Company type | Public |
---|---|
Industry | Biotechnology |
Founded | 1987 |
Founder | Michael Wall |
Headquarters | , |
Key people | Richard Pops (CEO) |
Revenue | US$1.1 billion (2022) [2] |
US$-20.5 million | |
US$-158 million (2022) | |
Total assets | US$1.9 billion |
Total equity | US$1 billion |
Number of employees | 2,100 |
Website | www.alkermes.com |
Alkermesplc is a fully-integrated biopharmaceutical company that focuses on developing medicines for psychiatric and neurological disorders. The company was founded in 1987 by Michael Wall. [3] In September 2011 Alkermes, Inc. merged with Elan Drug Technologies (EDT), the former drug formulation and manufacturing division of Élan Corporation, plc. [4] The company is headquartered in Dublin, and has an R&D center in Waltham, Massachusetts, and a manufacturing facility in Wilmington, Ohio. [1]
Alkermes has four proprietary commercial drug products [5] approved for the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar I disorder, alcohol dependence and opioid dependence. These include olanzapine and samidorphan (Lybalvi), an atypical antipsychotic and opioid modulator combination intended for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder; aripiprazole lauroxil (Aristada), a long-acting injectable for schizophrenia; and naltrexone for extended-release injectable suspension (Vivitrol) for alcohol and opioid dependence.
Other products utilizing Alkermes' proprietary technologies include: diroximel fumarate (Vumerity) for multiple sclerosis, risperidone (microspheres) long-acting injectable (Risperdal Consta) for schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder, paliperidone palmitate (Invega Sustenna, Invega Trinza and Invega Hafyerain in the U.S., Xeplion, Trevicta and Bynnali in Europe) for schizophrenia. [6] [7]
In October 2023, Alkermes announced its first data related to its orexin 2 receptor (OXR2) agonist, ALKS 2680. ALKS 2680 is in development for the treatment of narcolepsy. [8]
In November 2023, Alkermes completed the planned separation of its oncology business into a new company, Mural Oncology, which plans to continue to work on the investigational interleukin-2 (IL-2) drug, nemvaleukin alfa. [9]
In May 2024, Alkermes completed the sale of its Athlone, Ireland facility to Novo Nordisk. [10]
Risperidone, sold under the brand name Risperdal among others, is an atypical antipsychotic used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It is taken either by mouth or by injection. The injectable versions are long-acting and last for 2–4 weeks.
Olanzapine, sold under the brand name Zyprexa among others, is an atypical antipsychotic primarily used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. For schizophrenia, it can be used for both new-onset disease and long-term maintenance. It is taken by mouth or by injection into a muscle.
Aripiprazole, sold under the brand names Abilify and Aristada, among others, is an atypical antipsychotic. It is primarily used in the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder; other uses include as an add-on treatment in major depressive disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), tic disorders, and irritability associated with autism. Aripiprazole is taken by mouth or via injection into a muscle. A Cochrane review found low-quality evidence of effectiveness in treating schizophrenia.
Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a substance use disorder characterized by cravings for opioids, continued use despite physical and/or psychological deterioration, increased tolerance with use, and withdrawal symptoms after discontinuing opioids. Opioid withdrawal symptoms include nausea, muscle aches, diarrhea, trouble sleeping, agitation, and a low mood. Addiction and dependence are important components of opioid use disorder.
H. Lundbeck A/S is a Danish international pharmaceutical company engaged in the research, development, manufacturing, marketing and sale of pharmaceuticals across the world. The company’s products are targeted at brain diseases, including depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and migraine.
Buprenorphine, sold under the brand name Subutex among others, is an opioid used to treat opioid use disorder, acute pain, and chronic pain. It can be used under the tongue (sublingual), in the cheek (buccal), by injection, as a skin patch (transdermal), or as an implant. For opioid use disorder, the patient must have moderate opioid withdrawal symptoms before buprenorphine can be administered under direct observation of a health-care provider.
Naltrexone, sold under the brand name Revia among others, is a medication primarily used to manage alcohol use or opioid use disorder by reducing cravings and feelings of euphoria associated with substance use disorder. It has also been found effective in the treatment of other addictions and may be used for them off-label. An opioid-dependent person should not receive naltrexone before detoxification. It is taken by mouth or by injection into a muscle. Effects begin within 30 minutes, though a decreased desire for opioids may take a few weeks to occur. Side effects may include trouble sleeping, anxiety, nausea, and headaches. In those still on opioids, opioid withdrawal may occur. Use is not recommended in people with liver failure. It is unclear if use is safe during pregnancy. Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist and works by blocking the effects of opioids, including both opioid drugs as well as opioids naturally produced in the brain.
Ziconotide, sold under the brand name Prialt, also called intrathecal ziconotide (ITZ) because of its administration route, is an atypical analgesic agent for the amelioration of severe and chronic pain. Derived from Conus magus, a cone snail, it is the synthetic form of an ω-conotoxin peptide. It is 1,000 times as powerful as morphine.
Paliperidone, sold under the brand name Invega among others, is an atypical antipsychotic. It is mainly used to treat schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. It is marketed by Janssen Pharmaceuticals.
Nalmefene is a medication that is used in the treatment of opioid overdose and alcohol dependence. Nalmefene belongs to the class of opioid antagonists and can be taken by mouth, administered by injection, or delivered through nasal administration.
Lurasidone, sold under the brand name Latuda among others, is an antipsychotic medication used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It is taken by mouth.
Clinical neurochemistry is the field of neurological biochemistry which relates biochemical phenomena to clinical symptomatic manifestations in humans. While neurochemistry is mostly associated with the effects of neurotransmitters and similarly functioning chemicals on neurons themselves, clinical neurochemistry relates these phenomena to system-wide symptoms. Clinical neurochemistry is related to neurogenesis, neuromodulation, neuroplasticity, neuroendocrinology, and neuroimmunology in the context of associating neurological findings at both lower and higher level organismal functions.
Brexpiprazole, sold under the brand name Rexulti among others, is an atypical antipsychotic medication used for the treatment of major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and agitation associated with dementia due to Alzheimer's disease.
Samidorphan is an opioid antagonist that in the form of olanzapine/samidorphan is used in the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Samidorphan reduces the weight gain associated with olanzapine. Samidorphan is taken by mouth.
Buprenorphine/samidorphan is a combination formulation of buprenorphine and samidorphan which is under development as an add on to antidepressants in treatment-resistant depression (TRD).
Buprenorphine/naloxone, sold under the brand name Suboxone among others, is a fixed-dose combination medication that includes buprenorphine and naloxone. It is used to treat opioid use disorder, and reduces the mortality of opioid use disorder by 50%. It relieves cravings to use and withdrawal symptoms. Buprenorphine/naloxone is available for use in two different forms, under the tongue or in the cheek.
Indivior is a specialty pharmaceuticals business. Established as a division of Reckitt Benckiser in 1994 and demerged from that company in December 2014, the company has been fined for false marketing claims about the safety of its drug, Suboxone. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and on the NASDAQ Global Select Market.
David R. Gastfriend is an American psychiatrist, internationally recognized addiction treatment researcher, the former Chief Executive Officer of the Treatment Research Institute (TRI), and current Chief Medical Officer of DynamiCare Health.