Cerevel Therapeutics

American biotechnology company
  • Nasdaq: CERE
IndustryBiopharmaceuticalsFounded2018; 6 years ago (2018)FateAcquired by AbbVieHeadquartersCambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.
Number of employees
355 (2024)ParentAbbvieWebsitecerevel.com

Cerevel Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. is an American biotechnology and pharmaceuticals company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, focused on the development of novel therapies for mental and neurological illnesses.[1]

History

Cerevel was established in October 2018.[2] The company was formed in a collaboration between pharmaceuticals company Pfizer and private equity firm Bain Capital.[3][4]

In 2019, Cerevel appointed N. Anthony Coles as its chief executive officer. [5]In 2020, Coles led Cerevel's effort to raise $445 million for brain drugs, the third largest biotech public listing at that time (after Legend Biotech and Moderna).[6] In May 2023, Coles resigned from his position as CEO, yet retained his role as board chairman of Cerevel.[7]

In December 2023, American pharmaceutical company AbbVie announced its intention to acquire Cerevel for US$8.7 billion.[8][9][10] The acquisition was completed in August 2024 with Cerevel becoming a subsidiary of Abbvie.[11][12]

Pipeline

Cerevel uses novel approaches and technologies to develop its own drugs and treatment therapies. Its pipeline contains an array of drugs and therapies treating a range of conditions including Schizophrenia, Parkinson's, Epilepsy, mood disorders, and more.[13]

Notable Cerevel drugs and treatments at varying stages of development include:

Approach to treatment

Cerevel's tagline mission statement is to "unravel the mysteries of the brain" to treat neurological disease.[19] Scientifically, its approach to therapy development focuses on understanding the wiring of the brain, pursuing novel targets, and addressing specific receptor sub-types.[1]

The company has stated its approach to neurotherapy development can be viewed as:

  • Development of treatment opportunities by precisely identifying and targeting the neurocircuitry that underlies a given neurological disease.[1]
  • Selective targeting of only the relevant receptor subtype(s) related to the physiology of the disease being treated. This has the impact of minimizing undesired off-target and side effects, while maximizing activity.[1]
  • The design of full and partial agonists, antagonists and allosteric modulators that can precisely fine-tune the receptor pharmacology and neurocircuit activity, without over-activation or over-suppression of the endogenous physiologic range.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "The Last Frontier of Medicine". Neurology live. 2023-04-21. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  2. ^ Logan, Tim (August 7, 2019). "Pfizer spinoff Cerevel moving into Cambridge Crossing". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  3. ^ "Bain Capital And Pfizer Create New CNS Company Cerevel Therapeutics". markets.businessinsider.com. 2024-01-12. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  4. ^ Brodwin, Erin. "Drug giant Pfizer isn't ready to abandon neuroscience — here's its $150-million 'star cluster' strategy for betting on promising brain drug startups". Business Insider. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  5. ^ Eides, Rachel. In the News: Cerevel Therapeutics Appoints Biotechnology Leader Tony Coles, M.D., as Chief Executive Officer. W20 pure. https://www.cerevel.com/newsroom/cerevel-therapeutics-appoints-biotechnology-leader-tony-coles-m-d-as-chief-executive-officer/
  6. ^ Garde, Damian, and Matthew Herper. Coles-led Cerevel Therapeutics to raise $445 million to develop brain drugs with fewer side effects. STAT. July 30, 2020. https://www.statnews.com/2020/07/30/coles-led-cerevel-therapeutics-to-raise-445-million-to-develop-brain-drugs-with-fewer-side-effects/
  7. ^ Peebles, Angelica. Cerevel CEO Tony Coles Steps Down From Neuroscience Biotech: Bain Partner, former Translate Bio CEO will replace Coles, Coles to leave CEO post in June, to remain board chairman. Bloomberg. May 3, 2023. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-05-03/cerevel-ceo-tony-coles-steps-down-succeeded-by-ex-translate-bio-s-renaud
  8. ^ Constantino, Annika Kim (2023-12-06). "AbbVie to acquire neuroscience drugmaker Cerevel Therapeutics for $8.7 billion". CNBC. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  9. ^ Armstrong, Annalee (December 6, 2023). "AbbVie adds to neuroscience portfolio with $8.7B deal to acquire Cerevel". Fierce Biotech. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  10. ^ "AbbVie to Acquire Cerevel Therapeutics in Transformative Transaction to Strengthen Neuroscience Pipeline". AbbVie News Center. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  11. ^ "AbbVie Completes Acquisition of Cerevel Therapeutics" (Press release). AbbVie. August 1, 2024.
  12. ^ Green, Hannah (July 26, 2024). "After FTC involvement, here's when AbbVie-Cerevel deal could close". Boston Business Journal.
  13. ^ "EMPOWERing the Next Generation". Psychiatric Times. 2023-09-13. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  14. ^ "Cerevel Therapeutics Initiates Phase 3 Program of Tavapadon for the Treatment of Parkinson's Disease – Cerevel Therapeutics". www.cerevel.com. 2020-01-14. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  15. ^ "Emraclidine – Cerevel Therapeutics". www.cerevel.com. 2020-01-04. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  16. ^ "Cerevel Therapeutics Announces Publication of Phase 2a Study Results in Neurology on Its Most Advanced Investigational Epilepsy Treatment – Cerevel Therapeutics". www.cerevel.com. 2019-04-09. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  17. ^ "CVL-871 – Cerevel Therapeutics". www.cerevel.com. 2020-01-02. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  18. ^ "CVL-354, a novel, brain penetrant and selective kappa opioid receptor antagonist – Cerevel Therapeutics". www.cerevel.com. 2022-12-01. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  19. ^ "EX-99". www.sec.gov. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  • Official website
    • Historical business data for Cerevel Therapeutics Holdings, Inc.:
    • SEC filings