Acadia Pharmaceuticals Presents New Dementia-Related Psychosis Real-World Outcomes Data at Psych Congress 2021

Rhea-AI Summary

Acadia Pharmaceuticals has presented new analyses on Medicare claims data related to dementia-related psychosis (DRP) at Psych Congress 2021. The data shows that over 70% of patients treated with off-label atypical antipsychotics experienced adverse events within a year, with costs averaging $5,565 for hyperlipidemia. Additionally, approximately 38% of patients faced cerebrovascular adverse events, with associated costs soaring to $68,308. Furthermore, nearly two-thirds of patients experienced suboptimal treatment outcomes leading to higher annual costs.

Acadia emphasizes the urgent need for effective treatments for DRP.

Positive

• Presentation of important data at Psych Congress 2021 highlights the company's involvement in addressing dementia-related psychosis.
• The data underscores the potential market for better-targeted treatments in dementia-related psychosis.

Negative

• Over 70% of patients experienced one or more adverse events from off-label atypical antipsychotic use, suggesting a significant risk associated with current treatment options.
• High costs associated with treatment-related adverse events may discourage healthcare providers from using current off-label treatments.

- Analyses indicate ongoing need for approved treatments with favorable benefit-risk profile for treating patients with dementia-related hallucinations and delusions

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: ACAD) announced today that three data presentations featuring new analyses of Medicare claims data on dementia-related psychosis (DRP) outcomes were presented at Psych Congress 2021, held virtually and in-person October 29-November 1, 2021 in San Antonio, TX. The presentations demonstrate the suboptimal outcomes associated with the off-label use of currently available atypical antipsychotic treatments in managing dementia-related hallucinations and delusions, along with the related cost burdens.

“The suboptimal outcomes and costs associated with off-label use of dopaminergic atypical antipsychotics underscore the challenges health care providers face in appropriately treating patients with dementia-related psychosis, including hallucinations and delusions,” said Ponni Subbiah, M.D., M.P.H., Senior Vice President, Global Head of Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer at Acadia.

Details of the posters presented are as follows:

Poster: Treatment Emergent Adverse Events and Associated Adverse Event-Specific Per-Patient-Per-Year Costs: Analysis of Medicare Beneficiaries Treated with Off-Label Atypical Antipsychotics for Dementia-Related Psychosis: Data from a Medicare claims analysis of 23,267 patients with dementia-related psychosis initiating atypical antipsychotic monotherapy from January 2014 through December 2017 showed that over 70% had one or more adverse events (AEs) within one year, with 64% experiencing dyslipidemia, 50% experiencing peripheral vascular disease (PVD) and 40% experiencing cerebrovascular adverse events (CVAEs) such as stroke and transient ischemic attacks. Median per-patient-per-year (PPPY) costs of hyperlipidemia, PVD, and CVAE were $5,565, $227 and $3,682, respectively.

Poster: Incremental Cost of Treatment Emergent Falls/Fractures, Stroke and Cerebrovascular Adverse Events Among Patients on Atypical Antipsychotics: Analysis of Medicare Patients with Dementia-Related Psychosis: A Medicare claims analysis of 23,267 treated DRP patients showed approximately one in five patients experienced falls/fractures or stroke (23% and 17%, respectively) while nearly two in five patients (38%) experienced other CVAEs including stroke or transient ischemic attacks. The incremental median annual total costs were significantly higher among patients with AEs compared to those without AEs after treatment initiation for falls or fractures ($70,932 vs. $44,221), CVAE ($68,308 vs. $40,061) and stroke ($74,234 vs. $45,999). These results suggest that patients experiencing these AEs had over 60% higher total annual costs compared with those who did not experience the AEs (p<0.05).

Poster: Incremental Cost of Suboptimal Treatment Outcomes Among Patients with Dementia-Related Psychosis: Analysis of Medicare Beneficiaries: An analysis of Medicare claims of 35,100 atypical antipsychotic new start patients with DRP found that nearly two out of three patients experienced at least one suboptimal treatment outcomes (e.g., treatment augmentation, discontinuation or psychosis-specific hospitalizations). Median annual total costs were nearly two times higher ($29,898) among patients with suboptimal outcomes compared with patients who did not experience suboptimal outcomes ($14,158; p<0.05). Total costs also doubled or quadrupled with the occurrence of two or more or four or more suboptimal outcome-events, respectively.

About Dementia-Related Psychosis

Approximately 8 million people in the United States are living with dementia, a condition with a core feature of declining cognition (changes in memory, decision-making abilities, language, etc.) resulting in functional impairment. Dementia is a manifestation of an underlying condition which is often progressive and neurodegenerative in nature.¹ In addition to cognitive decline, dementing illnesses almost universally lead to neuropsychiatric symptoms, which may include hallucinations, delusions, and changes in behavior.

It is estimated that 2.4 million Americans (or 30% of people with dementia) experience dementia-related hallucinations and delusions.^2,3 These symptoms may be frequent and severe and may recur over time. A hallucination is defined as a perception-like experience that occurs without an external stimulus and is sensory (seen, heard, felt, tasted, sensed) in nature. A delusion is defined as a false, fixed belief that is resolutely held despite evidence to the contrary. Dementia-related psychosis occurs in many types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, Parkinson’s disease dementia, vascular dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. Serious consequences have been associated with psychosis in patients with dementia, such as repeated hospital admissions, increased likelihood of nursing home placement, faster progression of dementia, and increased risk of morbidity and mortality.⁴

About Acadia Pharmaceuticals

Acadia is trailblazing breakthroughs in neuroscience to elevate life. For more than 25 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 approved therapy for hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson’s disease psychosis. Our late-stage development efforts are focused on dementia-related psychosis, negative symptoms of schizophrenia and Rett syndrome, and in early-stage clinical research we are exploring novel approaches to pain management, and cognition and neuropsychiatric symptoms in central nervous system disorders. For more information, visit us at www.acadia-pharm.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

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 regarding the timing of future events. 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 development, approval and commercialization. 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, 2020 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.

References

¹Dementia. (2019, September 19). Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia.
²Plassman BL, et al. Prevalence of dementia in the United States: The Aging Demographics, and Memory study. Neuroepidemiology. 2007;29(1-2):125-132.
³2017 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures and Acadia market research.
⁴Connors MH et al. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 2018;26(3). Peters ME et al. Am J Psychiatry 2015;172(5). Haupt M et al. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 1996;11(11). Naimark D et al. J Am Geriatr Soc 1996;44(3). Stern Y et al. Neurology 1994;44(12).

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Media Contact:

Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Deb Kazenelson

(818) 395-3043

media@acadia-pharm.com

Investor Contact:

Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Mark Johnson, CFA

(858) 261-2771

ir@acadia-pharm.com

Source: Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.

FAQ

What were the key findings of Acadia Pharmaceuticals at Psych Congress 2021 regarding dementia-related psychosis?

Acadia presented data showing over 70% of patients using off-label atypical antipsychotics faced adverse events, indicating risks and costs associated with current treatments.

How do treatment costs compare for patients experiencing adverse events with atypical antipsychotics?

Patients experiencing adverse events had significantly higher annual costs, with falls costing approximately $70,932 versus $44,221 for those without.

What is the importance of the recent Medicare claims analysis by Acadia Pharmaceuticals?

The analysis emphasizes the need for effective treatments for dementia-related psychosis, highlighting the treatment gaps and high costs associated with current approaches.

What are the implications of the new analyses on dementia-related psychosis treatments for investors of ACAD?

The findings underscore potential market opportunities for Acadia in developing effective treatments, but also highlight risks associated with current therapies.