ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Reports Financial Results for the Fourth Quarter and Year Ended December 31, 2016

NUPLAZID® Net Product Sales Grew to $12.0 Million in Fourth Quarter 2016

Executing on Broad Clinical Development Program in Alzheimer’s Disease Psychosis, Alzheimer’s Disease Agitation, Schizophrenia Inadequate Response, Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia, and Major Depressive Disorder

SAN DIEGO--()--ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: ACAD), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative medicines to address unmet medical needs in central nervous system (CNS) disorders, today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2016.

2016 was a transformational year for ACADIA highlighted by the launch of NUPLAZID (pimavanserin) as the first and only drug approved by the FDA for the treatment of hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson’s disease psychosis,” said Steve Davis, ACADIA’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are pleased with the strong progress of the launch and our execution in bringing this drug to Parkinson’s patients.”

More recently, we announced positive results from our Phase II study with pimavanserin in Alzheimer’s disease psychosis. Pimavanserin has now shown antipsychotic effects in clinical studies in three major CNS disorders: Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer’s disease. These results, combined with the initiation of four new clinical programs, underscore the potential of pimavanserin to improve the lives of patients across multiple CNS disease states and our commitment to explore this potential in broad and substantive clinical programs.”

Recent Highlights

  • NUPLAZID now available on Medicare formularies for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease psychosis (PD Psychosis); commercial coverage decisions now made for over 60% of commercial lives and continue to grow.
  • Positive top-line results from our Phase II study exploring the utility of pimavanserin for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease psychosis announced in December 2016.
  • Initiated the SERENE study, a 430-patient study evaluating pimavanserin for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease agitation.
  • Initiated the ENHANCE-1 study, a 380-patient study evaluating pimavanserin for adjunctive treatment of schizophrenia in patients with an inadequate response to their current antipsychotic therapy.
  • Initiated the ADVANCE study, a 380-patient study evaluating pimavanserin for adjunctive treatment in patients with negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
  • Initiated the CLARITY study, a 188-patient study evaluating pimavanserin for adjunctive treatment in patients with major depressive disorder who have an inadequate response to standard antidepressant therapy.

Financial Results

Revenue

ACADIA reported net product sales of $12.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2016. NUPLAZID was launched commercially in May 2016, so there were no similar product sales for the comparable quarter of 2015. Through ACADIA’s NUPLAZIDconnectTM site, upon initiation of therapy, physicians have been able to prescribe patients a 30-day free trial of NUPLAZID for which no revenue is recognized.

Research and Development

Research and development expenses increased to $30.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2016 from $20.5 million for the comparable quarter of 2015. This increase was primarily due to increased clinical costs related to the development of pimavanserin in indications other than PD Psychosis and an increase in personnel and related costs associated with ACADIA’s expanded research and development organization.

Selling, General and Administrative

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased to $57.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2016 from $22.6 million for the comparable quarter of 2015. This increase was primarily due to costs related to the hiring of our specialty sales force in April 2016 and costs incurred to support our commercial activities for NUPLAZID.

Net Loss

For the fourth quarter of 2016, ACADIA reported a net loss of $78.7 million, or $0.65 per common share, compared to a net loss of $45.8 million, or $0.45 per common share, for the comparable quarter of 2015. The net losses for the fourth quarters of 2016 and 2015 included $15.4 million and $8.9 million, respectively, of non-cash stock-based compensation expense. For the year ended December 31, 2016, ACADIA reported a net loss of $271.4 million, or $2.34 per common share, compared to a net loss of $164.4 million, or $1.63 per common share, for 2015. The net losses for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 included $55.3 million and $40.2 million, respectively, of non-cash stock-based compensation expense.

Cash and Investments

At December 31, 2016, ACADIA’s cash, cash equivalents and investment securities totaled $529.0 million, compared to $215.1 million at December 31, 2015.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

ACADIA management will review its fourth quarter financial results and operations via conference call and webcast later today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The conference call may be accessed by dialing 844-821-1109 for participants in the U.S. or Canada and 830-865-2550 for international callers (reference passcode 74539512). A telephone replay of the conference call may be accessed through March 14, 2017 by dialing 855-859-2056 for callers in the U.S. or Canada and 404-537-3406 for international callers (reference passcode 74539512). The conference call also will be webcast live on ACADIA’s website, www.acadia-pharm.com, under the investors section and will be archived there until March 14, 2017.

About NUPLAZID® (pimavanserin)

NUPLAZID is the first and only FDA-approved treatment for hallucinations and delusions associated with PD Psychosis. NUPLAZID is a non-dopaminergic, selective serotonin inverse agonist preferentially targeting 5-HT2A receptors that are thought to play an important role in PD Psychosis. NUPLAZID is an oral medicine taken once a day with a recommended dose of 34 mg (two 17-mg tablets). ACADIA discovered this new chemical entity and holds worldwide rights to develop and commercialize NUPLAZID.

