Axsome Therapeutics Expands CNS Portfolio with Balipodect Acquisition
On April 01, 2026, Axsome Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on central nervous system disorders, announced it has entered into an asset purchase agreement to obtain exclusive global rights to balipodect, a novel, oral, potent, and selective phosphodiesterase 10A inhibitor, from Takeda. Axsome intends to develop balipodect for the treatment of schizophrenia and Tourette syndrome, with plans to begin Phase 3 trial-enabling activities for schizophrenia in 2026, according to GlobeNewswire PE.
Details of the Agreement
Under the terms of the agreement, Axsome obtained worldwide commercial, development, and manufacturing rights to balipodect, while Takeda received an upfront payment and is eligible for additional payments tied to development, regulatory, and commercial milestones for the first two indications, as well as royalties on potential global net sales. Balipodect has completed a 164-patient proof-of-concept Phase 2 trial in schizophrenia and has demonstrated a favorable safety and tolerability profile in clinical studies involving over 360 individuals to date.
Background on Balipodect
Balipodect is a potentially first-in-class selective PDE10A inhibitor that Axsome plans to advance for neuropsychiatric conditions, including schizophrenia, which is characterized by positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms and affects approximately 3.7 million people in the United States. This acquisition expands Axsome’s neuroscience pipeline by adding a novel mechanism of action for these disorders, according to GlobeNewswire PE.
Future Plans
Axsome’s CEO, Herriot Tabuteau, MD, stated that the company believes balipodect’s mechanism is relevant to multiple neuropsychiatric conditions and that Axsome is positioned to advance its development initially in schizophrenia and Tourette syndrome. As widely-known context, schizophrenia is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, though specific impacts on capital raising or fund management are not detailed in the source.
