SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--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 the promotion of Elena Ridloff, CFA to Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer. Ms. Ridloff joined ACADIA Pharmaceuticals in April 2018 as Senior Vice President, Investor Relations and has served as the company’s Interim Chief Financial Officer since October 2018.
“I am really delighted to make this announcement. Elena has contributed to significant achievements for our business since joining ACADIA last year. She has played a pivotal role in our executive management team leading our financial operations while strengthening our shareholder base and elevating our corporate and financial communications,” said Steve Davis, ACADIA’s Chief Executive Officer. “Elena has quickly proved to be a valuable member, bringing new and different expertise to the team. I look forward to continuing to work with her at this important and exciting time in our company’s history.”
“I am honored to take on this new role with ACADIA’s experienced leadership team and help lead us through our next phase of financial growth,” said Ms. Ridloff. “We are well positioned to continue to grow NUPLAZID in Parkinson’s disease psychosis, leverage pimavanserin in additional indications, and expand our pipeline through disciplined business development.”
Previously Ms. Ridloff was Senior Vice President, Investor Relations and Interim Chief Financial Officer at ACADIA Pharmaceuticals. Prior to joining ACADIA, she was Vice President, Investor Relations at Alexion Pharmaceuticals and served as a member of the Operating Committee. Additionally, Ms. Ridloff was Chief Executive Officer and Managing Member of BIOVISIO, an independent consulting firm providing strategic, financial and investor relations counsel to the life sciences industry. She was also a Managing Director at Maverick Capital, a hedge fund based in New York, and was responsible for investments in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device and life science sectors. Ms. Ridloff earned her B.A. in History and Sociology of Science from the University of Pennsylvania. She is also a CFA® charterholder.
About NUPLAZID® (pimavanserin)
NUPLAZID
is the first and only FDA-approved treatment for hallucinations and
delusions associated with Parkinson’s disease psychosis. NUPLAZID is a
non-dopaminergic, selective serotonin inverse agonist (SSIA)
preferentially targeting 5-HT2A receptors that are thought to
play an important role in Parkinson’s disease psychosis. NUPLAZID is an
oral medicine taken once a day with a recommended dose of 34 mg. ACADIA
discovered and developed 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 has developed and is commercializing the first and
only medicine approved for the treatment of hallucinations and delusions
associated with Parkinson’s disease psychosis. In addition, ACADIA has
ongoing clinical development efforts in additional areas with
significant unmet need, including dementia-related psychosis,
schizophrenia inadequate response, schizophrenia-negative symptoms,
major depressive disorder, and Rett syndrome. This press release and
further information about ACADIA can be found at: www.acadia-pharm.com.
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 potential opportunity for future growth in sales of
NUPLAZID. 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 uncertainty of future commercial sales and related items that would
impact net sales during 2019, the risks and uncertainties inherent in
drug discovery, development, approval 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, 2018 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.
Important Safety Information and Indication for NUPLAZID (pimavanserin)
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.
Contraindication: NUPLAZID is contraindicated in patients with a history of a hypersensitivity reaction to pimavanserin or any of its components. Rash, urticaria, and reactions consistent with angioedema (e.g., tongue swelling, circumoral edema, throat tightness, and dyspnea) have been reported.
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: Coadministration with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., ketoconazole) increases NUPLAZID exposure. Reduce NUPLAZID dose to 10 mg taken orally as one tablet once daily. Coadministration with strong CYP3A4 inducers may reduce NUPLAZID exposure. Monitor patients for reduced efficacy and an increase in NUPLAZID dosage may be needed.
Pediatric Use: Safety and efficacy have not been established in pediatric patients.
Dosage and Administration: Recommended dose: 34 mg taken orally once daily, without titration.
Indication: NUPLAZID is an atypical antipsychotic indicated for the treatment of hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson’s disease psychosis.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088. You can also call ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. at 1-844-4ACADIA (1-844-422-2342).
NUPLAZID is available as 34 mg capsules and 10 mg tablets.
Please see the full Prescribing Information including Boxed WARNING for NUPLAZID at https://www.nuplazid.com/pdf/NUPLAZID_Prescribing_Information.pdf.
