Exhibit 5.1
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Carlos Ramirez
T: +1 858 550 6157
cramirez@cooley.com
August 20, 2024
Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.
12830 El Camino Real, Suite 400
San Diego, CA 92130
Re: | Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. – Post-Effective Amendments to Registration Statements on Form S-8 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the filing by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) of (i) a Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-168667), as filed with the Commission on August 9, 2010, and (ii) a Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to each of the Company’s registration statements on Form S-8 (File Nos. 333-190400, 333-207971, 333-213109, 333-219785, 333-226834, 333-232981, 333-266680 and 333-269611), as filed with the Commission on, August 6, 2013, November 12, 2015, August 12, 2016, August 8, 2017, August 14, 2018, August 2, 2019, August 9, 2022 and February 7, 2023, respectively (such registration statements, collectively, the “Prior Registration Statements,” and the post-effective amendment to each of the Prior Registration Statements, collectively, the “Post-Effective Amendments”).
The Prior Registration Statements covered the offering of shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), previously available for issuance under the Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. 2023 Inducement Plan (the “2023 Plan”) and the Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. 2010 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (together with the 2023 Plan, the “Prior Plans”). For purposes of this opinion, the “Shares” means up to 31,636,890 shares of Common Stock, which is the sum of 5,122,539 shares of Common Stock that had been available for grants of new awards under the Prior Plans and 26,514,351 shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding stock awards granted under the Prior Plans, that from and after May 29, 2024, may become available for grant under the Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2024 Plan”) as described in the Post-Effective Amendments.
In connection with this opinion, we have examined and relied upon (a) the Prior Registration Statements, the Post-Effective Amendments and related prospectuses, (b) the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws, each as currently in effect, (c) the Prior Plans, (d) the 2024 Plan, and (e) such other records, documents, opinions, certificates, memoranda and other instruments as in our judgment are necessary or appropriate to enable us to render the opinion expressed below. We have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to originals of all documents submitted to us as copies, the accuracy, completeness and authenticity of certificates of public officials and the due authorization, execution and delivery of all documents by all persons other than the Company where authorization, execution and delivery are prerequisites to the effectiveness thereof. As to certain factual matters, we have relied upon a certificate of an officer of the Company and have not independently verified such matters.
Our opinion is expressed only with respect to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. We express no opinion to the extent that any other laws are applicable to the subject matter hereof and express no opinion and provide no assurance as to compliance with any federal or state securities law, rule or regulation.
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