ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.
- Open
- 29.05
- Day high
- 29.12
- Day low
- 28.57
- Prev close
- 29.11
- Volume
- 991K
- Mkt cap
- $5.0B
- P/E (TTM)
- 12.8
- EPS (TTM)
- $2.25
- P/B
- 3.8
- P/S
- 4.4
- Yield
- —
- Per share
- —
- ▼Insiders net selling -$1.3M over the last 3 months (0 open-market buys, 6 sales)
- 🏛Institutions accumulating (13F)
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ACAD) is a Healthcare company listed on NASDAQ. The stock is up 12% over the past year. Over the trailing 3 months, insiders filed 0 open-market buys and 6 sales (SEC Form 4). Drillr has 1 published research article covering ACAD.
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ACAD) financials & analyst ratings
Fundamentals (TTM)
Analyst consensus · 12 analysts
Source: exchange market data + company filings. Figures are trailing-twelve-month or as most recently reported. For informational purposes only — not investment advice.
ACAD earnings date, history & EPS estimates
| Report date | EPS est | EPS actual | Surprise | Revenue | Rev. surprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 4, 2026 | $0.07 | $0.18 | +164.1% | $308M | +3.8% |
| May 6, 2026 | $0.04 | $0.02 | -50.0% | $268M | -4.3% |
| Feb 25, 2026 | $0.12 | $1.60 | +1233.3% | $284M | -2.9% |
| Nov 5, 2025 | $0.14 | $0.26 | +85.7% | $279M | -4.8% |
| Aug 6, 2025 | $0.14 | $0.16 | +14.3% | $265M | +1.0% |
| May 7, 2025 | $0.10 | $0.11 | +10.0% | $244M | +2.2% |
| Feb 26, 2025 | $0.13 | $0.17 | +30.8% | $260M | -4.9% |
| Feb 27, 2024 | $0.30 | $0.28 | -6.7% | $231M | +3.2% |
| Nov 2, 2023 | $-0.43 | $-0.40 | +7.0% | $212M | -5.7% |
| Aug 2, 2023 | $-0.12 | $0.01 | +108.3% | $165M | +4.7% |
| Feb 27, 2023 | $-0.25 | $-0.26 | -4.0% | $136M | +1.7% |
| Nov 2, 2022 | $-0.18 | $-0.17 | +5.6% | $131M | -5.8% |
ACAD insider trading activity (SEC Form 4)
| Date | Insider | Type | Shares | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 7, 2026 | Schneyer Mark C.officer: EVP, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | Option | 5,849 | $17.84 |
| Aug 7, 2026 | Schneyer Mark C.officer: EVP, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | Sell | 9,292 | $29.34 |
| Aug 7, 2026 | Schneyer Mark C.officer: EVP, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | Option | 14,292 | $17.84 |
| Aug 7, 2026 | Schneyer Mark C.officer: EVP, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | Sell | 5,000 | $29.00 |
| Aug 7, 2026 | Schneyer Mark C.officer: EVP, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | Sell | 5,849 | $29.00 |
| Jul 31, 2026 | Thompson Elizabeth H.Z.officer: EVP, Head of Research & Dev | Sell | 50 | $26.17 |
| Jul 31, 2026 | Thompson Elizabeth H.Z.officer: EVP, Head of Research & Dev | Sell | 16,508 | $26.13 |
| Jul 31, 2026 | Thompson Elizabeth H.Z.officer: EVP, Head of Research & Dev | Option | 32,272 | — |
| Jun 29, 2026 | Kihara Jamesofficer: PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING OFFICER | Sell | 11,421 | $26.08 |
| Jun 2, 2026 | BAKER BROS. ADVISORS LPdirector, 10 percent owner: | Grant | 18,622 | — |
| Jun 2, 2026 | BAKER BROS. ADVISORS LPdirector, 10 percent owner: | Grant | 32,008 | $21.66 |
| Jun 1, 2026 | Brege Lauradirector | Option | 8,107 | — |
| Jun 1, 2026 | Poole Jonathandirector | Grant | 16,004 | $21.66 |
| Jun 1, 2026 | HARRIGAN EDMUNDdirector | Option | 8,107 | — |
| Jun 1, 2026 | Daly James Mdirector | Grant | 9,311 | — |
Source: ACAD SEC Form 4 filings, latest Aug 7, 2026. For informational purposes only — not investment advice.
