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August 5, 2015 General News

ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Announces Senior Management Appointments in Manufacturing, Quality, Compliance, Access and Reimbursement and Business Development

SAN DIEGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Aug. 5, 2015– ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: ACAD), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative medicines that address unmet medical needs in neurological and related central nervous system disorders, today announced the following senior management appointments:

  • James A. Nash, Senior Vice President, Technology Development and Operations
  • Ryan E. Brown, Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer
  • Fred W. Manak, Jr., Vice President, Access and Reimbursement
  • Bob Mischler, Vice President, Strategy and Business Development

“We are pleased to have these strong and experienced leaders join the ACADIA team,” said Steve Davis, ACADIA’s Interim Chief Executive Officer. “We look forward to their contributions as we prepare for our New Drug Application submission and planned commercial launch of NUPLAZID™ (pimavanserin) for Parkinson’s disease psychosis in the United States, and as we seek to optimize the opportunities for pimavanserin in other disease states.”

James A. Nash, Senior Vice President, Technology Development and Operations

Mr. Nash joins ACADIA as Senior Vice President, Technology Development and Operations. In this new role, he is responsible for pharmaceutical development, manufacturing and GMP quality assurance. Mr. Nash brings over 30 years of executive level experience in these key technical functions. Prior to joining ACADIA, Mr. Nash served as Vice President, Technology Development and Operations at ViroPharma Inc. from 2008 to 2014, where he established supply chain, quality assurance and process development organizations in a rapidly growing specialty pharmaceutical company and supported the successful launch of Cinryze® for the treatment of hereditary angioedema. Previously, Mr. Nash served as Executive Vice President, Technical Operations at Watson Laboratories, Inc. where he led manufacturing, quality, and sourcing, managing seven manufacturing locations worldwide, and significantly enhancing the company’s operating efficiencies for delivering commercial products. He also has held executive positions in manufacturing at Chiron Corporation, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Searle Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Mr. Nash received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Zoology from the University of California, Berkeley and a Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University.

Ryan E. Brown, Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer

Mr. Brown joins ACADIA as Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer. In this new role, he is responsible for developing, implementing, and managing the Company’s corporate compliance program to support the planned commercialization of NUPLAZID and other future product opportunities. Prior to joining ACADIA, he served as Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer at Allergan, Inc. where he was responsible for the strategic vision and management of the global corporate compliance program and held other senior positions including General Counsel for subsidiary SkinMedica and Chief of Staff to the Office of the President. Mr. Brown received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Loyola Marymount University and his Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School.

Fred W. Manak, Jr., Vice President, Access and Reimbursement

Mr. Manak joins ACADIA as Vice President, Access and Reimbursement. In this new role, he is responsible for establishing ACADIA’s access and reimbursement strategy to support the planned commercialization of NUPLAZID and other future product opportunities. In addition, Mr. Manak is responsible for managing the Company’s government affairs efforts. Mr. Manak brings over 25 years of industry experience, primarily in pharmaceutical access, reimbursement, pricing, and contracting. Previously, Mr. Manak served as Vice President, Market Access at InterMune, Inc. where he led the market access strategy for the launch of Esbriet® in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Prior to joining InterMune, he served as Vice President, Reimbursement, Access and Value at Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and as Executive Director, Trade, Pricing and Contract Management at Amgen, Inc. Mr. Manak received his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Muhlenberg College.

Bob Mischler, Vice President, Strategy and Business Development

Mr. Mischler joins ACADIA as Vice President, Strategy and Business Development. In this new role, he is responsible for strategic planning and business development initiatives. Prior to joining ACADIA, Mr. Mischler served as Vice President, Scientific Affairs and Business Development at Ardea Biosciences, a member of the AstraZeneca Group, where he led the development and implementation of its lifecycle management strategy for the global gout franchise. Previously, he served as Vice President, Commercial Planning and Analytics at Ardea Biosciences, where he was significantly involved in business development and led commercial activities. Earlier in his career, he worked in various roles focused on product and portfolio strategy at CovX Research LLC, Pfizer Inc. and Eli Lilly and Company. Mr. Mischler received his Bachelor of Science in Biologic Sciences from Indiana University and his Master of Business Administration from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.

About ACADIA Pharmaceuticals

ACADIA is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative medicines to address unmet medical needs in neurological and related central nervous system disorders. ACADIA has a pipeline of product candidates led by NUPLAZID™ (pimavanserin), for which we have reported positive Phase III trial results in Parkinson’s disease psychosis and which has the potential to be the first drug approved in the United States for this disorder. Pimavanserin is also in Phase II development for Alzheimer’s disease psychosis and has successfully completed a Phase II trial in schizophrenia. ACADIA also has clinical-stage programs for chronic pain and glaucoma in collaboration with Allergan, Inc. All product candidates are small molecules that emanate from internal discoveries. ACADIA maintains a website at www.acadia-pharm.com to which we regularly post copies of our press releases as well as additional information and through which interested parties can subscribe to receive e-mail alerts.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical in nature are forward-looking statements. These statements include but are not limited to statements related to the progress and timing of ACADIA’s drug discovery and development programs, either alone or with a partner, including clinical trials, the benefits to be derived from ACADIA’s product candidates, in each case including NUPLAZID (pimavanserin), the potential for NUPLAZID to be the first drug approved in the United States for Parkinson’s disease psychosis, our ability to optimize opportunities for pimavanserin, and the benefits of contributions from our senior management appointments. These statements are only predictions based on current information and expectations and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in any of such statements due to various factors, including the risks and uncertainties inherent in drug discovery, development, approval and commercialization, and collaborations with others, and the fact that past results of clinical trials may not be indicative of future trial results. For a discussion of these and other factors, please refer to ACADIA’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 as well as ACADIA’s subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. This caution is made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement and ACADIA undertakes no obligation to revise or update this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, except as required by law.

ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Steve Davis, Interim Chief Executive Officer
Lisa Barthelemy, Director of Investor Relations
858-558-2871

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