Acadia Pharmaceuticals Reports First Quarter 2024 Financial Results and Operating Overview

Rhea-AI Summary

Acadia Pharmaceuticals reported strong financial results for the first quarter of 2024, with net product sales reaching $205.8 million, a 74% year-over-year revenue growth. The increase was primarily driven by the addition of DAYBUE for Rett syndrome treatment and growth in NUPLAZID market share for Parkinson's disease psychosis. The company is focusing on expanding DAYBUE globally, advancing late-stage trials, and supporting its pipeline and business development opportunities. Acadia also presented positive clinical trial results and appointed a new executive to lead Research and Development.

Positive

• Strong financial results with net product sales of $205.8 million, a 74% year-over-year revenue growth.

• Successful addition of DAYBUE for Rett syndrome treatment and increased NUPLAZID market share for Parkinson's disease psychosis.

• Expansion plans for DAYBUE globally and progress in late-stage trials for Prader-Willi syndrome and Alzheimer's disease psychosis.

• Appointment of a new Executive Vice President, Head of Research and Development to strengthen leadership.

• Positive clinical trial results for NUPLAZID in elderly patients with neurodegenerative diseases, demonstrating safety and tolerability.

Negative

• Decrease in net product sales of NUPLAZID from the previous quarter, despite overall revenue growth.

• Increase in selling, general, and administrative expenses, impacting overall financial performance.

Financial Analyst

Acadia Pharmaceuticals' significant growth in net product sales, primarily attributed to DAYBUE's market entry and NUPLAZID's ongoing success, reflects a robust underlying business capable of sustaining momentum. A 74%> year-over-year revenue increase is commendable, particularly in the biopharmaceutical sector, where product life cycles and market penetration are critical. Moreover, DAYBUE's contribution in its first year post-approval indicates a strong market demand and effective commercial strategy. However, while top-line growth is impressive, selling, general and administrative expenses are also rising, albeit at a slower pace. This is expected given the costs associated with scaling up commercialization efforts, yet investors should monitor the trend to ensure it aligns with revenue growth to sustain profitability. The company's net income swing from a loss to a profit is a significant milestone, demonstrating cost management efficacy and potential operational leverage as sales scale. The reiteration of the 2024 guidance signals management's confidence in continued growth and operational control. Acadia's cash position appears healthy, enhancing its resilience against potential market or operational headwinds. In summary, the financial results present a positive trajectory for Acadia, with important indicators suggesting sustainable growth, yet vigilance is advised regarding expense trends and operational efficiency.

Medical Research Analyst

The introduction of DAYBUE as a novel treatment for Rett syndrome is a pivotal advancement for Acadia Pharmaceuticals, addressing an unmet medical need. The uptake of DAYBUE, reflected in its substantial net product sales, demonstrates the significant impact of this treatment in the Rett syndrome market. The favorable safety profile of NUPLAZID in an elderly population, as published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, may open avenues to broader applications in neuropsychiatric conditions associated with neurodegenerative diseases. This is particularly significant, given the lack of effective treatments for the neuropsychiatric symptoms, which are often the most distressing aspect of neurodegenerative diseases. The company's continued investment in research and development, as indicated by the late-stage trials for Prader-Willi syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease psychosis, is critical for future growth. However, investors should be aware of the inherent risks and long timelines associated with drug development, particularly in the neuroscience realm where the understanding of disease mechanisms is still evolving. The decrease in R&D expenses might reflect a strategic allocation of resources towards the most promising programs, but it is necessary to assess if this will affect the breadth and depth of Acadia’s pipeline in the long run.

- First quarter NUPLAZID^® (pimavanserin) net product sales of $129.9 million

- First quarter DAYBUE^™ (trofinetide) net product sales of $75.9 million

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: ACAD) today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024.

“In the first quarter of 2024, Acadia delivered net product sales of $205.8 million, representing 74% revenue growth year over year, primarily due to the addition of our second commercial product, DAYBUE for the treatment of Rett syndrome, combined with growth in market share of NUPLAZID for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease psychosis,” said Steve Davis, Chief Executive Officer. “In addition, we are executing on our plans to bring DAYBUE to markets outside the U.S., continuing to enroll our late-stage trials in Prader-Willi syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease psychosis, and utilizing our financial strength to support our early-stage pipeline and business development opportunities.”

Company Updates

• Seven posters accepted for presentation at the International Rett Syndrome Foundation’s Scientific Meeting to be held on June 18-19, 2024. These will include, among other topics, two encore presentations discussing outcomes from LILAC-2™, as well as findings from exit interviews with caregivers of individuals living with Rett syndrome who participated in the DAYBUE clinical trials supporting its approval. The company will also present a poster with additional real world patient and caregiver experiences from an analysis of an ongoing post marketing observational study.
• The Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease published favorable results from a Phase 3b trial evaluating the safety and tolerability of NUPLAZID (pimavanserin) in patients with neuropsychiatric symptoms related to neurodegenerative diseases 60 years of age and older. NUPLAZID was well-tolerated in this elderly, frail population, with a similar rate of treatment-emergent adverse events to the placebo group and did not impact motor or cognitive function versus placebo.
• Appointed Elizabeth H.Z. Thompson, Ph.D. as Executive Vice President, Head of Research and Development. Dr. Thompson joined Acadia’s executive leadership team.