See the full ACAD insider & 13F page →ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. company profile
Overview
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:ACAD) is a San Diego-based biopharmaceutical company founded in 1993 that specializes in developing and commercializing treatments for central nervous system disorders. The company has evolved from a research-focused organization into a commercial-stage enterprise with two marketed products addressing rare neurological conditions. ACADIA went public in 2004 and has built its business around addressing unmet medical needs in neuropsychiatric and rare disease markets, with a particular focus on conditions affecting vulnerable patient populations including those with Parkinson's disease, Rett syndrome, and other neurological disorders.
Business
ACADIA operates in the specialized biopharmaceutical sector, focusing on central nervous system (CNS) disorders through small molecule drug development and commercialization. The company's business centers on two primary revenue-generating products and a robust pipeline of experimental treatments. NUPLAZID (pimavanserin) represents the company's flagship commercial product, generating approximately 64% of total revenues in 2024. This medication treats hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson's disease psychosis, a condition affecting roughly 50% of Parkinson's patients. Parkinson's disease psychosis occurs when patients experience visual hallucinations, auditory hallucinations, or delusions as their neurological condition progresses. NUPLAZID works as a selective serotonin inverse agonist, targeting specific brain receptors without the movement-impairing side effects common with traditional antipsychotic medications. DAYBUE (trofinetide) accounts for approximately 36% of revenues and represents the first FDA-approved treatment for Rett syndrome. Rett syndrome is a rare genetic neurological disorder that primarily affects girls, causing severe cognitive and physical disabilities including loss of speech, motor skills, and repetitive hand movements. DAYBUE is a synthetic analog of a naturally occurring protein that helps support synaptic function in the brain. The drug addresses core symptoms of Rett syndrome and represents a breakthrough for families who previously had no targeted treatment options. The company's pipeline includes several programs in various development stages: ACP-101 for Prader-Willi syndrome (a genetic disorder causing insatiable hunger), ACP-204 for Alzheimer's disease psychosis, and ACP-711 for essential tremor. These programs leverage ACADIA's expertise in CNS drug development and target additional rare disease markets with significant unmet medical needs.
Revenue model
ACADIA generates revenue primarily through direct product sales of its two commercialized medications to healthcare providers, hospitals, and specialty pharmacies. The company operates a direct-pay model where revenues come from prescription fills rather than subscription or licensing arrangements. NUPLAZID generates revenue through both office-based prescriptions and long-term care facilities, with pricing that reflects its status as a specialized neuropsychiatric medication. The drug benefits from limited competition in the Parkinson's disease psychosis market, allowing for premium pricing. Revenue growth depends on market penetration, physician adoption, and patient persistence on therapy. DAYBUE commands premium pricing as the only approved treatment for Rett syndrome, with annual treatment costs reflecting its orphan drug status and the significant unmet medical need it addresses. Revenue growth is driven by patient identification, physician education, and geographic expansion beyond current centers of excellence. Several factors influence the company's margins and profitability. Positive margin drivers include the specialized nature of both products, limited competition, orphan drug pricing advantages, and growing market awareness. The company benefits from intellectual property protection extending into the 2030s for both major products. Negative margin pressures include substantial research and development investments for pipeline programs, commercial expansion costs including field force expansion, direct-to-consumer marketing campaigns, and the inherent challenges of rare disease markets with limited patient populations. Generic competition represents a future risk, particularly for NUPLAZID as patents approach expiration between 2030-2038. Manufacturing costs and regulatory compliance expenses also impact margins, though these are typical for specialty pharmaceutical companies.
