SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: ACAD) is saddened to announce the passing of its former President, Srdjan (Serge) Stankovic M.D., M.S.P.H. Serge passed away peacefully on December 29, 2023, following a prolonged illness.
“Serge” as he was known to friends and colleagues, joined Acadia in 2015 and led Acadia’s Research and Development organization for more than seven years. He played an instrumental role in Acadia becoming a commercial stage company, providing his significant drug development expertise to the approval and launch of NUPLAZID® (pimavanserin) for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease psychosis and to the approval of Acadia’s second drug to the market, DAYBUE™ (trofinetide) for the treatment of Rett syndrome. Serge served on Acadia’s executive management team and led all research and development efforts until he retired from his role as President at the end of 2022.
“This is a moment of profound sadness for those of us who knew Serge. His contributions have left an indelible impact on Acadia, patients and caregivers who will continue to benefit from his work and legacy for decades to come,” said Steve Davis, Acadia’s Chief Executive Officer. “Serge was my dear friend and a frequent sounding board and will be remembered for his intellectual curiosity, sense of humor and passion for science. We mourn his loss and extend our deepest condolences to his wife Ana, his daughter Sandra and Serge’s extended family.”
Serge was born in Yugoslavia and received his degree in medicine from the University of Belgrade. He completed his residency in psychiatry there and served as an attending psychiatrist and clinical physician. After emigrating to the U.S., he received his Master of Science in Public Health from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he joined the Department of Psychiatry as a research fellow and instructor in Clinical Psychopharmacology. Serge transitioned to the private sector as a medical officer at UCB Pharma and quickly rose through the organization to Vice President of U.S. Clinical Development. He went on to hold leadership positions in research and development at Johnson & Johnson, Neurogen Pharmaceuticals, Forest Laboratories, Teva Pharmaceuticals, and Alkermes.
About Acadia Pharmaceuticals
Acadia is advancing breakthroughs in neuroscience to elevate life. For 30 years we have been working at the forefront of healthcare to bring vital solutions to people who need them most. We developed and commercialized the first and only FDA-approved drug to treat hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson’s disease psychosis and the first and only FDA-approved drug for the treatment of Rett syndrome. Our clinical-stage development efforts are focused on treating the negative symptoms of schizophrenia, Prader-Willi syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease psychosis and multiple other programs targeting neuropsychiatric symptoms in central nervous system disorders. For more information, visit us at www.acadia.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
