New Data Demonstrate Less Increase in Serum Glucose Levels With Pimavanserin Co-Therapy
SAN DIEGO, Feb 05, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) —ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq:ACAD), a biopharmaceuticalcompany utilizing innovative technology to fuel drug discovery andclinical development of novel treatments for central nervous systemdisorders, today announced that Murray Rosenthal, D.O., a Fellow ofthe American Psychiatric Association, will present data from ACADIA'spimavanserin Phase II schizophrenia co-therapy trial at the 14thBiennial Winter Workshop on Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorders inMontreux, Switzerland on February 5, 2008. Dr. Rosenthal was one ofthe lead investigators in ACADIA's Phase II co-therapy clinical trialwith pimavanserin and has extensive experience conducting clinicalstudies for patients with schizophrenia.
In an oral presentation titled "Co-Therapy with Pimavanserin andRisperidone 2 mg Provides an Improved Clinical Profile," Dr. Rosenthalwill discuss data from the Phase II trial demonstrating severaladvantages of co-therapy with pimavanserin, which include an enhancedefficacy, a faster onset of antipsychotic action, and an improved sideeffect profile, including less weight gain. Dr. Rosenthal also willpresent new data from this study showing that patients in theco-therapy arm combining pimavanserin with risperidone (2 mg) hadsignificantly less increase from baseline in serum glucose levelsafter treatment compared to patients in the risperidone (6 mg) plusplacebo arm (p=0.024). Taken together, the reductions in weight gainand glucose increase seen after effective antipsychotic treatment withpimavanserin and a sub-maximal dose of risperidone suggest that thisco-therapy approach has the potential to reduce the metabolic problemscommonly associated with atypical antipsychotics.
About Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a chronic, debilitating mental illnesscharacterized by disturbances in thinking, emotional reaction, andbehavior. Approximately one percent of the population developsschizophrenia during their lifetime and more than two million peoplein the United States suffer from this disease. Disturbances inschizophrenia may include positive symptoms, such as hallucinationsand delusions, and a range of negative symptoms, including loss ofinterest, emotional withdrawal and cognitive disturbances.
About Pimavanserin
Pimavanserin is a novel, potent and selective 5-HT2A inverseagonist that ACADIA discovered and is developing as a co-therapy forpatients with schizophrenia. ACADIA announced positive results in 2007from its Phase II schizophrenia co-therapy trial, demonstratingseveral advantages of pimavanserin when combined with a sub-maximaldose of risperidone, including enhanced efficacy, a faster onset ofantipsychotic action, and an improved side-effect profile. ACADIA alsois in Phase III development with pimavanserin for the treatment ofParkinson's disease psychosis.
About ACADIA Pharmaceuticals
ACADIA is a biopharmaceutical company utilizing innovativetechnology to fuel drug discovery and clinical development of noveltreatments for central nervous system disorders. ACADIA currently hasfive mid-to-late stage clinical programs as well as a portfolio ofpreclinical and discovery assets directed at diseases with large unmetmedical needs, including schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease psychosis,sleep maintenance insomnia, and neuropathic pain. All of the drugcandidates in ACADIA's product pipeline emanate from discoveries madeusing its proprietary drug discovery platform. ACADIA's corporateheadquarters is located in San Diego, California and it maintainsresearch and development operations in both San Diego and Malmo,Sweden.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release that are not strictly historicalin nature are forward-looking statements. These statements include butare not limited to statements related to benefits to be derived fromACADIA's drug development programs, including the potential advantagesof the use of pimavanserin as a co-therapy for schizophrenia withrisperidone or other antipsychotics. These statements are onlypredictions based on current information and expectations and involvea number of risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results maydiffer materially from those projected in any of such statements dueto various factors, including the risks and uncertainties inherent inclinical trials, and drug development and commercialization, includingthe uncertainty of whether results in testing of pimavanserin to datewill be predictive of results in later stages of development. For adiscussion of these and other factors, please refer to ACADIA's annualreport on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 as well asother subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-lookingstatements, which speak only as of the date hereof. This caution ismade under the safe harbor provisions of the Private SecuritiesLitigation Reform Act of 1995. All forward-looking statements arequalified in their entirety by this cautionary statement and ACADIAundertakes no obligation to revise or update this press release toreflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Lisa Barthelemy, Director, Investor Relations
Uli Hacksell, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer
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