ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Announces Partnership With Sepracor
Tuesday January 11, 7:00 am ET
SAN DIEGO, Jan. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: ACAD - News), a biopharmaceutical company utilizing innovative technology to fuel drug discovery and clinical development of novel treatments for central nervous system disorders, today announced the formation of a partnership with Sepracor Inc. (Nasdaq: SEPR - News) for development of new drug candidates targeted toward treatment of central nervous system (CNS) disorders.
This research and development collaboration has been established to investigate potential clinical candidates resulting from ACADIA's extensive medicinal chemistry and discovery platform against a broad array of selective muscarinic receptors (receptors that respond to acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system). This includes ACADIA's advanced m1 agonist program, which would target neuropsychiatric/neurologic conditions and neuropathic pain.
This partnership also encompasses an option to select a preclinical compound from ACADIA's 5-HT2A program for use in combination with LUNESTA(TM) (eszopiclone), Sepracor's insomnia drug, for sleep-related indications. 5-HT2A antagonists have been shown in clinical studies to affect sleep architecture in man, resulting in extended periods of slow wave sleep, which may have a positive effect on sleep quality.
"This important agreement with ACADIA gives us access to additional portfolio candidates for treatment of CNS disorders, complementing our own internal capabilities," said Timothy J. Barberich, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sepracor Inc. "In particular, we are very excited about the possibility of combining mechanistic approaches with LUNESTA, which may be used to address the pervasive unmet needs of patients with sleep disturbances."
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Sepracor's New Drug Application for LUNESTA brand eszopiclone for the treatment of insomnia on December 15, 2004. Successful developments from this partnership could enhance Sepracor's ability to address significant patient needs in the field of sleep disorders, including sleep apnea and insomnia.
"We are excited to be working with Sepracor, which is one of the only fully integrated, research-based pharmaceutical companies with a primary care capability outside of the larger pharmaceutical companies," said Uli Hacksell, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of ACADIA. "Sepracor has a proven drug development infrastructure combined with a highly motivated sales force with primary care reach as well as dedicated representatives focused on addressing patients' needs with respect to CNS and respiratory disorders. We believe that this partnership will serve both companies well."
This collaboration includes an ongoing joint research and development effort targeted toward the development of agonists and antagonists of selective muscarinic receptors. Compounds that interact with certain selective muscarinic targets may have utility in the treatment of CNS disorders, which is currently an area of therapeutic focus for Sepracor.
"Part of this collaboration will involve the investigation of ACADIA's selective m1 agonist clinical candidates for the treatment of cognition in patients with schizophrenia," said Mark H.N. Corrigan, M.D., Executive Vice President, Research and Development at Sepracor. "Among the family of currently marketed atypical antipsychotics, only clozapine improves cognitive function, yet its label contains a "black-box warning" relating to serious side effects. We are hopeful that ACADIA's strategy will yield a new drug therapy that can successfully and safely improve cognitive function for patients with schizophrenia."
In connection with this collaboration, Sepracor is purchasing $10 million of ACADIA common stock at a 40 percent premium to the 30-day average trailing closing price per share as of the purchase date. Sepracor has also agreed to purchase up to an additional $10 million of ACADIA common stock at a 25 percent premium on the one-year anniversary date of the collaboration, subject to customary closing conditions. These stock purchases, in the aggregate, shall not exceed 19.99 percent of ACADIA's then-outstanding common stock. In addition to its equity investment, Sepracor will provide ACADIA with research funding over a three-year term, and, if certain conditions are met, will be required to pay ACADIA milestone payments as well as royalties on future product sales worldwide. Assuming the successful development of a single product in the muscarinic program, Sepracor will be required to pay ACADIA up to approximately $40 million in aggregate payments, excluding royalties. In addition, should the partnership successfully develop a combination product with LUNESTA for sleep-related indications, Sepracor will also be obligated to pay ACADIA approximately $35 million in aggregate payments plus applicable royalties. Additional details about this transaction will be available in ACADIA's Current Report on Form 8-K, which ACADIA is expected to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
ACADIA's Phase II programs encompassing ACP-103 for treatment-induced dysfunction in Parkinson's disease, ACP-103 as an adjunctive therapy for schizophrenia, and ACP-104 for treatment of schizophrenia, are not included as part of this collaboration.
About ACADIA Pharmaceuticals
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company utilizing innovative technology to fuel drug discovery and clinical development of novel treatments for central nervous system disorders. ACADIA currently has five drug programs in clinical and preclinical development as well as a portfolio of drug discovery assets directed at large unmet medical needs, including schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, neuropathic pain, and glaucoma. Using its proprietary drug discovery platform, ACADIA has discovered all of the drug candidates in its product pipeline. ACADIA's corporate headquarters and biology research facilities are located in San Diego, California and its chemistry research facilities are located near Copenhagen, Denmark. |
