ACADIA Pharmaceuticals (ACAD) Update / Briefing June 25, 2025 08:30 AM ET Speaker0 All right. Speaker1 Good morning, everybody, and thank you so much for joining us for Acadia's inaugural R and D Day. Welcome to the people in the room here at our hotel. Welcome to everybody online. We're delighted that you took time today to join us because today marks an exciting milestone for the company as we open the curtain on the innovation engine driving our future. We're here to share meaningful insights into our pi ...

Summary of Acadia Pharmaceuticals (ACAD) FY Conference Call - June 09, 2025 Company Overview - **Company**: Acadia Pharmaceuticals (ACAD) - **Industry**: Biotechnology, specifically focusing on neurology and rare diseases Key Points and Arguments Management Changes and Strategic Priorities - Katherine Owen Adams has been with Acadia for eight months, implementing changes in the commercial structure, including the appointment of Tom Garner as CCO and Alison McMillan as head of the debut franchise [2][3] - Focus on accelerating clinical trial programs, with notable progress in the Prada Woolley trial, which is expected to complete earlier than anticipated [4] - Emphasis on both organic and inorganic growth strategies, including a deal signed with San Arena in December [5] Intellectual Property and Market Exclusivity - Acadia won a recent appeal on its composition of matter patent, extending exclusivity for NUPLAZID until October 2030, with total exclusivity lasting until February 2038 [8] - The company is prepared to compete with any potential generic formulations that may enter the market [10] Sales and Marketing Strategies - A new strategy to raise awareness of Parkinson's disease symptoms has been successful, leading to increased patient inquiries and the highest number of new prescriptions (NBRxs) since 2020 [14][15] - Direct-to-consumer campaigns have also contributed to patient growth, with a current market share of 20% for NUPLAZID [16] Patient Retention and Compliance - Over 50% of patients remain on NUPLAZID therapy after one year, with a reported 35% discontinuation rate in Q1, showing improvement in patient retention [30][32] - Management strategies have been enhanced to address gastrointestinal side effects, leading to better patient compliance [33] Pipeline Developments - ACP 204, a new five HT2A inverse agonist, is being developed to address limitations of NUPLAZID, with ongoing studies in Alzheimer's disease psychosis and Lewy body dementia psychosis [22][24][55] - Upcoming phase two data for ACP 204 is expected mid-next year, with a focus on efficacy and safety in a complex patient population [46][51] Regulatory and Geographic Expansion - Acadia has submitted for regulatory approval of debut in the EU, with potential approval expected in Q1 next year [34] - Plans for a phase III study in Japan are underway, indicating a strategic focus on international markets [35] Financial Position and Business Development Strategy - The company has a strong financial position with over $680 million in cash, allowing for continued investment in business development and pipeline funding [60][61] - Acadia aims to expand its focus from neurology to other rare diseases, leveraging management's experience in rare disease markets [59] Upcoming Events - An R&D Day is scheduled to showcase early data from pipeline molecules, indicating a commitment to transparency and stakeholder engagement [57] Additional Important Insights - The company is optimistic about the future growth of NUPLAZID, citing potential for increased market penetration and awareness among healthcare providers and caregivers [17][18] - The unmet need in the Alzheimer's and Lewy body dementia populations is significant, with no approved therapies currently available, highlighting the potential impact of Acadia's pipeline [53][54]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported total revenues of $244.3 million for Q1 2025, representing a 19% increase year-over-year [7][28] - Debut net product sales were $84.6 million, up 11% from the previous year, while NUPLAZID sales reached $159.7 million, reflecting a 23% increase year-over-year [8][30] - R&D expenses increased to $78.3 million from $59.7 million in Q1 2024, and SG&A expenses rose to $126.4 million from $108 million in the same period [31] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Debut sales showed a significant increase in unique patients receiving shipments, reaching an all-time high of 954, up from 920 in Q4 2024 [11][12] - NUPLAZID's growth included a 6% increase in volume, with the remainder attributed to one-time changes in gross to net [8][30] - The company expects continued growth in both brands, with a focus on expanding patient engagement and community reach [7][9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is preparing for a strong launch of Debut in Europe, anticipating EMA approval in Q1 2026, with a substantial market opportunity for Rett syndrome patients [14][15] - The U.S. market for NUPLAZID continues to show strong momentum, with a nearly 30% increase in awareness of Parkinson's-related hallucinations and delusions since the launch of the More to Parkinson's campaign [17][18] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on executing