ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Announces Appointment of Damien McDevitt, Ph.D., as Senior Vice President, Corporate Development

SAN DIEGO—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Dec. 13, 2017—ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: ACAD), a biopharmaceutical companyfocused on the development and commercialization of innovative medicinesto address unmet medical needs in central nervous system (CNS)disorders, today announced that Damien McDevitt, Ph.D., has joinedACADIA as Senior Vice President, Corporate Development, leading thecompany’s corporate development activities. He will report to SteveDavis, ACADIA’s President and Chief Executive Officer.

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Damien McDevitt, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Corporate Development (Photo: Business Wire)

“We are thrilled to welcome Damien to the team,” said Steve Davis.“Damien has extensive experience in business development, licensing andstrategic partnering, and he has completed dozens of value-creatingtransactions. This expertise, combined with his strong strategic andtechnical background, will be of great value as we continue to explorethe potential for expanding our CNS portfolio.”

Dr. McDevitt joins ACADIA after more than two decades at GlaxoSmithKlineplc, where he was at the forefront of the R&D externalization effort,and involved in more than 70 global business development transactionsspanning a variety of therapeutic areas, including neuroscience. Mostrecently, he was Vice President, Head of Business Development for R&DExtended Therapy Areas, Head of Worldwide Business Development Asia, andhead of the company’s R&D West Coast Satellite. Prior to that, Dr.McDevitt held positions with increasing responsibility within WorldwideBusiness Development, GSK Ventures and Anti-Infectives Discovery. Dr.McDevitt attended Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, where he earnedhis Ph.D. and his undergraduate degree, both in Microbiology. He is anauthor of 70 scientific publications and published patents.

ACADIA also announced that Jim Nash, Senior Vice President, TechnologyDevelopment and Operations, will be retiring from the company as ofJanuary 2018. Bob Mischler, formerly Senior Vice President, Strategy andBusiness Development, will assume responsibilities for technologydevelopment and operations in addition to continuing his strategyresponsibilities in the new role of Senior Vice President, Strategy andTechnology Operations.

“We thank Jim for his significant contributions over the past severalyears,” said Mr. Davis. “Under his leadership, ACADIA expanded itsmanufacturing, pharmaceutical development and GMP quality assuranceoperations, all of which were critical to the approval andcommercialization of NUPLAZID. We wish Jim well in his retirement.”

About NUPLAZID^® (pimavanserin)
NUPLAZIDis the first and only FDA-approved treatment for hallucinations anddelusions associated with Parkinson’s disease psychosis (PD Psychosis).NUPLAZID is a non-dopaminergic, selective serotonin inverse agonistpreferentially targeting 5-HT_2A receptors that are thought toplay an important role in PD Psychosis. NUPLAZID is an oral medicinetaken once a day with a recommended dose of 34 mg (two 17-mg tablets).ACADIA discovered this new chemical entity and holds worldwide rights todevelop and commercialize NUPLAZID.

About ACADIA Pharmaceuticals
ACADIA is a biopharmaceuticalcompany focused on the development and commercialization of innovativemedicines to address unmet medical needs in central nervous systemdisorders. ACADIA maintains a website at www.acadia-pharm.comto which we regularly post copies of our press releases as well asadditional information and through which interested parties cansubscribe to receive e-mail alerts.

Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press releasethat are not strictly historical in nature are forward-lookingstatements. These statements include but are not limited to statementsrelated to the benefits to be derived from NUPLAZID (pimavanserin) andthe potential expansion of ACADIA’s CNS portfolio. These statements areonly predictions based on current information and expectations andinvolve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual events or resultsmay differ materially from those projected in any of such statements dueto various factors, including the risks and uncertainties inherent indrug discovery, development, approval, and commercialization, and thefact that past results of clinical trials may not be indicative offuture trial results. For a discussion of these and other factors,please refer to ACADIA’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year endedDecember 31, 2016 as well as ACADIA’s subsequent filings with theSecurities and Exchange Commission. You are cautioned not to place unduereliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of thedate hereof. This caution is made under the safe harbor provisions ofthe Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Allforward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by thiscautionary statement and ACADIA undertakes no obligation to revise orupdate this press release to reflect events or circumstances after thedate hereof, except as required by law.

Important Safety Information and Indication forNUPLAZID (pimavanserin) tablets
WARNING: INCREASEDMORTALITY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA-RELATED PSYCHOSIS
Elderlypatients with dementia-related psychosis treated with antipsychoticdrugs are at an increased risk of death. NUPLAZID is not approved forthe treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis unrelated tothe hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson’s diseasepsychosis.

NUPLAZID is an atypical antipsychotic indicated for the treatment ofhallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson’s diseasepsychosis.

Contraindication: NUPLAZID is contraindicated in patients with a historyof a hypersensitivity reaction to pimavanserin or any of its components.Rash, urticaria, and reactions consistent with angioedema (e.g., tongueswelling, circumoral edema, throat tightness, and dyspnea) have beenreported.

QT Interval Prolongation: NUPLAZID prolongs the QT interval. The use ofNUPLAZID should be avoided in patients with known QT prolongation or incombination with other drugs known to prolong QT interval includingClass 1A antiarrhythmics or Class 3 antiarrhythmics, certainantipsychotic medications, and certain antibiotics. NUPLAZID should alsobe avoided in patients with a history of cardiac arrhythmias, as well asother circumstances that may increase the risk of the occurrence oftorsade de pointes and/or sudden death, including symptomaticbradycardia, hypokalemia or hypomagnesemia, and presence of congenitalprolongation of the QT interval.

Adverse Reactions: The most common adverse reactions (≥2%for NUPLAZID and greater than placebo) were peripheral edema (7%vs 2%), nausea (7% vs 4%), confusional state (6% vs 3%), hallucination(5% vs 3%), constipation (4% vs 3%), and gait disturbance (2% vs <1%).

Drug Interactions: Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (eg, ketoconazole)increase NUPLAZID concentrations. Reduce the NUPLAZID dose by one-half.Strong CYP3A4 inducers may reduce NUPLAZID exposure, monitor for reducedefficacy. Increase in NUPLAZID dosage may be needed.

Renal Impairment: No dosage adjustment for NUPLAZID is needed inpatients with mild to moderate renal impairment. Use of NUPLAZID is notrecommended in patients with severe renal impairment.

Hepatic Impairment: Use of NUPLAZID is not recommended in patients withhepatic impairment. NUPLAZID has not been evaluated in this patientpopulation.

Pregnancy: Use of NUPLAZID in pregnant women has not been evaluated andshould therefore be used in pregnancy only if the potential benefitjustifies the potential risk to the mother and fetus.

Pediatric Use: Safety and efficacy have not been established inpediatric patients.

Dosage and Administration: Recommended dose: 34 mg per day, taken orallyas two 17-mg tablets once daily, without titration.

For additional Important Safety Information, including boxed warning,please see the full Prescribing Information for NUPLAZID at https://www.nuplazid.com/pdf/NUPLAZID_Prescribing_Information.pdf.

Source: ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.

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