Financial Results

Revenues

Total revenues, comprised of net product sales from NUPLAZID and DAYBUE were $205.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024.

Net product sales of NUPLAZID were $129.9 million for the first quarter of 2024, an increase of 10% as compared to $118.5 million for the first quarter of 2023. The increase in net product sales of NUPLAZID was due to 6% sell in growth and a 4% net price benefit in 2024 compared to 2023.

Net product sales of DAYBUE were $75.9 million for the first quarter of 2024. There were no net product sales of DAYBUE in the first quarter of 2023.

Research and Development

Research and development expenses for the first quarter of 2024 were $59.7 million, compared to $69.1 million for the same period of 2023. The decrease in research and development expenses was mainly due to trofinetide commercial supply build that was expensed in the first quarter of 2023, prior to FDA approval. Post-approval inventory expenditures are expensed as part of cost of goods sold.

Selling, General and Administrative

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2024 were $108.0 million, compared to $101.2 million for the same period of 2023. The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses was primarily driven by annualization of DAYBUE expenses as well as foundational investments to commercialize trofinetide outside the U.S.

Net Income (Loss)

For the first quarter of 2024, Acadia reported net income of $16.6 million, or $0.10 per common share, compared to a net loss of $43.0 million, or $0.27 per common share, for the same period in 2023. Net income for the three months ended March 31, 2024 included $14.8 million of non-cash stock-based compensation expense. Net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2023 included $14.7 million of non-cash stock-based compensation expense.

Cash and Investments

At March 31, 2024, Acadia’s cash, cash equivalents and investment securities totaled $470.5 million, compared to $438.9 million at December 31, 2023.

Full Year 2024 Financial Guidance

Acadia is reiterating all of its 2024 guidance provided on February 27, 2024.

• DAYBUE net product sales guidance in the range of $370 to $420 million.
• NUPLAZID net product sales guidance in the range of $560 to $590 million.
• R&D expense in the range of $305 to $325 million.
• SG&A expense in the range of $455 to $480 million.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

Acadia will host a conference call to discuss the first quarter 2024 results today, Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. PT/4:30 p.m. ET. The conference call will be available on Acadia’s website, Acadia.com, under the investors section and will be archived there until June 7, 2024. The conference call may also be accessed by registering for the call here. Once registered, participants will receive an email with the dial-in number and unique PIN number to use for accessing the call.

About NUPLAZID^® (pimavanserin)

Pimavanserin is a selective serotonin inverse agonist and antagonist preferentially targeting 5-HT2A receptors. These receptors are thought to play an important role in neuropsychiatric disorders. In vitro, pimavanserin demonstrated no appreciable binding affinity for dopamine (including D2), histamine, muscarinic, or adrenergic receptors. Pimavanserin was approved for the treatment of hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson’s disease psychosis by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in April 2016 under the trade name NUPLAZID.

About DAYBUE^™ (trofinetide)

Trofinetide is a synthetic version of a naturally occurring molecule known as the tripeptide glycine-proline-glutamate (GPE). The mechanism by which trofinetide exerts therapeutic effects in patients with Rett syndrome is unknown. Trofinetide was approved for the treatment of Rett syndrome in adults and pediatric patients 2 years of age and older by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in March 2023 under the trade name DAYBUE.

About Acadia Pharmaceuticals

Acadia is advancing breakthroughs in neuroscience to elevate life. For 30 years we have been working at the forefront of healthcare to bring vital solutions to people who need them most. We developed and commercialized the first and only FDA-approved drug to treat hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson’s disease psychosis and the first and only FDA-approved drug for the treatment of Rett syndrome. Our clinical-stage development efforts are focused on Prader-Willi syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease psychosis and multiple other programs targeting neuropsychiatric symptoms in central nervous system disorders. For more information, visit us at Acadia.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include all statements other than statements of historical fact and can be identified by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “projects,” “predicts,” “potential” and similar expressions (including the negative thereof) intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release, include, but are not limited to, statements about: (i) our business strategy, objectives and opportunities, including support for our early-stage pipeline and business development opportunities; (ii) plans for, including timing, development and progress of commercialization or regulatory timelines for, NUPLAZID, DAYBUE (both within and outside the U.S.) and our product candidates; (iii) benefits to be derived from and efficacy of our products, including the potential advantages of NUPLAZID and DAYBUE; (iv) the timing and conduct of our clinical trials, including continued enrollment of our clinical trials in Prader-Willi syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease psychosis, and the timing and content of our presentations regarding our clinical trials; and (v) our estimates regarding our future financial performance, profitability or capital requirements, including our full year 2024 financial guidance. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied by our forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to: our dependency on the continued successful commercialization of NUPLAZID and DAYBUE and our ability to maintain or increase sales of NUPLAZID or DAYBUE; our plans to commercialize DAYBUE outside the U.S.; the costs of our commercialization plans and development programs, and the financial impact or revenues from any commercialization we undertake; our ability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals for our product candidates and, if and when approved, market acceptance of our products; the risks associated with clinical trials and their outcomes, including risks of unsuccessful enrollment and negative or inconsistent results; our dependence on third-party collaborators, clinical research organizations, manufacturers, suppliers and distributors; the impact of competitive products and therapies; our ability to generate or obtain the necessary capital to fund our operations; our ability to grow, equip and train our specialized sales forces; our ability to manage the growth and complexity of our organization; our ability to maintain, protect and enhance our intellectual property; and our ability to continue to stay in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Given the risks and uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. For a discussion of these and other risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ, please refer to our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 as well as our subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. The forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to update them after this date, except as required by law.

