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PART I
FORWARD‑LOOKING STATEMENTS
This report and the information incorporated herein by reference contain forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions that, if they never materialize or prove incorrect, could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although our forward-looking statements reflect the good faith judgment of our management, these statements can only be based on facts and factors currently known by us. Consequently, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results and outcomes may differ materially from results and outcomes discussed in the forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “believes,” “expects,” “may,” “will,” “plans,” “intends,” “estimates,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “continue,” “seeks,” “aims,” “projects,” “predicts,” “pro forma,” “anticipates,” “potential” or other similar words (including their use in the negative), or by discussions of future matters such as the development of product candidates or products, technology enhancements, possible changes in legislation, and other statements that are not historical. These statements include but are not limited to statements under the captions “Business,” “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” as well as other sections in this report. You should be aware that the occurrence of any of the events discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this report could substantially harm our business, results of operations and financial condition and cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. If any of these events occurs, the trading price of our common stock could decline and you could lose all or a part of the value of your shares of our common stock.
The cautionary statements made in this report are intended to be applicable to all related forward-looking statements wherever they may appear in this report. We urge you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report.
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CERC-301: Adjunctive Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder. CERC‑301 is currently in Phase 2 development as an oral, adjunctive treatment of patients with major depressive disorder, or MDD, who are failing to achieve an adequate response to their current antidepressant treatment and are severely depressed. We received fast track designation by the United States Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, in November 2013 for CERC‑301 for the treatment of MDD. CERC‑301 belongs to a class of compounds known as antagonists, or inhibitors, of the N‑methyl‑D‑aspartate, or NMDA, receptor, a receptor subtype of the glutamate neurotransmitter system that is responsible for controlling neurological adaptation. We believe CERC‑301 has the potential to produce a significant reduction in depression symptoms in a matter of days, as compared to weeks or months with conventional therapies, because it specifically blocks the NMDA receptor subunit 2B, or NR2B. We believe this mechanism of action may provide rapid and significant antidepressant activity without the adverse side effect profile of non‑selective NMDA receptor antagonists. Provided we are able to demonstrate efficacy and continued safety in our Phase 2 trial we plan to move forward with Phase 3 development. We may also consider initiating separate development programs in other indications, such as active suicidal ideation. |
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CERC-501: Substance Use Disorders and Adjunctive Treatment for MDD. CERC‑501 is currently in Phase 2 development for smoking cessation. CERC-501 is a potent and selective kappa opioid receptor, or KOR, antagonist. KORs are believed to play key roles in modulating stress, mood and addictive behaviors, which form the basis of co-occurring disorders. We intend to develop CERC‑501 for adjunctive treatment of MDD and for substance use disorders (e.g., nicotine, alcohol, and/or cocaine) and have initiated a Phase 2 proof of concept clinical trial in smoking cessation. In addition, two external clinical trials are being conducted evaluating the use of CERC-501 in treating cocaine addiction and mood disorders. One study is being conducted under the auspices of the National Institute of Mental Health, or NIMH, and a second study is being funded by a private foundation. Provided that the outcome of our smoking cessation trial is positive, we plan to conduct a Phase 2 dose-ranging trial in smokers. We are also planning to conduct a Phase 2 trial in inadequately treated patients with MDD. |
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CERC-406: Cognitive Impairment. CERC‑406 is our lead preclinical candidate from our proprietary platform of compounds that inhibit catechol‑O‑methyltransferase, or COMT, within the brain, which we refer to as our COMTi platform. We believe CERC‑406 has potential as a treatment of residual cognitive impairment symptoms in patients with MDD. |