ACADIA Pharmaceuticals

ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the development and commercialization of small molecule drugs that address unmet medical needs in central nervous system disorders. The company offers NUPLAZID (pimavanserin) for the treatment of hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson's disease psychosis. 

Its pipeline includes pimavanserin, under phase 3 development for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease psychosis, and negative symptoms of schizophrenia; Trofinetide, a novel synthetic analogue, under phase 3 development for the treatment of Rett syndrome; ACP-044, a novel first-in-class orally administered non-opioid analgesic, under phase 2 development for treating acute and chronic pain; and ACP-319, a positive allosteric modulator of the muscarinic receptor, under phase 1 development for treating schizophrenia and cognition in Alzheimer's. ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.

Acadia started in 1993 as Receptor Technologies, based in Winooski, Vermont. In 1997, the company relocated all operations and management from Vermont to San Diego, California as a strategic move to garner partnerships with other biotechnology companies. 

However, the company also had an office in Denmark, in which it received a crucial part of its early investments from BankInvest, under managing director Florian Schönharting, Kommunernes Pensionsforsikring A/S and Dansk Kapitalanlæg Aktieselskab as well as private investor Lars Christiansen. At the time, the company had fifty employees, fourteen of whom were in the Denmark office. The focus of the company in its early years was on genetic screens for receptors, aiming to accelerate early-stage drug discovery.

The company planned to conduct an Initial public offering consisting of 31.6% of the company in 2001, with the intention of raising US$64 million and listing on the NASDAQ exchange under the symbol ACAD. At the time, Acadia and Allergan were collaborating on the development of a treatment for glaucoma, and Allergan would retain a 6.3% ownership stake in Acadia after the IPO. However, the company's IPO, which ultimately took place in May 2004, did not fare as well as expected and netted only US$35 million. At the time, the company had five drugs in development and was running two in human trials. The company had a subsequent round of stock offering in May 2007 which raised US$102 million. In September 2020, Acadia Pharmaceuticals acquired the clinical-stage biotechnology company CerSci Therapeutics.

In 2001, the company's chief executive officer at the time, Leonard R. Borrmann, left Acadia to lead Maret Pharmaceuticals. He was succeeded by Uli Hacksell, who left Acadia to lead Cerecor at the beginning of 2016.

“Our Mission. ACADIA's mission is to be the leading pharmaceutical company dedicated to the advancement of innovative medicines that improve the lives of patients with central nervous system disorders.”

“We Fight Disease So More You Shines Through. On every level, we are determined to fight for people living with the disease—starting with a culture of curiosity, belonging, sustainability and ethics.”