 

ACADIA PHARMACEUTICALS INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (in thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited)
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2024			2023
Revenues
Product sales, net		$	205,831		$	118,462
Total revenues			205,831			118,462
Operating expenses
Cost of product sales (1)(2)			22,951			1,667
Research and development (2)			59,679			69,144
Selling, general and administrative (2)			107,991			101,235
Total operating expenses			190,621			172,046
Income (loss) from operations			15,210			(53,584	)
Interest income, net			5,506			3,800
Other income			286			4,845
Income (loss) before income taxes			21,002			(44,939	)
Income tax expense (benefit)			4,447			(1,918	)
Net income (loss)		$	16,555		$	(43,021	)
Earnings (net loss) per share:
Basic		$	0.10		$	(0.27	)
Diluted		$	0.10		$	(0.27	)
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic			164,798			162,263
Diluted			166,623			162,263
(1) Includes license fees and royalties
(2) Includes the following stock-based compensation expense
Cost of product sales, license fees and royalties		$	153		$	168
Research and development		$	4,093		$	3,972
Selling, general and administrative		$	10,504		$	10,565

 

ACADIA PHARMACEUTICALS INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands)
		March 31, 2024			December 31, 2023
		(unaudited)
Assets
Cash, cash equivalents and investment securities		$	470,520		$	438,865
Accounts receivable, net			94,701			98,267
Interest and other receivables			5,378			4,083
Inventory			61,936			35,819
Prepaid expenses			42,761			39,091
Total current assets			675,296			616,125
Property and equipment, net			4,370			4,612
Operating lease right-of-use assets			54,280			51,855
Intangible assets, net			110,204			65,490
Restricted cash			5,770			5,770
Long-term inventory			4,707			4,628
Other assets			476			476
Total assets		$	855,103		$	748,956
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Accounts payable		$	19,332		$	17,543
Accrued liabilities			311,265			236,711
Total current liabilities			330,597			254,254
Operating lease liabilities			49,189			47,800
Other long-term liabilities			11,273			15,147
Total liabilities			391,059			317,201
Total stockholders’ equity			464,044			431,755
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	855,103		$	748,956

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240508446041/en/

Investor Contact:

Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Al Kildani

(858) 261-2872

ir@acadia-pharm.com

Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Jessica Tieszen

(858) 261-2950

ir@acadia-pharm.com

Media Contact:

Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Deb Kazenelson

(818) 395-3043

media@acadia-pharm.com

Source: Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.

FAQ

What were Acadia Pharmaceuticals' first quarter 2024 net product sales?

Acadia Pharmaceuticals reported net product sales of $205.8 million for the first quarter of 2024.

What is the trade name for Acadia Pharmaceuticals' Parkinson's disease psychosis drug?

The trade name for Acadia Pharmaceuticals' Parkinson's disease psychosis drug is NUPLAZID.

Who was appointed as the Executive Vice President, Head of Research and Development at Acadia Pharmaceuticals?

Elizabeth H.Z. Thompson, Ph.D. was appointed as the Executive Vice President, Head of Research and Development at Acadia Pharmaceuticals.

What is the Financial Guidance for Acadia Pharmaceuticals for the full year 2024?

Acadia Pharmaceuticals' full year 2024 financial guidance includes DAYBUE net product sales in the range of $370 to $420 million, NUPLAZID net product sales in the range of $560 to $590 million, R&D expense in the range of $305 to $325 million, and SG&A expense in the range of $455 to $480 million.

What is the mechanism of action of Trofinetide, Acadia Pharmaceuticals' drug for Rett syndrome?

Trofinetide is a synthetic version of a naturally occurring molecule known as the tripeptide glycine-proline-glutamate (GPE). The mechanism by which trofinetide exerts therapeutic effects in patients with Rett syndrome is unknown.