Acadia Pharmaceuticals Plans Year-End Retirement of R&D Chief Elizabeth H.Z. Thompson After Distinguished Career
Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. has announced that Elizabeth H.Z. Thompson, Ph.D., its Head of Research and Development, plans to retire from her role for personal reasons. The company confirmed that Dr. Thompson will remain in her current position until a successor is appointed, ensuring continuity during a critical period for Acadia’s clinical and strategic initiatives. Following her retirement, she is expected to continue contributing in an advisory capacity, with plans to serve as a consultant through at least the end of 2026.
This transition comes at a pivotal time for Acadia, as the company advances several key clinical programs, including its ongoing development of remlifanserin for neuropsychiatric conditions associated with neurodegenerative diseases. By retaining Dr. Thompson as a consultant, Acadia aims to maintain scientific and operational continuity, particularly as it approaches important milestones such as the Phase 2 data readout for remlifanserin in Alzheimer’s disease psychosis (ADP) and the early execution phase of planned Phase 3 trials.
The company has already initiated a formal search for a new Head of Research and Development. Leadership has emphasized its commitment to identifying a seasoned R&D executive who can build upon the strong scientific and clinical foundation established under Dr. Thompson’s tenure. Acadia’s pipeline remains active, with multiple studies continuing as planned. Importantly, all ongoing trials—including Phase 2 studies evaluating remlifanserin in both ADP and Lewy Body Dementia Psychosis (LBDP)—are still recruiting participants and remain blinded, meaning that neither the investigators nor the company leadership, including Dr. Thompson, have access to interim efficacy results.
Chief Executive Officer Catherine Owen Adams highlighted Dr. Thompson’s impact on the organization, noting that her leadership has been instrumental in strengthening Acadia’s research and development capabilities across both scientific and operational dimensions. Under her guidance, the company has implemented a disciplined and focused R&D strategy, prioritizing programs with the potential to address significant unmet medical needs in neurological and rare diseases.
Adams also underscored Dr. Thompson’s role in fostering a strong internal culture within the R&D organization. She credited her with promoting clarity in decision-making, accountability in execution, and engagement across cross-functional teams. These contributions, according to Adams, have positioned Acadia to continue advancing its pipeline effectively even as leadership transitions occur. The CEO further expressed appreciation for Dr. Thompson’s willingness to remain involved during the transition period and beyond, emphasizing the importance of her institutional knowledge and scientific perspective as the company progresses toward key development milestones.
Reflecting on her tenure, Dr. Thompson described her time at Acadia as a defining chapter in her career. She noted that she joined the company in 2024 with an already solid scientific base and has since worked to further strengthen its R&D infrastructure and pipeline strategy. A key area of focus during her leadership has been the advancement of remlifanserin, a program she identified as particularly promising.
Dr. Thompson highlighted the expansion of remlifanserin’s development into Lewy Body Dementia Psychosis as an important achievement, broadening the potential impact of the therapy across multiple neurodegenerative conditions. She expressed confidence in both the scientific rationale behind the program and the disciplined approach the company is taking to its clinical development. Beyond remlifanserin, she pointed to Acadia’s broader pipeline, which includes several investigational programs that could offer meaningful therapeutic options for patients living with neurological and rare diseases.
Despite her decision to retire, Dr. Thompson reaffirmed her commitment to ensuring a smooth transition. She stated that she will continue to lead the R&D organization until a successor is in place and will remain actively engaged in supporting the company’s progress through the remainder of the year. Her continued involvement as a consultant is expected to provide valuable continuity, particularly as Acadia navigates upcoming clinical readouts and prepares for later-stage development activities.
Since joining Acadia, Dr. Thompson has played a central role in enhancing the company’s scientific and clinical capabilities. Her tenure has been marked by efforts to strengthen collaboration across research, clinical development, and regulatory teams, creating a more integrated and efficient approach to drug development. These improvements have helped position Acadia to advance multiple programs simultaneously while maintaining a clear strategic focus.
The planned leadership transition reflects a broader effort by Acadia to sustain momentum while evolving its organizational structure to support future growth. As the company continues to execute on its pipeline and pursue new opportunities in neuroscience and rare diseases, the appointment of a new Head of Research and Development will be a key step in shaping its next phase of innovation.
In the meantime, the continued involvement of Dr. Thompson provides reassurance that Acadia’s scientific direction and operational execution will remain steady. Her contributions have laid a strong foundation, and her ongoing advisory role is expected to help guide the company through a period of significant clinical and strategic activity.
Overall, Acadia’s announcement signals both a moment of transition and continuity. While the company prepares for new leadership in its R&D organization, it remains firmly focused on advancing its clinical programs and delivering innovative therapies to patients with serious and underserved conditions.
About Acadia Pharmaceuticals
Acadia is committed to turning scientific promise into meaningful innovation that makes the difference for underserved neurological and rare disease communities around the world. Our commercial portfolio includes the first and only FDA-approved treatments for Parkinson’s disease psychosis and Rett syndrome. We are developing the next wave of therapeutic advancements with a robust and diverse pipeline that includes mid- to late-stage programs in Alzheimer’s disease psychosis and Lewy body dementia psychosis, along with earlier-stage programs that address other underserved patient needs. At Acadia, we’re here to be their difference.
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