Developer · United States

Cerevel Therapeutics Holdings, Inc.

Clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapies for neuroscience diseases, spun out of Pfizer in 2018 with Bain Capital. Acquired by AbbVie in August 2024 and now operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary.

cerevel.com ↗

4compounds
4programs
4indications
Filed (NDA)lead asset

Phase distribution

  • Filed (NDA)1
  • Phase 22
  • Discontinued1

Modality

  • Small molecule 4

Mechanism focus

Pipeline (4)

Deals & partnerships

  • Aug 1, 2024AcquisitionAbbVie completes $8.7B acquisition of Cerevel TherapeuticsAbbVie acquired all outstanding shares of Cerevel Therapeutics for $45.00 per share in cash (~$8.7B equity value); deal closed Aug 1, 2024. Cerevel's neuroscience portfolio (emraclidine, tavapadon, darigabat, CVL-354) is now AbbVie-led.Darigabat (CVL-865)·Tavapadon·Emraclidine (CVL-231)·Icalcaprantsource ↗

Catalysts · 2 upcoming · 7 reported

Recently reported

  • 2025-09-26

    TavapadonforParkinson's diseaseRegulatory

    AbbVie submitted the tavapadon NDA to the U.S. FDA for early and advanced Parkinson's disease.

    source ↗

  • 2024-12-09met

    TavapadonforParkinson's diseaseTopline data

    TEMPO-2 (flexible-dose monotherapy, early PD) met primary endpoint: -9.1 point treatment difference on MDS-UPDRS II+III (p<0.0001).

    source ↗

  • 2024-12-05terminated

    Darigabat (CVL-865)forEpilepsyRegistry results

    Open-label extension (NCT04686786) terminated early after REALIZE missed its primary objective

    source ↗

  • 2024-11-11missed

    Emraclidine (CVL-231)forSchizophreniaTopline data

    EMPOWER-1 and EMPOWER-2 both missed the primary PANSS endpoint at Week 6; emraclidine schizophrenia monotherapy fails Phase 2.

    source ↗

  • 2024-09-26met

    TavapadonforParkinson's diseaseTopline data

    TEMPO-1 (fixed-dose monotherapy, early PD) met primary endpoint at both 5 mg and 15 mg (p<0.0001 vs placebo).

    source ↗

  • 2024-05-21missed

    Darigabat (CVL-865)forEpilepsyFull results

    REALIZE Phase 2 in drug-resistant focal onset seizures FAILED — darigabat did not separate from placebo on the primary Response Ratio (p=0.823 at 7.5 mg BID; p=0.986 at 25 mg BID)

    source ↗

  • 2024-04-18met

    TavapadonforParkinson's diseaseTopline data

    TEMPO-3 (adjunctive to levodopa, advanced PD) met primary endpoint: +1.1 h additional ON time without troublesome dyskinesia vs placebo (p<0.0001).

    source ↗

Recent activity

  • Dec 18, 2025Phase changeIcalcaprant·Major depressive disorderPhase 2Phase 2 MDD efficacy/safety trial (NCT07276997) initiated; actual study start 2025-12-18.source ↗
  • Sep 26, 2025ReadoutTavapadon·Parkinson's diseaseAbbVie submitted the tavapadon NDA to the U.S. FDA for early and advanced Parkinson's disease.source ↗
  • Dec 9, 2024ReadoutTavapadon·Parkinson's diseasemetTEMPO-2 (flexible-dose monotherapy, early PD) met primary endpoint: -9.1 point treatment difference on MDS-UPDRS II+III (p<0.0001).source ↗
  • Dec 5, 2024ReadoutDarigabat (CVL-865)·EpilepsyterminatedOpen-label extension (NCT04686786) terminated early after REALIZE missed its primary objectivesource ↗
  • Nov 11, 2024ReadoutEmraclidine (CVL-231)·SchizophreniamissedEMPOWER-1 and EMPOWER-2 both missed the primary PANSS endpoint at Week 6; emraclidine schizophrenia monotherapy fails Phase 2.source ↗
  • Sep 26, 2024ReadoutTavapadon·Parkinson's diseasemetTEMPO-1 (fixed-dose monotherapy, early PD) met primary endpoint at both 5 mg and 15 mg (p<0.0001 vs placebo).source ↗
  • Aug 1, 2024Phase changeEmraclidine (CVL-231)·SchizophreniaPhase 2AbbVie completed its ~$8.7B acquisition of Cerevel Therapeutics; emraclidine became an AbbVie asset while the EMPOWER Phase 2 trials were ongoing.source ↗
  • May 21, 2024ReadoutDarigabat (CVL-865)·EpilepsymissedREALIZE Phase 2 in drug-resistant focal onset seizures FAILED — darigabat did not separate from placebo on the primary Response Ratio (p=0.823 at 7.5 mg BID; p=0.986 at 25 mg BID)source ↗
  • Apr 18, 2024ReadoutTavapadon·Parkinson's diseasemetTEMPO-3 (adjunctive to levodopa, advanced PD) met primary endpoint: +1.1 h additional ON time without troublesome dyskinesia vs placebo (p<0.0001).source ↗
  • Dec 15, 2022Phase changeEmraclidine (CVL-231)·SchizophreniaPhase 1Two-part Phase 1b (NCT04787302) published in The Lancet: emraclidine 30 mg QD and 20 mg BID each produced a statistically significant, clinically meaningful PANSS total improvement vs placebo at Week 6 in acute schizophrenia, with no EPS/weight signal — the proof-of-concept that drove the Phase 2 program.source ↗
  • Jun 30, 2022Phase changeEmraclidine (CVL-231)·SchizophreniaPhase 2Phase 2 EMPOWER monotherapy program initiated in acute schizophrenia: EMPOWER-1 (NCT05227690, started 30 Jun 2022) and EMPOWER-2 (NCT05227703, started 5 Jul 2022), plus open-label extension EMPOWER-3 (NCT05443724).source ↗
  • Nov 8, 2021Phase changeIcalcaprant·Major depressive disorderPhase 1First-in-human Phase 1 single/multiple ascending dose trial of CVL-354 in healthy participants (NCT05138653) under Cerevel Therapeutics; supportive PET target-occupancy (NCT05547542) and PK trials followed.source ↗

Trials recruiting · 1 recruiting of 10 sponsored

  • Phase 2Icalcaprantn=19533 sites · United States

    A Phase 2, Multicenter, 6-Week, Double Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Icalcaprant in Subjects With Major Depressive Disorder

    Major Depressive DisorderNCT07276997 ↗

Competitive landscape

Other companies developing against Cerevel Therapeutics Holdings, Inc.'s targets or indications.

Leadership & advisors (20)