About ACADIA Pharmaceuticals

ACADIA is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative medicines to address unmet medical needs in central nervous system disorders. ACADIA maintains a website at www.acadia-pharm.com to which we regularly post copies of our press releases as well as additional information and through which interested parties can subscribe to receive e-mail alerts.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical in nature are forward-looking statements. These statements include but are not limited to statements related to the benefits to be derived from NUPLAZID (pimavanserin); the potential of pimavanserin to improve the lives of patients across multiple CNS disease states and our commitment to explore this potential in broad and substantive clinical programs; and the utility of pimavanserin in indications other than hallucinations and delusions associated with PD Psychosis. These statements are only predictions based on current information and expectations and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in any of such statements due to various factors, including the risks and uncertainties inherent in drug discovery, development, and commercialization, and the fact that past results of clinical trials may not be indicative of future trial results. For a discussion of these and other factors, please refer to ACADIA’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 as well as ACADIA’s subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. This caution is made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement and ACADIA undertakes no obligation to revise or update this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, except as required by law.

       
ACADIA PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

Three Months Ended
December 31,

Years Ended
December 31,

  2016         2015     2016         2015  
 
Revenues
Product sales, net $ 11,962 $ $

17,327

$
Collaborative revenues       17     4     61  
Total revenues 11,962 17 17,331 61
 
Operating expenses
Cost of product sales 1,704 3,075
License fees and royalties 608 2,500 1,331 2,500
Research and development 30,218 20,466 99,284 73,869
Selling, general and administrative   57,663     22,616     186,456     88,304  
Total operating expenses   90,193     45,582     290,146     164,673  
Loss from operations (78,231 ) (45,565 ) (272,815 ) (164,612 )
Interest income, net   876     111     2,763     499  
Loss before income taxes (77,355 ) (45,454 ) (270,052 ) (164,113 )
Income tax expense   1,341     330     1,341     330  
Net loss $ (78,696 ) $ (45,784 ) $ (271,393 ) $ (164,443 )
Net loss per common share, basic and diluted $ (0.65 ) $ (0.45 ) $ (2.34 ) $ (1.63 )
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted   121,202     101,207     115,858     100,630  
 
   
ACADIA PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 
December 31,
  2016       2015
Assets
Cash, cash equivalents, and investment securities $ 529,036 $ 215,132
Accounts receivable, net 5,903
Interest and other receivables 1,237 1,638
Inventory 4,175
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   7,546   2,219
Total current assets 547,897 218,989
Property and equipment, net 3,081 2,203
Intangible assets, net 7,015
Restricted cash 2,375 375
Other assets   785   329
Total assets $ 561,153 $ 221,896
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Accounts payable $ 3,912 $ 1,672
Accrued liabilities 36,029 20,230
Deferred revenue   2,644  
Total current liabilities 42,585 21,902
Long-term liabilities   157   232
Total liabilities 42,742 22,134
Total stockholders’ equity   518,411   199,762
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 561,153 $ 221,896
 

Important Safety Information and Indication for NUPLAZID (pimavanserin) tablets

WARNING: INCREASED MORTALITY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA-RELATED PSYCHOSIS

Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death. NUPLAZID is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis unrelated to the hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson’s disease psychosis.

NUPLAZID is an atypical antipsychotic indicated for the treatment of hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson’s disease psychosis.

QT Interval Prolongation: NUPLAZID prolongs the QT interval. The use of NUPLAZID should be avoided in patients with known QT prolongation or in combination with other drugs known to prolong QT interval including Class 1A antiarrhythmics or Class 3 antiarrhythmics, certain antipsychotic medications, and certain antibiotics. NUPLAZID should also be avoided in patients with a history of cardiac arrhythmias, as well as other circumstances that may increase the risk of the occurrence of torsade de pointes and/or sudden death, including symptomatic bradycardia, hypokalemia or hypomagnesemia, and presence of congenital prolongation of the QT interval.

Adverse Reactions: The most common adverse reactions (≥2% for NUPLAZID and greater than placebo) were peripheral edema (7% vs 2%), nausea (7% vs 4%), confusional state (6% vs 3%), hallucination (5% vs 3%), constipation (4% vs 3%), and gait disturbance (2% vs <1%).

Drug Interactions: Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (eg, ketoconazole) increase NUPLAZID concentrations. Reduce the NUPLAZID dose by one-half. Strong CYP3A4 inducers may reduce NUPLAZID exposure, monitor for reduced efficacy. Increase in NUPLAZID dosage may be needed.

Renal Impairment: No dosage adjustment for NUPLAZID is needed in patients with mild to moderate renal impairment. Use of NUPLAZID is not recommended in patients with severe renal impairment.

Hepatic Impairment: Use of NUPLAZID is not recommended in patients with hepatic impairment. NUPLAZID has not been evaluated in this patient population.

Pregnancy: Use of NUPLAZID in pregnant women has not been evaluated and should therefore be used in pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the mother and fetus.

Pediatric Use: Safety and efficacy have not been established in pediatric patients.

Dosage and Administration: Recommended dose: 34 mg per day, taken orally as two 17-mg tablets once daily, without titration.

For additional Important Safety Information, including boxed warning, please see the full Prescribing Information for NUPLAZID at https://www.nuplazid.com/pdf/NUPLAZID_Prescribing_Information.pdf.

Contacts

Investor Contact:
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Lisa Barthelemy
(858) 558-2871
ir@acadia-pharm.com
or
Media Contact:
Taft Communications
Bob Laverty
(609) 558-5570
bob@taftcommunications.com

Contacts

Investor Contact:
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Lisa Barthelemy
(858) 558-2871
ir@acadia-pharm.com
or
Media Contact:
Taft Communications
Bob Laverty
(609) 558-5570
bob@taftcommunications.com