Quarterlytics / Healthcare / Biotechnology / ACADIA Pharmaceuticals / FY2014 Annual Report

ACADIA Pharmaceuticals
Annual Report 2014

ACAD · NASDAQ Healthcare
Claim this profile
Ticker ACAD
Exchange NASDAQ
Sector Healthcare
Industry Biotechnology
Employees 201-500
← All annual reports
FY2014 Annual Report · ACADIA Pharmaceuticals
Loading PDF…
ACADIA PHARMACEUTICALS 2014 ANNUAL REPORT  >

ABOUT US 

We are a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and 

commercialization of innovative medicines to address unmet medical needs in 

neurological and related central nervous system disorders. We have a pipeline of 

product candidates led by NUPLAZID™ (pimavanserin), which has successfully 

completed Phase III development and has the potential to be the first drug 

approved in the United States for Parkinson’s disease psychosis. We also are 

developing pimavanserin in additional areas with severe unmet medical needs, 
including Alzheimer’s disease psychosis and schizophrenia. 

Q&A STEPHEN R. DAVIS

INTERIM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

What is the biggest opportunity 

What is ACADIA’s strategic vision?

for ACADIA Pharmaceuticals?

At ACADIA, our strategy remains 

Our pipeline of product candidates is led by 

unchanged. Our vision is to become a 

NUPLAZID™ (pimavanserin), which offers a 

leading biopharmaceutical company 

new and distinctly different pharma­

dedicated to developing and 

cological approach to treating psychosis. 

commercializing innovative therapies for 

We believe this next­generation approach 

neurological and related central nervous 

holds the potential to dramatically change 

system (CNS) disorders. We are excited 

the way we think about treating psychosis 

about the opportunity to build a U.S. 

— offering relief without many of the 

specialty CNS franchise using pimavanserin 

compromises inherent in existing 

as the foundation. We see a broad 

therapies. We have completed our Phase III 

opportunity for pimavanserin to expand 

program to develop NUPLAZID for 

into a range of neurological and psychiatric 

Parkinson’s disease psychosis (PDP) and 

indications and the potential to transform 

expect to submit our New Drug 

Application (NDA) with the U.S. Food and 

Drug Administration (FDA) in the second 

half of 2015.

NUPLAZID has the potential to be the 

first drug approved in the United States for 

the treatment of psychosis associated with 

Parkinson’s disease. We also are developing 

pimavanserin for Alzheimer’s disease 

psychosis and schizophrenia — other areas 

with severe unmet medical needs. In 

addition, we have collaborative clinical­stage 

programs for chronic pain and glaucoma. 

the treatment paradigm in large 

For ACADIA, what are the most 

underserved disease states. 

important priorities going forward? 

Our highest priority is the planned 

What progress did ACADIA 

submission of our NUPLAZID NDA. To that 

make in 2014? 

end, we are focused on preparing the 

Last year we made important progress in 

organization for the submission and review 

advancing NUPLAZID toward registration. 

of the NDA and the planned U.S. launch of 

We successfully completed our drug­drug 

NUPLAZID. In addition, we continue 

interaction program and our stability 

expanding our medical and development 

program for registration batches and held 

capabilities to further leverage 

successful pre­NDA meetings with the FDA. 

pimavanserin and its lifecycle opportunities. 

We also continued to make significant 

strides in our commercial preparations for 

What are the next steps in the NDA 

the planned launch of NUPLAZID in the 

submission of NUPLAZID for PDP?

United States. 

Moving from a clinical­stage company to a 

In addition, the FDA designated 

commercial­stage company requires 

NUPLAZID as a Breakthrough Therapy, which 

building infrastructure to accommodate 

reinforces the serious unmet medical need 

commercial­scale operations. As we 

in PDP and the importance of our NUPLAZID 

announced in March 2015, additional time 

program. We are pleased NUPLAZID met the 

was needed to complete the preparation of 

criteria for the Breakthrough Therapy 

manufacturing quality systems to support 

designation, which the FDA created to 

commercial manufacturing and supply. We 

expedite the development and review of 

are focused on ensuring that we have 

drugs that are intended to treat serious or 

established, tested and evaluated the 

life­threatening conditions. 

appropriate manufacturing and supply 

BY THE NUMBERS

PARKINSON’S DISEASE PSYCHOSIS (PDP) 

40%

PDP afflicts about 40% of the 
1 million Parkinson’s patients 
in the United States.

70% 90%

Over 70% suffer comorbid 
sleep disturbances.

Almost 90% have caregiver 
support with 74% requiring 
daily care.

