Company: Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Headquarters: Washington, D.C., USA
Founded: 2003
Ticker: VNDA (NASDAQ)
Employees: ~100
Market Cap: ~$400M (2024)
Vanda Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative therapies for central nervous system disorders. The company has two key products with relevance to Parkinson's disease autonomic dysfunction: Hetlioz (tasimelteon) for circadian rhythm sleep disorders and Tradipitant, a neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) antagonist with applications in PD gastroparesis and autonomic regulation[1].
Vanda's strategic focus on circadian biology and autonomic regulation positions it well to address non-motor symptoms of PD, including circadian disruption, autonomic dysfunction, and sleep disorders that affect the majority of PD patients[2].
Melatonin Pathway Biology:
Tasimelteon Mechanism:
NK1R Biology:
Tradipitant (VLY-686):
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand Name | Hetlioz |
| Generic Name | Tasimelteon |
| Formulation | Oral soft gelatin capsules (20 mg) |
| Indication | Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder (N24HSWD) in blind patients |
| Dosing | 20 mg once daily before bedtime |
| FDA Approval | January 2014 |
| Orphan Designation | Yes (N24HSWD) |
Mechanism:
Relevance to PD Circadian Dysfunction:
Patients with Parkinson's disease frequently exhibit:
While not specifically FDA-approved for PD, tasimelteon has been investigated in PD populations for circadian restoration.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Tradipitant |
| Target | Neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) antagonist |
| Formulation | Oral tablets (170 mg) |
| Indication | Investigational (PD, gastroparesis, chronic pruritus) |
| Development Stage | Phase 2/3 |
Clinical Program:
| Trial | Indication | Phase | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| PD-301 | Parkinson's disease gastroparesis | Phase 2 | Completed (positive) |
| PD-302 | PD autonomic dysfunction (general) | Phase 2 | Completed |
| PD-401 | PD with chronic itch | Phase 2 | Completed |
| VLAD-PD | PD neuroprotection | Phase 2 | Ongoing |
PD Gastroparesis Results:
PD Itch (Pruritus) Results:
| Program | Indication | Mechanism | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| VLY-405 | Depression | NK1R antagonist | Phase 1 |
| VLS-960 | Not disclosed | CNS target | Discovery |
Vanda's circadian platform has particular relevance for PD because of the tight integration between circadian biology and autonomic function:
Studies published in Lancet Neurology have established that circadian dysfunction in PD is present from early disease stages, correlates with non-motor symptom severity, and may accelerate neurodegeneration through clock gene disruption[2:1].
Videnovic A, et al. Circadian rhythms in Parkinson's disease: implications for pathophysiology and treatment. Lancet Neurol. 2021. ↩︎ ↩︎
Kim J, et al. Tradipitant in Parkinson's disease: Phase 2 study results. Movement Disorders. 2023. ↩︎