Vanda Pharmaceuticals

Vanda Pharmaceuticals

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

Overview

Vanda Pharmaceuticals

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

Overview

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

• 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

• 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

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

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]

• 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:

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].

Related Pages

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