ACADIA initiates trial for AD Agitation drug

ACADIA Pharmaceuticals has started its Phase II clinical trial of pimavanserin called SERENE to assess the medication’s ability to treat patients who have Alzheimer’s disease and are experiencing agitation (AD Agitation).
There are no FDA-approved products on the market to treat AD Agitation.
“AD Agitation is a common condition and a major cause of distress for Alzheimer’s patients, their families and caregivers,” ACADIA Executive Vice President and Head of Research and Development Dr. Serge Stankovic said. “It also is associated with more rapid decline and earlier institutionalization of patients with AD Agitation. With no FDA-approved therapy for AD Agitation, there is a large, unmet need for a new treatment option for patients.”
Piamvanserin is a selective serotonin inverse agonist that uses a specific mechanism of action to target 5-HT2A receptors similar to other off-label products.