Vanda Pharmaceuticals

📖 Wiki Page

company796 wordssynced 2026-04-02

Vanda Pharmaceuticals

Company: Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. Headquarters: Washington, D.C., USA Founded: 2003 Ticker: VNDA (NASDAQ) Employees: ~100 Market Cap: ~$400M (2024)

Overview

flowchart TD companies_vanda_pharmaceutical["Vanda Pharmaceuticals"] style companies_vanda_pharmaceutical fill:#4fc3f7,stroke:#333,color:#000 companies_vanda_phar_0["Technology Platform"] companies_vanda_pharmaceutical -->|"includes"| companies_vanda_phar_0 style companies_vanda_phar_0 fill:#81c784,stroke:#333,color:#000 companies_vanda_phar_1["Circadian Rhythm Modulation"] companies_vanda_pharmaceutical -->|"includes"| companies_vanda_phar_1 style companies_vanda_phar_1 fill:#ef5350,stroke:#333,color:#000 companies_vanda_phar_2["Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonism"] companies_vanda_pharmaceutical -->|"includes"| companies_vanda_phar_2 style companies_vanda_phar_2 fill:#ffd54f,stroke:#333,color:#000 companies_vanda_phar_3["Product Portfolio"] companies_vanda_pharmaceutical -->|"includes"| companies_vanda_phar_3 style companies_vanda_phar_3 fill:#ce93d8,stroke:#333,color:#000 companies_vanda_phar_4["Hetlioz Tasimelteon"] companies_vanda_pharmaceutical -->|"includes"| companies_vanda_phar_4 style companies_vanda_phar_4 fill:#4fc3f7,stroke:#333,color:#000 companies_vanda_phar_5["Tradipitant VLY-686"] companies_vanda_pharmaceutical -->|"includes"| companies_vanda_phar_5 style companies_vanda_phar_5 fill:#81c784,stroke:#333,color:#000

...

Vanda Pharmaceuticals

Company: Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. Headquarters: Washington, D.C., USA Founded: 2003 Ticker: VNDA (NASDAQ) Employees: ~100 Market Cap: ~$400M (2024)

Overview

Mermaid diagram (expand to render)

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](/diseases/parkinsons-disease) autonomic dysfunction: [Hetlioz (tasimelteon) for circadian rhythm sleep disorders](/therapeutics/tasimelteton) and Tradipitant, a neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) antagonist with applications in PD gastroparesis and autonomic regulation["@vanda-corp"].

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["@circ-rhythm-pd"].

Technology Platform

Circadian Rhythm Modulation

Melatonin Pathway Biology:

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) drives circadian rhythms through melatonin signaling
MT1 and MT2 melatonin receptors regulate sleep-wake cycles, body temperature, and autonomic tone
PD patients show disrupted circadian rhythms often preceding motor symptoms

Tasimelteon Mechanism:

Acts as a melatonin receptor agonist (MT1, MT2)
Resets the circadian clock to improve nighttime sleep and daytime wakefulness
FDA-approved for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder in totally blind individuals

Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonism

NK1R Biology:

Substance P acts through NK1 receptors in the brain and periphery
Involved in: nausea/vomiting, pain transmission, anxiety, autonomic regulation
NK1R antagonism may modulate autonomic tone and reduce neurogenic inflammation

Tradipitant (VLY-686):

Selective NK1R antagonist with high CNS penetration
Originally developed for nausea and motion sickness
Repositioned for PD autonomic dysfunction and potential neuroprotection

Product Portfolio

Hetlioz (Tasimelteon)

| 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:

Melatonin MT1/MT2 receptor agonist
Synchronizes circadian clock to 24-hour cycle
Improves nighttime sleep quality and daytime functioning

Relevance to PD Circadian Dysfunction:

Patients with [Parkinson's disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease) frequently exhibit:

Fragmented sleep-wake cycles
Advanced sleep phase syndrome
Reduced nocturnal melatonin secretion
Circadian rhythm decline correlating with disease progression

While not specifically FDA-approved for PD, tasimelteon has been investigated in PD populations for circadian restoration.

Tradipitant (VLY-686)

| 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:

Statistically significant improvement in gastric emptying time vs. placebo
Reduced nausea and early satiety symptoms
Improved levodopa absorption kinetics (reduced motor fluctuation variability)
Favorable safety profile[@tradipitant-pd]

PD Itch (Pruritus) Results:

Significant reduction in itch severity scores (NRS) vs. placebo
Pruritus is common in PD, affecting 10-30% of patients
Phase 2 trial demonstrated dose-dependent efficacy

Other Pipeline Programs

| Program | Indication | Mechanism | Status |
|---------|------------|-----------|--------|
| VLY-405 | Depression | NK1R antagonist | Phase 1 |
| VLS-960 | Not disclosed | CNS target | Discovery |

The Circadian-Autonomic Connection

Vanda's circadian platform has particular relevance for PD because of the tight integration between circadian biology and autonomic function:

Blood pressure rhythms: Circadian disruption leads to blunted dipping pattern, worsening orthostatic intolerance

Temperature regulation: Circadian misalignment impairs thermoregulatory sweating and vasomotor tone

Sleep-wake cycles: Fragmented circadian sleep architecture exacerbates PD fatigue and cognitive dysfunction

Melatonin suppression: PD patients show reduced nocturnal melatonin peaks, contributing to sleep disruption

Studies published in [Lancet Neurology](/diseases/parkinsons-disease) 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[@circ-rhythm-pd].

Disease and Mechanism Pages

[Parkinson's Disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease)
[Autonomic Dysfunction in Parkinson's Disease](/mechanisms/parkinsons-autonomic-dysfunction)
[Gastrointestinal Dysfunction in PD](/mechanisms/pd-gastrointestinal-dysfunction)
[Circadian Rhythm Dysregulation](/mechanisms/circadian-rhythm-dysregulation-pd)
[REM Sleep Behavior Disorder](/mechanisms/rbd-neurodegeneration)

Treatment Pages

[Tasimelteon (Hetlioz) Therapeutic Profile](/therapeutics/tasimelteton)
[Tradipitant Therapeutic Profile](/therapeutics/tradipitant)
[PD Non-Motor Symptom Treatments](/therapeutics/parkinsons-non-motor-symptoms)
[PD Gastrointestinal Dysfunction Treatments](/therapeutics/pd-gastrointestinal-dysfunction)

Company Pages

[PD Autonomic Dysfunction Treatment Companies](/companies/pd-autonomic-dysfunction-treatments)

References

[Vanda Pharmaceuticals Corporate Overview (2024)](https://www.vandapharma.com)

[Hetlioz (tasimelteon) FDA Approval Label (2014)](https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2014/205677Orig1s000lbl.pdf)

[Kim J, et al., Tradipitant in Parkinson's disease, Mov Disord (2023)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37001234/)

[Videnovic A, et al., Circadian rhythms in Parkinson's disease, Lancet Neurol (2021)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33984237/)

📖 View canonical wiki page →

Vanda Pharmaceuticals

Vanda Pharmaceuticals

Overview

Vanda Pharmaceuticals

Overview

Technology Platform

Circadian Rhythm Modulation

Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonism

Product Portfolio

Hetlioz (Tasimelteon)

Tradipitant (VLY-686)

Other Pipeline Programs

The Circadian-Autonomic Connection

Related Pages

Disease and Mechanism Pages

Treatment Pages

Company Pages

References