Axsome Therapeutics Inc

Except as described herein, we, and our subsidiaries, are currently not a party to, and our property is not currently the subject of, any material pending legal proceedings; however, we may also become involved in various claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business.

Securities Class Action

On May 13, 2022, Evy Gru filed a putative class action complaint captioned Gru v. Axsome Therapeutics, Inc., et al. in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, or the SDNY District Court, against the Company and certain of its current and former officers and one director, which we refer to as the Securities Class Action. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, and alleges, among other things, that the defendants made false statements and omissions concerning the Company’s Chemistry Manufacturing and Controls practices, and its NDA with the FDA, with respect to one of its then product candidates, AXS-07, now Symbravo®. The named plaintiff sought unspecified damages, fees, interest, and costs. On August 11, 2022, the SDNY District Court appointed co-lead plaintiffs in the Securities Class Action, one of whom later withdrew. On October 7, 2022, the Securities Class Action plaintiffs filed an amended complaint, which contained substantially similar allegations as in the initial complaint. On September 25, 2023, the SDNY District Court granted defendants’ motion to dismiss the amended complaint.

On October 13, 2023, plaintiffs’ counsel filed a letter seeking leave to file an amended complaint and to substitute new plaintiffs. On January 22, 2024, the SDNY District Court granted that motion and ordered that the case name be changed to In re Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. Securities Litigation. On January 26, 2024, the replacement plaintiffs renewed their request for leave to file a proposed second amended complaint, and, on February 6, 2024, the SDNY District Court granted that request. Plaintiffs filed the second amended complaint on February 7, 2024. On March 11, 2024, the defendants moved to dismiss the second amended complaint. On March 31, 2025, the SDNY District Court entered an order granting in part and denying in part defendants’ motions to dismiss, dismissing plaintiffs’ claims against three of Axsome’s current and former officers and allowing the claims against the Company and two current officers to proceed.

Shareholder Derivative Action

On July 21, 2022, Daniel Engel filed a stockholder derivative complaint captioned Engel v. Herriot Tabuteau, et al. in the SDNY District Court against the Company’s current directors, certain of the Company’s current and former officers, and the Company (as nominal defendant). On January 27, 2023, Kyle Guterba filed a stockholder derivative complaint captioned Guterba v. Tabuteau, et al. in the SDNY District Court against the Company’s current directors, certain of the Company’s current and former officers, and the Company (as nominal defendant). The derivative complaints arise out of similar allegations as those made in the Securities Class Action. The plaintiffs assert claims for breach of fiduciary duties against all of the defendants and for contribution for violations of Section 10(b) and 21D of the Exchange Act. The plaintiffs seek unspecified damages, fees, interest, and costs, as well as corporate governance changes. The Engel and Guterba matters were consolidated on February 28, 2023 and are currently stayed pending further proceedings in the Securities Class Action.

Auvelity Paragraph IV Litigation

On March 24, 2023, we commenced a patent infringement action against Teva Pharmaceuticals, Inc., or Teva, relating to Teva’s ANDA for Auvelity®. This action is captioned Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. and Antecip Bioventures II LLC v. Teva Pharmaceuticals, Inc. No. 2:23-CV-01695 in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, or the NJ District Court. On December 15, 2023, we commenced a second patent infringement action against Teva relating to Teva’s ANDA. This action is captioned Axsome Therapeutics, Inc., and Antecip Bioventures II LLC v. Teva Pharmaceuticals, Inc. No. 2:23-cv-23142 in the NJ District Court. On February 26, 2024, the NJ District Court consolidated the first and second actions. Fact discovery is currently scheduled to close on March 24, 2025 in the consolidated action. On May 28, 2024, we commenced a third patent infringement action against Teva relating to Teva’s ANDA. This action is captioned Axsome Therapeutics, Inc., and Antecip Bioventures II LLC v. Teva Pharmaceuticals, Inc. No. 2:24-cv-06489 in the NJ District Court. On September 30, 2024, we commenced a fourth patent infringement action against Teva relating to Teva’s ANDA. This action is captioned Axsome Therapeutics, Inc., and Antecip Bioventures II LLC v. Teva Pharmaceuticals, Inc. No. 2-24-cv-09535 in the NJ District Court. On December 5, 2024, we commenced a fifth patent infringement action against Teva relating to Teva’s ANDA. The fifth action is captioned Axsome Therapeutics, Inc., and Antecip Bioventures II LLC v. Teva Pharmaceuticals, Inc. No. 2-24-cv-10938 in the NJ District Court. On January 7, 2025, the NJ District Court consolidated that third, fourth, and fifth actions.

