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Biotech / Medical : ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc (ACAD) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: scaram(o)uche who wrote (113)	3/18/2005 3:05:37 PM
From: scaram(o)uche	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 588

Our Preclinical Discovery Programs In addition to our five development programs, we have established preclinical discovery programs in the areas of muscarinic receptors, 5-HT2 receptors, and androgen receptors, or ARs. We have extensive expertise and discovery assets in these areas, which provide us with a wide range of therapeutic opportunities. Our efforts in these three areas have already led to our three proprietary development programs as well as additional programs currently in preclinical testing. Preclinical Muscarinic Program Our muscarinic program is designed to deliver new drug candidates to treat psychosis, cognitive disturbances in patients with schizophrenia and dementia, and neuropathic pain. One aspect of our muscarinic program involves the investigation of our muscarinic agonists that selectively target the m1 muscarinic receptor and may represent a novel approach to the treatment of cognition in patients with schizophrenia. We have discovered over 300 potent muscarinic agonists that selectively target the m1 muscarinic receptor. These muscarinic agonist compounds inhibit behaviors associated with psychotic states and enhance cognitive function in preclinical animal models. We have also identified the muscarinic receptor subtype that we believe alleviates neuropathic pain. We have used genetically altered mice that lack the relevant muscarinic receptor subtype to support our efforts in this program and we have identified novel sites for muscarinic receptor/drug interactions that yield, for the first time, truly selective muscarinic agonists. Such compounds have not shown the side effects typical of non-selective muscarinic agents, but show robust effects in animal models of psychosis, cognition and neuropathic pain. The 10 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- promising preclinical profile of our selective muscarinic compounds suggests significant therapeutic potential. In January 2005, we formed a collaboration with Sepracor that will explore potential clinical candidates resulting from our muscarinic program. We have previously used this program to discover the unique muscarinic agonist action of ACP-104 and a series of preclinical analogs of ACP-104. We have retained all rights related to each of these compounds. Preclinical 5-HT2 Program We use our 5-HT2 program to generate new drug candidates to treat neuropsychiatric and related central nervous system disturbances. We discovered ACP-103, a potent and selective 5-HT2A inverse agonist, in this program. We have synthesized a large number of additional compounds having diverse pharmacological and pharmaceutical properties that interact with the various 5-HT2 and related receptor subtypes. These compounds may also be used to modify sleep architecture, particularly deep sleep that is commonly disturbed in the elderly. In connection with our collaboration agreement with Sepracor formed in January 2005, Sepracor has the option to select one preclinical compound from this program for use in combination with LUNESTA, Sepracor’s insomnia drug, for sleep-related indications. We will retain the rights to all other compounds in this program. Preclinical AR Program We have identified novel, potent and selective non-steroidal small molecule agonists of the androgen receptor. These compounds are orally bioavailable and demonstrate robust testosterone-like endocrine effects without enlarging the prostate. The potential therapeutic applications for AR agonists include indications such as hormone replacement therapies to treat osteoporosis, sexual dysfunctions and muscle wasting, as well as therapies for dry eye and various central nervous system disorders. (snip)