ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Reports Promising Effects of Pimavanserin in Preclinical Model of Alzheimer’s Disease Psychosis

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ACAD), a biopharmaceutical company focused on innovative treatments that address unmet medical needs in neurological and related central nervous system disorders, today announced results of preclinical studies, which suggest that pimavanserin, ACADIAs proprietary product candidate currently in Phase III development for Parkinsons disease psychosis, also may have therapeutic benefits in the treatment of Alzheimers disease psychosis (ADP). Results of these studies were published in the scientific journal, Behavioural Pharmacology (Price et al., Pimavanserin, a 5-HT2A Receptor Inverse Agonist, Reverses Psychosis-like Behaviors in a Rodent Model of Alzheimers Disease, July 2012 e-pub).

ACADIA scientists reported results of experiments using mice that had received intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusion of an amyloid peptide fragment and developed Alzheimers disease-like pathology. These animals developed psychosis-like behaviors with enhanced responses to the psychostimulants DOI and amphetamine as well as disrupted prepulse inhibition. Treatment with pimavanserin prevented DOI-induced responses, reversed the augmented responses to amphetamine, and normalized prepulse inhibition in animals with amyloid pathology. These findings suggest that 5-HT2A antagonists/inverse agonists, such as pimavanserin, may be effective in the treatment of patients with ADP.

ADP represents a major unmet medical need with no proven safe and effective therapy, said Uli Hacksell, Ph.D., ACADIAs Chief Executive Officer. Physicians often resort to off-label use of antipsychotic medications in patients with ADP despite their association with increased mortality and potential worsening of cognitive disturbances. These new findings suggest that pimavanserin may be ideally suited to address the need for a new ADP treatment that is safe, effective and well tolerated.

About Alzheimers Disease Psychosis

Alzheimers disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive deterioration in cognitive functioning, memory abnormalities, and a host of behavioral and neuropsychiatric symptoms. According to the Alzheimers Association, 5.4 million people in the United States are living with Alzheimers disease. An estimated 25 to 50 percent of Alzheimers patients may develop Alzheimers disease psychosis (ADP), which commonly consists of disturbing visual hallucinations and delusions. ADP is associated with greater cognitive impairment, more rapid disease progression, lower quality of life, greater caregiver burden, and earlier institutionalization. Currently, there is no therapy approved to treat ADP in the United States.

About Pimavanserin

Pimavanserin is ACADIAs proprietary small molecule that acts selectively as an antagonist/inverse agonist on serotonin 5-HT2A receptors and is in Phase III development as a potential first-in-class treatment for Parkinsons disease psychosis. Pimavanserin can be taken orally as a tablet once-a-day. ACADIA discovered and holds worldwide rights to pimavanserin.

About ACADIA Pharmaceuticals

ACADIA is a biopharmaceutical company focused on innovative treatments that address unmet medical needs in neurological and related central nervous system disorders. ACADIA has four product candidates in clinical development led by pimavanserin, which is in Phase III development as a potential first-in-class treatment for Parkinson's disease psychosis. ACADIAs other clinical-stage products include collaborative programs for chronic pain and glaucoma with Allergan, Inc. and a collaborative program for schizophrenia with Meiji Seika Pharma Co., Ltd. In addition, ACADIA has preclinical programs directed at Parkinsons disease and other neurological disorders. All of ACADIAs product candidates are small molecules that emanate from discoveries made using its proprietary drug discovery platform. ACADIA maintains a website at http://www.acadia-pharm.com to which ACADIA regularly posts copies of its press releases as well as additional information and through which interested parties can subscribe to receive email alerts.

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ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Reports Promising Effects of Pimavanserin in Preclinical Model of Alzheimer’s Disease Psychosis