ACADIA Pharmaceuticals to Receive Funding from Fast Forward and EMD Serono for Multiple Sclerosis Program

Award Will Advance ACADIA’s Selective ER-Beta Agonist as aPotential New Neuroprotective MS Therapy through Collaborative Researchwith UCLA

SAN DIEGO—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Dec. 20, 2012—ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: ACAD), a biopharmaceutical companyfocused on innovative treatments that address unmet medical needs inneurological and related central nervous system disorders, todayannounced that it will receive funding from Fast Forward, LLC, anot-for-profit organization established by the National MultipleSclerosis Society, and EMD Serono, a subsidiary of Merck KGaA,Darmstadt, Germany. This funding will support ACADIA research, to beconducted in collaboration with Dr. Rhonda Voskuhl of UCLA, directed atusing AC-186, ACADIA’s proprietary and selective estrogen receptor(ER)-beta agonist, as a new approach to the treatment of multiplesclerosis (MS).

“We are grateful for the commitment by Fast Forward and EMD Serono,which will enable us to expand on promising research in our ER-betaprogram and broaden its application to MS,” said Uli Hacksell, Ph.D.,ACADIA’s Chief Executive Officer. “We also are excited to collaborate onthis research with Dr. Voskuhl, Professor and Program Director at theUCLA Department of Neurology, who is a recognized expert in MS andneuroprotection.”

Currently, there are multiple immunology-based, disease-modifying drugsapproved for the treatment of relapsing forms of MS. In contrast, nodrug is currently approved for the treatment of progressive forms of MSand no currently available drugs were developed to specifically targetneurodegeneration in MS. A new MS drug with neuroprotective propertieswould fill this major unmet medical need. Studies in animal models of MSsuggest that selective ER-beta receptor agonists provide neuroprotectiveeffects while avoiding stimulation of ER-alpha receptors, which arebelieved to mediate toxicity. In this new program, AC-186, a selectiveER-beta agonist discovered by ACADIA, will be evaluated to further testthis hypothesis.

Fast Forward and EMD Serono will provide up to $545,000 to supportpreclinical studies with AC-186 designed to further evaluatepharmacokinetics and its therapeutic potential in preclinical models ofMS. This funding will be provided by the parties’ AcceleratingCommercial Development Fund, which is allocated to for-profitentities and is designed to accelerate the development of researchdiscoveries into new or improved therapies for people with MS.

“We are pleased to partner with ACADIA and UCLA on this innovativeapproach to targeting MS neurodegeneration,” said Dr. Timothy Coetzee,Chief Research Officer at the National MS Society and Fast Forward.“This is another example of our steadfast commitment to seek out andsupport promising new therapeutic approaches that address critical unmetneeds and could improve the lives of patients with MS.”

About Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, inflammatory condition of thecentral nervous system and is the most common, non-traumatic, disablingneurological disease in young adults. It is estimated that approximatelytwo million people have MS worldwide. While symptoms can vary, the mostcommon symptoms of MS include blurred vision, numbness or tingling inthe limbs and problems with strength and coordination. The relapsingforms of MS are the most common.

About Fast Forward, LLC

Fast Forward, LLC, established by the National Multiple SclerosisSociety as part of a comprehensive approach to MS research andtreatment, focuses on speeding promising research discoveries towardscommercial drug development. Fast Forward accelerates the development oftreatments for MS by connecting university-based MS research withprivate-sector drug development and by funding smallbiotechnology/pharmaceutical companies to develop innovative new MStherapies and repurpose FDA-approved drugs as new treatments for MS. Formore information, please visit www.fastforward.org.

About the National Multiple Sclerosis Society

The National MS Society addresses the challenges of each person affectedby MS by funding cutting-edge research, driving change through advocacy,facilitating professional education, collaborating with MS organizationsaround the world, and providing programs and services designed to helppeople with MS and their families move their lives forward. The Societyis dedicated to achieving a world free of MS. Join the movement at www.nationalMSsociety.org.

About ACADIA Pharmaceuticals

ACADIA is a biopharmaceutical company focused on innovative treatmentsthat address unmet medical needs in neurological and related centralnervous system disorders. ACADIA has a pipeline of product candidatesled by pimavanserin, which is in Phase III development as a potentialfirst-in-class treatment for Parkinson's disease psychosis. ACADIA alsohas clinical-stage programs for chronic pain and glaucoma incollaboration with Allergan, Inc. and two advanced preclinical programsdirected at Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders. Allproduct candidates are small molecules that emanate from discoveriesmade at ACADIA. ACADIA maintains a website at www.acadia-pharm.comto which ACADIA regularly posts copies of its press releases as well asadditional information and through which interested parties cansubscribe to receive email alerts.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical innature are forward-looking statements. These statements include but arenot limited to statements related to the progress and timing of ACADIA’sdrug discovery and development programs, either alone or with a partner,the potential of and the benefits to be derived from product candidates,in each case including AC-186, and, specifically, the neuroprotectivebenefits of AC-186 for MS patients, the expansion or broadening ofACADIA’s ER-beta program and the monies to be received to support thedevelopment of AC-186. These statements are only predictions based oncurrent information and expectations and involve a number of risks anduncertainties. Actual events or results may differ materially from thoseprojected in any of such statements due to various factors, includingthe risks and uncertainties inherent in drug discovery, development andcommercialization, and collaborations with others, and the fact thatpast results of clinical trials may not be indicative of future trialresults. For a discussion of these and other factors, please refer toACADIA’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011as well as ACADIA’s subsequent filings with the Securities and ExchangeCommission. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on theseforward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Thiscaution is made under the safe harbor provisions of the PrivateSecurities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All forward-looking statementsare qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement and ACADIAundertakes no obligation to revise or update this press release toreflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, except asrequired by law.

Source: ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.

ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Uli Hacksell, Ph.D., ChiefExecutive Officer
(858) 558-2871