SAN DIEGO, June 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ —ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.(Nasdaq: ACAD), a biopharmaceutical company utilizing innovative technology tofuel drug discovery and clinical development of novel treatments for centralnervous system disorders, today announced the appointment of Roger G. Mills,M.D., as Executive Vice President, Development, effective June 30, 2006. Dr.Mills will be responsible for leading ACADIA's global drug developmentactivities and will report to Uli Hacksell, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer.
"Roger Mills is an exceptionally skilled and experienced drug developmentexecutive and we are delighted to add a leader of his stature to our team,"said Dr. Hacksell. "Roger has a proven track record of leading successfuldrug development efforts in multiple therapeutic areas, most recentlyexemplified by his key roles in the development of Sutent(R) while at Pfizerand Tamiflu(R) during his tenure at Gilead. His extensive experience will bea major asset to ACADIA as we continue to advance our four proprietary PhaseII-stage clinical programs."
Dr. Mills brings to ACADIA more than 18 years of experience in thepharmaceutical industry. Most recently, he held the position of VicePresident, Development Pfizer Global R&D for a five-year period. In thiscapacity, he was responsible for the management and direction of drugdevelopment activities at the Pfizer site in La Jolla, California, and playeda key role in the development of Sutent, a new multikinase inhibitor forpatients with advanced renal cell carcinoma and gastrointestinal stromaltumors. Prior to joining Pfizer, Dr. Mills held senior clinical managementpositions at Gilead, where he served as project leader in the development ofTamiflu, a leading treatment for influenza, and at Abbott Laboratories, wherehe played an important role in the development of antiviral drugs. Earlier inhis career, he held several senior positions at the Wellcome Foundation,including Scientific Advisor for Group Marketing and Therapeutic Area Head,Cardiovascular. Dr. Mills received his medical degree at the Charing CrossHospital Medical School in London and his specialized medical training at theRoyal College of General Practitioners in London.
"I am delighted to join ACADIA, which has successfully generated apromising clinical pipeline and is at a particularly exciting stage ofdevelopment," said Dr. Mills. "ACADIA has the rare combination of a strongmanagement team coupled with a deep and rapidly maturing clinical pipelinethat may provide innovative approaches to the treatment of major unmet medicalneeds."
About ACADIA Pharmaceuticals
ACADIA is a biopharmaceutical company utilizing innovative technology tofuel drug discovery and clinical development of novel treatments for centralnervous system disorders. ACADIA currently has five Phase II-stage clinicalprograms as well as a portfolio of preclinical and discovery assets directedat large unmet medical needs, including schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease,sleep maintenance insomnia, and neuropathic pain. All of the drug candidatesin ACADIA's product pipeline emanate from discoveries made using itsproprietary drug discovery platform. ACADIA's corporate headquarters islocated in San Diego, California and it maintains research and developmentoperations in both San Diego and Malmo, Sweden.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical innature are forward-looking statements. These statements include but are notlimited to statements related to the advancements, benefits, and potential ofACADIA's programs and drug candidates. These statements are only predictionsbased on current information and expectations and involve a number of risksand uncertainties. Actual events or results may differ materially from thoseprojected in any of such statements due to various factors, including therisks and uncertainties inherent in drug discovery, development andcommercialization, collaborations with others, and litigation. For adiscussion of these and other factors, please refer to ACADIA's annual reporton Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 as well as other subsequentfilings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You are cautioned not toplace undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only asof the date hereof. This caution is made under the safe harbor provisions ofthe Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All forward-lookingstatements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement andACADIA undertakes no obligation to revise or update this press release toreflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.
Contacts:
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Lisa Barthelemy, Director, Investor Relations
Thomas H. Aasen, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(858) 558-2871