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE PSYCHOSIS (ADP)

25-50%

ADP afflicts about 25% to 50% of the 5.2 million 
Alzheimer’s disease patients in the United States.

Zero

Currently there is no drug approved 
by the FDA for ADP.

SCHIZOPHRENIA 

3 Million

There are approximately 3 million people in the 
United States suffering from schizophrenia.

74%

In a landmark government 
study, about 74% of patients 
with schizophrenia discontinued 
their medications because of 
lack of efficacy or intolerable 
side effects.

systems to prepare for FDA review and 

NUPLAZID, if approved. Our teams are 

commercial launch. 

energized by the potential of NUPLAZID to 

make a meaningful impact on the lives of 

How are you preparing for 

patients with PDP and their caregivers.

commercialization?

Over the last year, our commercial team has 

How do you plan to market 

focused on thoroughly understanding the 

NUPLAZID for PDP?

PDP market landscape and preparing the 

ACADIA owns the worldwide 

product, the market, and the organization 

commercialization rights to NUPLAZID. 

for commercial launch. We conducted 

In the United States, our senior commercial 

extensive market research with 

team has been building the commercial 

neurologists, psychiatrists and long­term 

organization and advancing our commercial 

care clinicians as well as PDP patients and 

readiness per plan. In connection with this 

their caregivers. We conducted scientific 

plan we expect to hire approximately 135 

advisory boards with leading movement 

sales representatives at or around the time 

disorder specialists and PDP­treating 

of approval. Our specialty sales force will 

physicians in order to gain insight regarding 

be dedicated to covering the estimated 

how to position NUPLAZID to best address 

11,000 PDP­treating physicians, with the 

the needs of patients, caregivers and 

largest segment being neurologists. 

physicians. We completed foundational 

In parallel with the advancement of 

access and reimbursement research with 

our PDP program in the United States, we 

key decision­makers for payors covering 

also have outlined the path to registration 

168 million lives. We also completed 

for NUPLAZID in Europe. During 2015, we 

important sales­force sizing assessments 

will be working on our Marketing 

and preparation of commercial 

Authorization Application (MAA) for 

infrastructure and systems for launch 

NUPLAZID for submission to the European 

remains on track. 

Medicines Agency (EMA) approximately six 

In January 2015 we launched a PDP 

to nine months following the submission 

disease awareness campaign in the 

of our NDA.

physician community and are conducting 

an extensive speaker training program to 

What is the impact of PDP? 

educate healthcare professionals on PDP. 

Parkinson’s disease affects about one 

We also continue to build out a medical 

million people in the United States and 

affairs organization of highly experienced 

between four to six million people globally 

professionals to support the introduction of 

and is the second most common 

PARKINSON’S DISEASE PSYCHOSIS (PDP)
LARGE UNMET NEED 

“Among Parkinson’s patients, psychosis causes great distress for 

patients and caregivers and is the leading cause of 

institutionalization. Neurologists have limited options to treat this 

serious disorder, and off-label use of current antipsychotics is linked 

to increased risk of death and serious adverse events,  

as well as loss of motor control.”

- Jeffrey Cummings, M.D., Sc.D. 
Director of Cleveland Clinic , Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health

“When we recently examined the topics that were most searched for 

on our National Parkinson Foundation’s website, we were not 

surprised to discover that treatment of psychosis, comprising 

hallucinations and delusions, topped the list.  There is a critical 

unmet need for development of better drugs to address psychosis in 

the setting of Parkinson’s disease.” 

- Michael S. Okun, M.D. 
National Medical Director, National Parkinson Foundation 

neurological disorder after Alzheimer’s 

The condition is often treated off label with 

disease. Research indicates that at any 

atypical antipsychotics, which can worsen 

point in time approximately 40 percent of 

the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and 

patients with Parkinson’s disease also 

carry a black box warning for use in elderly 

suffer from PDP and that over a lifetime, a 

patients with dementia­related psychosis 

majority of patients with Parkinson’s 

due to increased risk of mortality and 

disease eventually develop PDP.  PDP is a 

morbidity. Physicians treating patients 

debilitating disorder characterized by 

with PDP face a “dopamine dilemma,” 

hallucinations and delusions that worsens 

because drugs used to treat the psychosis 

over time and severely impacts daily living. 

can exacerbate the motor symptoms 

Research has shown that delusions often 

associated with Parkinson’s disease. 

