AbbVie Inc (ABBV) is facing a challenging start to the week, with its stock plummeting over 10% on Monday. This downturn follows the release of data from its two Phase 2 EMPOWER trials for emraclidine, a potential treatment for schizophrenia. Unfortunately, the trials revealed that emraclidine did not meet its primary endpoint of demonstrating a statistically significant improvement in the change from baseline in the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score compared to the placebo group at week 6. PANSS is a widely used scale for measuring the severity of schizophrenia symptoms.
The trials investigated emraclidine as a once-daily, oral monotherapy treatment for adults experiencing an acute exacerbation of psychotic symptoms. Despite the disappointing results, AbbVie remains committed to analyzing the data to determine future steps for emraclidine’s development.
AbbVie acquired emraclidine through its $8.7 billion acquisition of Cerevel Therapeutics. This acquisition was seen as a strategic move to expand AbbVie’s portfolio into areas like schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease, and mood disorders. The company had high hopes that emraclidine would contribute to its growth in the latter part of this decade and beyond.
However, the news of emraclidine’s failure stands in stark contrast to the recent success of Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY). The company saw its stock rise by 13% on Monday following the FDA approval of its new oral medication for schizophrenia, Cobenfy (xanomeline and trospium chloride). Bristol-Myers acquired Cobenfy through its $14 billion acquisition of Karuna Therapeutics, a move that highlights the growing interest and investment in innovative treatments for mental health disorders.
This news highlights the ever-changing landscape of the pharmaceutical industry. While AbbVie faces setbacks with emraclidine, other companies are making significant strides in developing new treatments for complex conditions like schizophrenia. The future of emraclidine remains uncertain, while the success of Cobenfy serves as a reminder of the potential for groundbreaking advancements in the field.
