ACADIA Pharmaceuticals and Vanderbilt University Announce Exclusive License Agreement and Research Collaboration
May 07 2020 - 4:05PM
Business Wire
- ACADIA acquires exclusive worldwide rights to
a novel therapeutic program targeting muscarinic M1 receptors
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: ACAD) and Vanderbilt
University today announced an exclusive worldwide license agreement
to develop and commercialize novel drug candidates targeting the
muscarinic M1 receptor with the potential to treat a range of
central nervous system (CNS) disorders. The collaboration will
focus on positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of the M1
receptor.
"ACADIA’s collaboration with Vanderbilt University and its
Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery (WCNDD), a leading
academic center focused on discovering new drug candidates,
complements our innovative late-stage pipeline," said Steve Davis,
ACADIA’s Chief Executive Officer. “While the study of muscarinic
modulators has been an area of high interest in the treatment of
CNS disorders, it has proved difficult to separate efficacy from
unwanted effects. WCNDD’s approach represents a compelling
opportunity for ACADIA to advance new potential therapies to treat
disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia.”
“We are thrilled to be collaborating with ACADIA to further
develop these novel compounds harnessing muscarinic receptors,”
said P. Jeffrey Conn, Ph.D., WCNDD director. “With ACADIA’s proven
development and commercialization capabilities in neuropsychiatric
disorders, in combination with WCNDD’s discovery expertise, we hope
to develop differentiated treatment modalities that could address
cognition and other neuropsychiatric symptoms that represent some
of the largest unmet needs in CNS disorders today.”
The WCNDD has been developing highly selective PAMs of the M1
subtype of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor, which may represent a
novel approach for improving cognitive function and other
neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients suffering from CNS disorders.
The agreement includes a lead compound currently in Phase 1
testing, as well as compounds currently in preclinical development
and compounds generated in an ongoing discovery program. Under the
terms of the License and Collaboration Agreement, Vanderbilt
University will receive $10 million upfront and is eligible for
potential milestone payments of up to $515 million and tiered
royalties.
About ACADIA Pharmaceuticals
ACADIA is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development
and commercialization of innovative medicines to address unmet
medical needs in central nervous system disorders. ACADIA has
developed and commercialized the first and only medicine approved
for the treatment of hallucinations and delusions associated with
Parkinson’s disease psychosis. ACADIA also has ongoing clinical
development efforts in additional areas with significant unmet
need, including dementia-related psychosis, the negative symptoms
of schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, and Rett syndrome.
This press release and further information about ACADIA can be
found at: www.acadia-pharm.com.
About the Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery at
Vanderbilt University
The Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery extends
traditional academic pursuits in basic science to take the most
exciting advances in our understanding of human disease and drug
targets to a point where these breakthroughs can directly impact
patient care. By incorporating the highest level of drug discovery
into academic research, the WCNDD propels scientific breakthroughs
beyond the lab and toward the development of patentable and
marketable drugs suited for clinical studies. The center is staffed
by dozens of scientists, most of whom bring industry experience to
this collaborative, academic setting. Since 2007, Vanderbilt
researchers have made significant progress in finding possible
treatments for multiple brain disorders, such as, schizophrenia,
major depressive disorder, autistic spectrum disorders, dystonia,
Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and post-traumatic stress
disorder. The university’s research has been funded publicly by the
National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute on Drug
Abuse and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and
Stroke and privately by a number of partners.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release that are not strictly
historical in nature are forward-looking statements. These
statements include but are not limited to statements regarding the
discovery, development and commercialization of any compounds from
the above described license agreement and research collaboration.
These statements are only predictions based on current information
and expectations and involve a number of risks and uncertainties.
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 development, approval and
commercialization, and the fact 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, 2019 as
well as ACADIA’s subsequent filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance
on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the
date hereof. 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 press release to reflect events or circumstances
after the date hereof, except as required by law.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200507005980/en/
Media Contact: ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. Stephanie Fagan (858)
212-0534 media@acadia-pharm.com
Vanderbilt University Damon Maida (615) 322-NEWS
Damon.maida@vanderbilt.edu
Investor Contact: ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. Mark Johnson, CFA
(858) 261-2771 ir@acadia-pharm.com
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