involve suspicions of spousal infidelity or 

At ACADIA, we are developing 

other paranoid themes and are often 

NUPLAZID as a potential first­in­class 

disturbing and debilitating to patients. PDP 

treatment for PDP. Pimavanserin — a small 

substantially contributes to the burden of 

molecule that was discovered in our 

Parkinson’s disease and deeply affects a 

laboratories — has a unique mechanism of 

patient’s quality of life. PDP is also 

action as a selective serotonin inverse 

associated with increased caregiver distress 

and burden, nursing home placement, and 

agonist preferentially targeting 5­HT2A 
receptors. Outcomes from NUPLAZID’s 

increased mortality and morbidity. 

successful Phase III clinical trial, referred to 

as the ­020 Study, indicate that NUPLAZID 

What is the current treatment for PDP? 

has the potential to provide a safe and 

Currently, no drug is approved to treat PDP 

effective treatment of PDP without 

in the United States and the problem is 

compromising motor control or causing 

expected to grow as our population ages. 

daytime sedation.

OUR PIPELINE

COMPOUND/ 
PROGRAM   

INDICATION 

IND-TRACK 

PHASE I 

PHASE II 

PHASE III 

REGULATORY 
APPROVAL 

COMMERCIALIZATION 
RIGHTS

Parkinson’s Disease 
Psychosis

NUPLAZID™
(pimavanserin) 

Alzheimer’s Disease 
Psychosis

Schizophrenia

Adrenergic

Chronic Pain

Muscarinic

Glaucoma

ACADIA

Allergan

Allergan

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
What is the opportunity to 

develop pimavanserin for 

According to the Alzheimer’s 

Association, an estimated 5.2 million 

Alzheimer’s disease psychosis?

people in the United States have 

We believe pimavanserin has the potential 

Alzheimer’s disease. Studies have 

to establish a new paradigm in the way 

suggested that approximately 25 percent 

psychosis is treated and we plan to 

to 50 percent of Alzheimer’s patients may 

explore pimavanserin in multiple 

develop psychosis, commonly consisting 

indications. Currently, in addition to our 

of hallucinations and delusions. The 

plans to seek approval of pimavanserin in 

psychosis in Alzheimer’s patients is 

PDP, we are conducting a Phase II study of 

associated with even more rapid cognitive 

pimavanserin in Alzheimer’s disease 

and functional decline and increased 

psychosis (ADP) and expect to complete 

institutionalization relative to Alzheimer’s 

enrollment by the end of 2015. 

patients without psychosis.  

Like PDP, no drug is currently approved 

in the United States for the treatment of 

What other indications are currently 

ADP.  Atypical antipsychotics are frequently 

planned for the development of  

used off label to treat ADP despite the black 

pimavanserin?

box warnings of increased risk of 

We are planning a Phase II clinical study 

mortality and morbidity in this patient 

with pimavanserin as a mono­therapy 

population.  In addition, research 

treatment for the maintenance phase of 

indicates that the use of atypical 

schizophrenia — that is, the period of time 

antipsychotics in ADP patients worsens 

between acute psychotic episodes. We 

their cognitive deficits in a manner 

believe the pimavanserin profile may allow 

equivalent to approximately one year’s 

for an improved schizophrenia therapy 

disease progression.

resulting in better compliance and safety 

compared to existing antipsychotic drugs. 

our public offering of common stock and 

Schizophrenia is a debilitating lifelong 

closing the year with $322.5 million in cash 

disease afflicting approximately 1 percent of 

and cash equivalents. We believe our cash 

the population globally, and current 

runway positions us to continue making the 

therapies are suboptimal.

kinds of investments that we believe will 

We are also planning to initiate a 

leverage the full potential of pimavanserin. 

Phase II study to further explore the 

potential sleep benefits of pimavanserin in 

How can ACADIA help improve the lives 

Parkinson’s disease patients. In clinical 

of patients and caregivers?

studies we observed non­sedating sleep­

At ACADIA, we are developing innovative 

related benefits of pimavanserin, including 

therapies that can improve the lives of 

a significant improvement in both nighttime 

patients and the family members who care 

sleep and daytime wakefulness compared 

for them every day. This passion is what 

to placebo. Sleep disorders are a major and 

drives everything we do at ACADIA. I want to 

frequent problem for patients with 

acknowledge our team for their hard work, 

neurological disorders, and studies 

commitment and expertise. In the last year, 

suggest that nighttime sleep disturbances 

we have brought in highly qualified 

occur in around 70 percent of Parkinson’s 

individuals with extensive experience in 

disease patients. 

their functional domain and in CNS 

products. I look forward to updating you on 

What is ACADIA’s financial position? 

