Acadia reaches a neuropathic milestone

Acadia Pharmaceuticals has received a milestone payment from Allergan following the start of an initial single-dose exploratory Phase II study within the companies' clinical programme investigating novel treatments for neuropathic pain.

Within the collaboration the companies have discovered and are developing a new class of small molecule drug candidates that may be effective in treating a range of neuropathic pain conditions. Multiple compounds from this programme are currently being evaluated in ongoing clinical trials. Allergan is responsible for clinical development and has worldwide rights to commercialise products resulting from the collaboration; Acadia is entitled to receive milestones and royalties on products successfully developed and commercialised.

Neuropathic pain is an increasingly prevalent form of pain that is thought to involve an alteration in nervous system function or a reorganisation of nervous system structure. It can cause anything from mildly increased sensitivity to touch or temperature to excruciating pain, but medications currently used to treat other forms of pain, such as opioid painkillers and nsaids, are usually ineffective in treating neuropathic pain and can have significant adverse effects.

Acadia, based in San Diego, California, US, is a biopharmaceutical company utilising innovative technology to fuel drug discovery and clinical development of novel treatments for central nervous system disorders. It currently has four drug programmes in clinical development and maintains r&d operations in both San Diego and Malmo, Sweden.