Competitive moat
ACADIA possesses a moderate competitive moat built primarily on regulatory exclusivity, specialized expertise, and first-mover advantages in niche markets. The company's strongest defensive position comes from DAYBUE's orphan drug status and being the first and only approved treatment for Rett syndrome, providing significant regulatory protection and pricing power in a market with approximately 4,500 diagnosed patients in the United States. NUPLAZID's moat is more vulnerable, relying on its established market position in Parkinson's disease psychosis and physician familiarity, but facing potential generic competition as patents expire in the 2030s. The drug's specialized mechanism of action and established safety profile provide some protection, but this market is more susceptible to competitive threats. The company's expertise in CNS drug development and rare disease commercialization creates operational advantages, particularly in navigating complex regulatory pathways and building relationships with specialized medical centers. ACADIA's commercial infrastructure and patient support programs represent modest barriers to entry for competitors. However, the moat faces several vulnerabilities. The rare disease focus limits total addressable markets, making each product highly dependent on successful execution. Larger pharmaceutical companies with greater resources could potentially develop competing treatments or acquire competitive assets. The company's pipeline, while promising, remains largely unproven, and clinical trial failures could significantly impact long-term competitive positioning. Additionally, the specialized nature of CNS disorders means that breakthrough treatments from competitors could rapidly erode market share, as seen historically in other neurological disease areas.
Risks & safety
ACADIA demonstrates a strong financial safety profile with minimal solvency risk and reasonable valuation metrics. • Liquidity and Debt: Strong cash position of $217.7 million as of Q1 2025, with minimal debt (debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07). Current ratio of 2.88 indicates solid short-term liquidity. • Cash Flow: Positive operating cash flow of $20.3 million in Q1 2025, though free cash flow turned negative at -$78.5 million due to capital expenditures and working capital changes. • Valuation Metrics: Forward P/E ratio of 36.5x appears elevated but reasonable for a specialty pharmaceutical company with growth prospects. EV/EBITDA of 33.8x reflects premium valuation typical of rare disease-focused biotechnology companies. • Profitability: Company achieved profitability with net income of $19.0 million in Q1 2025, demonstrating the leverage potential of its commercial model. • Other Considerations: Revenue guidance of $1.03-$1.095 billion for 2025 suggests continued growth trajectory. Patent protection extending through 2030s provides revenue visibility, though generic risks loom thereafter.
Recent development
Over the past few years, ACADIA has executed a strategic transformation from a single-product company to a diversified rare disease specialist. The most significant development was the successful launch of DAYBUE in 2023, which represented the company's entry into the rare disease market and provided a second major revenue stream. The launch exceeded expectations, generating $348.4 million in its first full year of commercialization. The company has significantly expanded its commercial capabilities, increasing the DAYBUE field force by 30% and launching direct-to-consumer marketing campaigns for both products. ACADIA initiated an unbranded disease awareness campaign featuring Ryan Reynolds for NUPLAZID, generating over 3.9 billion media impressions and nearly tripling patient website visits. Pipeline advancement has been substantial, with multiple programs progressing through clinical development. The company accelerated its Prader-Willi syndrome program with top-line results expected in Q4 2025, while advancing ACP-204 for Alzheimer's disease psychosis through Phase 2 development. ACADIA also licensed ACP-711 for essential tremor, expanding its CNS portfolio. International expansion efforts have gained momentum, with the company submitting a European Marketing Authorization Application for trofinetide and preparing for potential EU launch in Q1 2026. The company sold a rare pediatric disease priority review voucher for $150 million, optimizing its regulatory assets while strengthening its balance sheet. Strategic focus has shifted toward building a sustainable, diversified rare disease platform while maintaining disciplined capital allocation and exploring business development opportunities in adjacent therapeutic areas including endocrine, cardiovascular, and immunology markets.
ACAD company profile · for informational purposes only — not investment advice.
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