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§ Private Profile · Cambridge, United Kingdom
Biopharmaceutical company developing & commercializing treatments for nausea, vomiting, sedation in surgical & oncology patients.
Founded in 2007 by Julian Gilbert, Acacia Pharma is a Cambridge, United Kingdom-based biopharmaceutical company developing specialized treatments for the adverse side effects of surgery, invasive procedures, and chemotherapy. The organization focuses on hospital supportive care solutions, successfully securing FDA approval for its two primary pharmaceutical products, BARHEMSYS for postoperative nausea and BYFAVO for procedural sedation, in 2020. Prior to its acquisition, the revenue-stage enterprise operated a direct United States sales infrastructure out of Indianapolis and was publicly listed on the Euronext Brussels exchange under the ticker ACPH. Backed by founding and lead investor Gilde Healthcare, the company was officially acquired by Eagle Pharmaceuticals in June 2022 for an equity valuation of approximately 95 million euros, or 104 million dollars. Following this transaction, the hospital pharmaceutical developer was subsequently delisted from the Euronext Brussels exchange.
Acacia Pharma has raised $63.5M across 3 funding rounds.
Acacia Pharma has raised $63.5M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Acacia Pharma has raised $63.5M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Acacia Pharma's investors include Cosmo Pharmaceuticals, Alex Pasteur, Martin Edwards, F-Prime Capital Partners, Lundbeckfond Ventures, Johan Kördel.
Acacia Pharma has raised $63.5M across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $29.5M Debt in October 2020.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 9, 2020 | $29.5M Debt Financing | Cosmo Pharmaceuticals | — | Announced |
| Sep 1, 2013 | $24M Series B | Alex Pasteur, Martin Edwards | F Prime Capital, Lundbeckfond Ventures | Announced |
| Mar 31, 2011 | $10M Series A | Johan Kördel | — | Announced |
Acacia Pharma Group plc is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company, not a technology company, focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing pharmaceutical products for patients undergoing surgery, invasive procedures, or chemotherapy.[1][2] Its lead products include BARHEMSYS (intravenous amisulpride) for treating and preventing post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and BYFAVO (intravenous remimazolam), a reversible sedative for short procedures like colonoscopy and bronchoscopy.[1][2][5] The company serves hospitals and patients in acute care settings, addressing unmet needs in nausea/vomiting management and procedural sedation, with a pipeline including APD403 for chemotherapy-induced nausea.[1][4] Since its acquisition by Eagle Pharmaceuticals in 2021 for approximately $104 million plus debt assumption, Acacia operates as a subsidiary, leveraging Eagle's sales infrastructure for growth in the US market.[1][5]
Acacia Pharma was founded in 2006 (or 2007 per some sources) and headquartered in Cambridge, United Kingdom, with US operations in Indianapolis, IN, and a smaller presence in Solana Beach, CA.[1][3] The company emerged from expertise in supportive care pharmaceuticals, with management experienced in drug discovery, development, and repurposing therapies for nausea and vomiting in surgical and cancer patients.[3] Early focus centered on unmet needs in post-operative and chemotherapy-induced nausea, leading to BARHEMSYS and BYFAVO approvals by the FDA as new chemical entities.[5] A pivotal moment came in 2021 when Eagle Pharmaceuticals acquired Acacia via a scheme of arrangement, providing resources to scale commercialization amid COVID-19 challenges for smaller biopharma firms.[1][5]
Acacia stands out in the biopharma space through specialized acute-care products:
Acacia rides the trend of precision supportive care in acute settings, where post-surgical complications like PONV affect up to 30% of patients, and procedural sedation demands rapid, reversible agents amid rising minimally invasive procedures.[1][2] Timing aligns with aging populations increasing surgical volumes and chemotherapy use, plus post-COVID recovery boosting elective procedures.[5] Market forces favor it through FDA approvals for novel hospital injectables, addressing gaps in generic-dominated antiemetics.[5] As an Eagle subsidiary, Acacia influences the ecosystem by expanding access to specialized therapies, potentially via partnerships, while contributing to biopharma consolidation where larger players like Eagle acquire innovative assets to penetrate hospitals.[1][5]
Acacia's trajectory hinges on Eagle's execution in hospital sales, scaling BARHEMSYS and BYFAVO amid competition from generics, with pipeline advances like APD403 poised for chemotherapy expansion.[4][5] Trends in personalized medicine and short-stay procedures will shape growth, alongside biosimilar pressures and potential new indications (e.g., remimazolam in pediatrics).[4] Its influence may evolve through deeper US penetration and global licensing, solidifying Eagle's acute-care portfolio—correcting the tech company misconception underscores its biopharma roots driving real patient impact in surgical recovery.[1][2]