The experimental drug
of ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.(NASDAQ:ACAD), pimavanserin has decreased
psychotic episodes in patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease as compared
to a placebo, attaining the primary endpoint of a phase III research, as
revealed by the company on Tuesday.
Shares of Acadia were
up 135% to $5.64 in Tuesday session.
Acadia requires to
carry perform another phase III study of pimavanserin in Parkinson’s patients
so as to confirm results of Tuesday. Two initial late-stage studies of the drug
have not been successful to demonstrate a considerable reduction in psychotic
events.
Treatment with 40 mg
dose of pimavanserin has led to a reduction in psychotic behavior by 5.79
points as compared to a 2.73 point reduction in patients, who were treated with
a placebo. The difference of 3.06 point in the two arms of the phase III study
was statistically important.
Reduction in psychotic
behavior is focused majorly on delusions and hallucinations and was measured
with the help of a 9-item scale adapted from the Saps, Scale for the Assessment
of Positive Symptoms.
Pimavanserin has got
its antipsychotic nature without worsening motor function in patients with
Parkinson’s disease. This has met a key secondary perspective of the
examination.
Jason Napodano, a Zacks
analyst said that the pimavanserin information is better than expected. The US
market opportunity for pimavanserin in Parkinson’s disease psychosis lies in
between $300-$400.
The San Diego-based
company does not have any approved drugs and pimavanserin is the most advanced
experimental product of Acadia. The company is also running mid-stage
experiments of the drug as a treatment for schizophrenia and psychosis in
Alzheimer’s patients. Acadia is also experimenting treatments for glaucoma and
chronic pain.
An analyst of JMP
Securities, Jason Butler said that there are restricted treatment options at
the moment. Being able to use a safe and easy drug could really be meaningful
for patients.
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