare disease communities with limited or no treatment options.
Aspiration
To optimize and accelerate rare disease drug research and development, whether by us or others.
participants representing more than 100 organizations have attended our Rare Bootcamps since 2017.
clinical trial sites are in operation across 19 countries as of December 31, 2023.
distinct, pivotal late-stage programs
in osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), Angelman syndrome, Wilson disease, Sanfilippo syndrome type A (MPS IIIA), glycogen storage disease type l a (GSDla), and ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency
Commitment
We are committed to supporting the rare disease community through our efforts to develop novel therapies, share our science & expertise, achieve broad access to screening & treatment and partner with policy makers for meaningful change.
Aspiration
To achieve meaningful benefit for people living with rare disease by delivering on the promise of our science and our therapies.
patients in over 45 countries have been approved for access to Ultragenyx treatments through various global expanded access and patient assistance programs since 2013.
patients in more than 50 countries have received Ultragenyx treatments through commercial access or expanded use as of December 2023.
leadership and advisory councils
hosted by Ultragenyx to build relationships with advocates, caregivers and people living with rare disease as of 2023.
Commitment
We are committed to working to maintain a diverse, inclusive, safe and healthy environment. We are also committed to fair and equitable compensation practices that are transparent and free from bias.
Aspiration
To be an inclusive, sought-after company where employees come first and feel motivated to bring the best versions of themselves to work each day, knowing they are making a difference in the lives of the rare disease community.
of global employees are women as of December 2023.
employee engagement score in 2023.*
of our new U.S. hires self-reported as members of diverse populations.
*A subset of the employee engagement survey—focused on employee pride in our company, whether an employee would recommend Ultragenyx as a good place to work, whether an employee experiences a feeling of personal accomplishment from their work and the employee’s intent to remain with us—is used to calculate an employee engagement score.
Commitment
We are committed to supporting initiatives that provide meaningful impact for 1) the rare disease community, 2) public health and access to care, 3) STEAM education and 4) local, at-risk communities.
Aspiration
To make a positive impact in the communities where we operate and beyond.
in charitable donations, independent medical education and health-related grants across 21 countries in 2023.
of employees signed up to participate in our inaugural Days of Service campaign in 2023.
service projects around the world during our inaugural Days of Service in 2023.
Commitment
We are committed to developing an environmental strategy that minimizes our environmental footprint across our business.
Aspiration
To conduct business in an environmentally responsible manner and strive to continuously improve our performance to benefit our employees, customers, communities and the environment.
renewable electricity procured at our Novato, CA headquarters since 2021.
of our laboratory plastic waste diverted from landfill since 2022 through our Polycarbin partnership.
electric vehicle
charging ports
available for employee and community use by the end of 2023.
Commitment
The foundation of our purpose to lead the future of rare disease medicine is built upon our commitments to strong corporate governance, ethics and integrity, compliance, data protection & security and responsible procurement.
Aspiration
Through strong corporate governance and a culture of integrity, we seek to prevent significant issues before they occur and foster an environment where issues can be disclosed without the threat of retaliation.
of survey responders to the annual compliance culture survey stated that the annual compliance training is adequate for them to confidently execute their responsibilities.
attendance of board and committee meetings by our current directors in 2023.
of employees received IT-related training in 2023.
Resources
Awards and recognitions
The San Francisco Business Times named Ultragenyx the #3 Best Place to Work in the Bay Area among companies with 500-999 employees and #2 for Workplace Wellness.
The Boston Globe named Ultragenyx as a Top Places to Work in Massachusetts.
Global Health & Pharma named Ultragenyx the Best Leading Rare Disease Medicines & Therapies Company in the 2022 Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Awards.
Discover more about Ultragenyx:
Grants and contributions
Ultragenyx supports initiatives that provide impactful resources for the rare disease community.
View grants and charitable contributions