ACADIA Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ACAD) is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing and commercializing innovative therapies for central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in San Diego, California, ACADIA focuses on neurological and psychiatric conditions with significant unmet medical needs. The company’s research and development efforts center on novel small-molecule compounds designed to modulate neurotransmitter systems and improve patient outcomes in conditions such as Parkinson’s disease psychosis, Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
ACADIA’s flagship product, Nuplazid (pimavanserin), gained U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval in 2016 as the first treatment specifically indicated for hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson’s disease psychosis. Nuplazid is commercialized directly by ACADIA in the United States and in collaboration with strategic partners in international markets. The company has established licensing agreements—most notably in Japan—to broaden access to pimavanserin, and it continues to explore distribution and co-development arrangements across Europe and Asia.
Beyond its marketed offering, ACADIA maintains a diversified pipeline centered on expanding the therapeutic reach of pimavanserin into additional CNS indications. Key late-stage programs include dementia-related psychosis and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Early-stage efforts explore novel targets for major depressive disorder, autism, and other neurological conditions. ACADIA also invests in preclinical research to identify next-generation candidates and to deepen scientific understanding of neurotransmitter receptor modulation.
Under the leadership of President and Chief Executive Officer Stephen R. Davis, M.D., Ph.D., ACADIA combines clinical expertise with strategic partnerships to advance its neuroscience portfolio. The company’s executive team and board of directors bring extensive experience in drug development, regulatory affairs and commercialization. ACADIA leverages collaborations with academic institutions, contract research organizations and contract manufacturing organizations to support its integrated approach to bringing new CNS therapies from early discovery through regulatory approval and market launch.
