Acadia CEO Catherine Owen Adams on Rare Disease Innovation and Policy

Investing in Neuroscience and Rare Diseases

• 💡 Neuroscience and rare disease are considered investable categories primarily due to the significant unmet medical need for these patient populations.
• 🎯 In neuroscience, conditions like Alzheimer's, Lewy body dementia, and others represent vast areas with little to no effective treatments.
• 🧩 For rare diseases, a staggering 95% lack any existing therapies, highlighting a critical gap that Acadia aims to fill.

Impact of US Government Funding Cuts

• ⚠️ While Acadia's pipeline has not been directly disrupted by US government research funding cuts, concerns exist for smaller biotechs that rely heavily on academic innovation.
• 📈 There is a worry that longer-term knock-on effects from these cuts could be felt across the industry, potentially slowing down early-stage research.

Navigating Policy and Advocacy

• 🏛️ Acadia maintains a strong focus on neurological and rare diseases, largely unaffected by short-term policy changes in Washington, prioritizing patient needs above political shifts.
• 🤝 As CEO, Catherine Owen Adams actively engages with policymakers through organizations like BIO and the Midsize Biotech Group of America to ensure the voice of smaller biotech companies is heard.
• 🗣️ The core message to policymakers is to recognize that small biotech is the lifeblood of future innovation, and legislation should include appropriate carve-outs for rare diseases and smaller companies, avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach.

Ensuring Affordability and Patient Support

• 💰 Acadia is committed to making therapies accessible, focusing on comprehensive patient support services that address financial concerns and navigate insurance processes.
• 💬 The company also provides support for patients managing potential side effects and understanding their treatment, with a strong emphasis on two-way communication.
• 🤝 Collaboration with patient advocacy organizations is crucial, providing vital community feedback that has directly influenced product development, such as the new formulation for debut.