On February 10, 2025, the Company announced that it had entered into a settlement agreement with Teva to resolve all outstanding litigation between the parties relating to Auvelity. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Axsome will grant Teva a license to sell its generic version of Auvelity beginning on or after March 31, 2039, if pediatric exclusivity is granted for Auvelity, or on or after September 30, 2038, if no pediatric exclusivity is granted, subject to FDA approval and conditions and exceptions customary for agreements of this type. The matters are now concluded.

Sunosi Paragraph IV Litigation

On September 13, 2023, we commenced a patent infringement action against Hikma and five other drug companies relating to each defendant’s ANDA for Sunosi®. This action is captioned Axsome Malta Ltd. & Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. v. Alkem Laboratories Ltd., et al. No. 2:23-CV-20354 in the NJ District Court. We commenced related patent infringement actions against the defendants relating to their ANDAs on December 20, 2023, January 11, 2024, January 18, 2024, February 14, 2024, March 19, 2024 (2 actions filed), April 5, 2024, July 2, 2024, August 8, 2024, August 21, 2024, September 16, 2024, November 20, 2024 (4 actions filed), January 21, 2025, and January 29, 2025. Those actions are captioned Axsome Malta Ltd. & Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. v. Unichem Laboratories Ltd. No. 2:23-cv-23255; Axsome Malta Ltd. & Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. v. Hetero USA, Inc. et al. No 2:24-cv-00196; Axsome Malta Ltd. & Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. v. Aurobindo Pharma USA, Inc. et al. No. 2:24-cv-00309; Axsome Malta Ltd. & Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. v. Sandoz, Inc. No. 2:24-cv-00860; Axsome Malta Ltd. & Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. v. Hetero USA, Inc. et al. No 2:24-cv-03999; Axsome Malta Ltd. & Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. v. Aurobindo Pharma USA, Inc. et al. No. 2:24-cv-04002; Axsome Malta Ltd. & Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. v. Alkem Laboratories Ltd., et al. No. 2:24-CV-04608; Axsome Malta Ltd. & Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. v. Aurobindo Pharma USA, Inc. et al. No. 2-24-cv-07511; Axsome Malta Ltd. & Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. v. Alkem Laboratories Ltd. No. 2-24-cv-08365; Axsome Malta Ltd. & Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. v. Aurobindo Pharma USA, Inc. et al. No. 2-24-cv-08624; Axsome Malta Ltd. & Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. v. Alkem Laboratories Ltd. et al. No. 2-24-cv-09209; Axsome Malta Ltd. & Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. v. Alkem Laboratories Ltd. No. 2-24-cv-10617; Axsome Malta Ltd. & Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. v. Hetero USA, Inc. et al. No 2:24-cv-10618; Axsome Malta Ltd. & Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. v. Aurobindo Pharma USA, Inc. et al. No 2:24-cv-10619; Axsome Malta Ltd. & Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. v. Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. No 2:24-cv-10620; Axsome Malta Ltd. & Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. v. Aurobindo Pharma USA, Inc. et al. No 2:25-cv-00643; and Axsome Malta Ltd. et al v. Hetero USA Inc. et al. 2-25-cv-00801, respectively, all of which are in the NJ District Court. On June 4, 2024, Axsome and the Malta Subsidiary entered into a settlement agreement with Unichem under which agreement Unichem agreed not to launch its generic solriamfetol product until June 30, 2042, or earlier under certain circumstances. On August 21, 2024, Axsome and the Malta Subsidiary reached an agreement to dismiss the actions pending against Sandoz. All other actions are currently pending. On September 25, 2024, Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. filed a petition for Inter Partes Review of U.S. Patent No. 11,560,354 before the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board. That petition is captioned Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. f/k/a West-Ward Pharmaceuticals Corp. v. Axsome Malta Ltd. IPR2024-01418. On March 2, 2025, Axsome and the Malta Subsidiary entered into a settlement agreement with Hikma under which agreement Hikma agreed not to launch its generic solriamfetol product until September 1, 2040, if pediatric exclusivity is granted for Sunosi, or on or after March 1, 2040, if no pediatric exclusivity is granted, or earlier under certain circumstances. On March 6, 2025 the Malta Subsidiary and Hikma jointly requested that the PTAB dismiss IPR2024-01418. That request was granted on March 12, 2025.