strategic priorities, including accelerating Debut's commercial trajectory, capitalizing on NUPLAZID's momentum, and advancing its pipeline [33][34] - The upcoming R&D Day is expected to provide insights into the company's development strategy and showcase innovations across its pipeline [24][34] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the sustainability of Debut's growth and reiterated full-year sales guidance for both Debut and NUPLAZID [8][9] - The company is optimistic about the upcoming results from the COMPASS PWS Phase III study, with top-line results expected by Q4 2025 [19][33] Other Important Information - The company has a strong cash balance of $681.6 million as of March 31, 2025, despite a sequential decline due to significant payments made [31] - The company is actively looking for strategic transactions to expand its portfolio, particularly in areas of high unmet medical need [84] Q&A Session Summary Question: What does good 101 data look like and how does it relate to FDA discussions? - Management indicated that statistically significant results demonstrating a clinically meaningful impact on hyperphagia would be considered good data [39] Question: How should we model a European price for Debut? - Management expressed confidence in obtaining a strong EU price that reflects the value provided to the Rett community, while monitoring potential pricing risks [40][41] Question: What are the key growth drivers for NUPLAZID and Debut from Q1 to Q2? - Management highlighted that volume will drive performance, with expectations for continued patient engagement and operational improvements [48][49] Question: What is the confidence level for EMA approval for trofinetide? - Management expressed confidence in the EMA approval process, noting that they are on track with the timeline and have received no indications of issues [82] Question: How does the company view its positioning against competitors in the Prader Willi market? - Management believes there is room for multiple therapies in the Prader Willi space, emphasizing the complex needs of patients and the potential for combination therapies [95]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Acadia Pharmaceuticals reported total revenues of $244.3 million for Q1 2025, representing a 19% increase year-over-year [6][29] - R&D expenses increased to $78.3 million from $59.7 million in Q1 2024, driven by higher spending on clinical stage programs [32] - SG&A expenses rose to $126.4 million from $108 million in Q1 2024, primarily due to ongoing consumer activation campaigns for NUPLAZID and expansion of the Debut team [32] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Debut sales reached $84.6 million in Q1 2025, an 11% increase from the previous year, with a record number of unique patients receiving shipments [7][29] - NUPLAZID generated $159.7 million in revenue for the quarter, up 23% year-over-year, with 6% of this growth attributed to volume [7][31] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The number of unique patients receiving Debut shipments was 954, marking an all-time high for the brand [7][11] - NUPLAZID's gross price increased by over 2% year-over-year, with a gross-to-net adjustment of 24.1% for the quarter [31] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Acadia is focused on accelerating the commercial trajectory of Debut and capitalizing on the momentum of NUPLAZID while expanding its global presence [35] - The company plans to host its first R&D Day to provide insights into its development strategy and pipeline innovations [9][35] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the sustainability of Debut's growth and reiterated full-year sales guidance for both Debut and NUPLAZID [7][35] - The timeline for the COMPASS PWS Phase III study results is now expected by the end of 2025, indicating progress in pipeline development [9][35] Other Important Information - Acadia anticipates EMA approval for Debut in Q1 2026, with a substantial market opportunity in Europe for Rett syndrome patients [14][28] - The company has received orphan drug designation for trofinetide in Japan, which may lead to priority review [28] Q&A Session Summary Question: What does good 101 data look like and how does it relate to FDA discussions? - Management indicated that statistically significant results demonstrating a clinically meaningful impact on hyperphagia would be considered good data [40] Question: How should we model a European price for Debut? - Management expressed confidence in obtaining a strong EU price that reflects the value provided to patients in the Rett community [41] Question: What are the key growth drivers for NUPLAZID and Debut from Q1 to Q2? - Management highlighted patient demand and the impact of expanded customer models as key growth drivers for both brands [44][46] Question: What are the biggest risks to the approval process for trofinetide in the EU? - Management stated confidence in the EMA approval process, noting that they are on track with the regulatory timeline [80] Question: How does Acadia view its positioning against Celeno's product for Prader Willi? - Management believes there is room for multiple therapies in the Prader Willi space, emphasizing the complexity of patient needs [95]