our progress as we build ACADIA into a 

We remain in a strong financial position to 

leading biopharmaceutical company with 

launch NUPLAZID for PDP and also to 

significant promise in the CNS area.

explore other areas where pimavanserin 

may have a profound impact in the 

treatment of other disorders. We 

strengthened our balance sheet in 2014, 

raising $197 million in net proceeds from 

Stephen R. Davis
Interim Chief Executive Officer
April 2015

Uli Hacksell, Ph.D.
After 16 years of service, Uli Hacksell, Ph.D. retired in March 2015. Under Uli’s leadership as 
CEO, ACADIA grew from a small startup to a fast-growing biopharmaceutical company with 
innovative drug candidates. We thank him for his contributions to the Company. His 
dedication, tenacity, deep knowledge of the CNS space, and life-long passion to deliver new 
drugs that can improve the lives of patients with CNS disorders have benefited ACADIA 
greatly. We wish Uli all the best in his retirement.  

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Stephen R. Davis
Interim Chief Executive Officer

Roger G. Mills, M.D. 
Executive Vice President, 
Development and Chief Medical Officer 

CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS 

3611 Valley Centre Drive, Suite 300 
San Diego, CA 92130 
Telephone: (858) 558-2871 
Fax: (858) 558-2872 
www.acadia-pharm.com 

COMMON STOCK LISTING

Ticker Symbol: ACAD, 
The NASDAQ Global Select Market  

ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING

ACADIA Pharmaceuticals’ Annual Stock-
holders’ Meeting will be held on Monday, 
June 15, 2015, at the offices of Cooley LLP, 
4401 Eastgate Mall, San Diego, CA 92121.

STOCK TRANSFER AGENT 
AND REGISTRAR

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.  
250 Royall St.  
Canton, MA 02021  
Telephone: (800) 851-3061  
www.computershare.com/us

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC 
ACCOUNTING FIRM

Ernst & Young LLP

STOCKHOLDERS’ INQUIRIES

Stockholders may obtain copies of our 
news releases, Securities and Exchange 
Commission filings, including Forms 
10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K, and other company 
information by accessing our website at 
www.acadia-pharm.com. Stockholders 
may also contact Investor Relations at 
(858) 558-2871.

Terrence O. Moore
Executive Vice President and 
Chief Commercial Officer

Glenn F. Baity
Executive Vice President, 
General Counsel and Secretary

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

Leslie L. Iversen, Ph.D. 
Chairman of the Board 
Professor of Pharmacology 
University of Oxford, England 

Stephen R. Biggar, M.D., Ph.D.
Partner 
Baker Brothers Investments

Michael T. Borer 
Former Chief Executive Officer and 
President, Xcel Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Laura A. Brege
Chief Executive Officer and President 
Nodality, Inc. 

Mary Ann Gray, Ph.D. 
President 
Gray Strategic Advisors, LLC 

Lester J. Kaplan, Ph.D. 
Former Executive Vice President 
and President, Research and 
Development, Allergan, Inc. 

Torsten Rasmussen 
Chief Executive Officer and President 
Morgan Management ApS

Daniel B. Soland
Former Senior Vice President and  
Chief Operating Officer, ViroPharma

William (Bill) M. Wells
Founder and Chairman, Evizone Limited 
Former Chief Executive Officer 
Biovail Corporation

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 

Statements in this report that are not strictly historical in nature are forward-look-
ing statements. These statements include but are not limited to statements related 
to the progress and timing of our drug development programs and related trials and 
regulatory filings, the utility, safety, efficacy and benefits of our product candidates, 
the future development and commercialization of pimavanserin in a variety of indica-
tions, potential approval of NUPLAZID™ (pimavanserin), opportunities and potential 
for pimavanserin, and future growth for ACADIA or its stockholders. These statements 
are only predictions representing ACADIA’s expectations and beliefs as of the date this 
report was prepared based on then-current information. Actual events or results may 
differ materially from those projected in any of such statements due to various factors, 
including the risks and uncertainties inherent in drug discovery, development and com-
mercialization, risks associated with regulatory review and approval, and the risk that 
past results of clinical trials may not be indicative of future trial results. For a discussion 
of these and other factors, please refer to ACADIA’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 
year ended December 31, 2014, as well as other subsequent filings with the Securities 
and Exchange Commission. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these 
forward-looking statements. This caution is made under the safe harbor provisions of 
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All forward-looking statements 
are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement and ACADIA undertakes no 
obligation to revise or update this report to reflect future events or circumstances after 
the date hereof, except as required by law.

ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
3611 Valley Centre Drive, Suite 300  
San Diego, CA 92130
www.acadia-pharm.com