UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 8-K
 
CURRENT REPORT
 
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): January 25, 2010
 
Acorda Therapeutics, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	 	000-50513	 	13-3831168	
(State or other jurisdiction	 	(Commission	 	(I.R.S. Employer	
of incorporation)	 	File Number)	 	Identification No.)	

15 Skyline Drive, Hawthorne, NY	 	10532	
(Address of principal executive offices)	 	(Zip Code)	
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:   (914) 347-4300
 
Not Applicable
Former name or former address, if changed since last report
 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
 
o    Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
o    Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 
o    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 
o    Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 
Item 8.01 Other Events
 
On January 25, 2010, Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. issued a press releasing announcing that Lauren Sabella has joined the Company as Executive Vice President, Commercial Development, reporting to Ron Cohen, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer. Ms. Sabella will have responsibility for Acorda’s commercial operations, including Marketing, Sales and Managed Markets.
 
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
 
99.1 Press Release dated January 25, 2010.
 
SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 	Acorda Therapeutics, Inc.	
 	 	
January 25, 2010	By:	/s/ David Lawrence	
 	 	 	
 	 	Name: David Lawrence	
 	 	Title: Chief Financial Officer	
 
2 

 
Exhibit Index

Exhibit No.	 	Description	
 	 	 	
99.1	 	Press Release dated January 25, 2010.	
 
3 

Exhibit 99.1
 
CONTACT:
 
Jeff Macdonald
Acorda Therapeutics
(914) 347-4300 ext. 232
jmacdonald@acorda.com
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Acorda Therapeutics Announces Lauren Sabella Joins as Executive Vice President of Commercial Development
 
HAWTHORNE, N.Y., January 25, 2010 – Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACOR) announced today that Lauren Sabella has joined the Company as Executive Vice President, Commercial Development, reporting to Ron Cohen, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer. Ms. Sabella will have responsibility for Acorda’s commercial operations, including Marketing, Sales and Managed Markets.
 
“I’m delighted to welcome Lauren Sabella to Acorda’s management team. Lauren has an impressive record of achievement in the pharmaceutical industry, including responsibility for launching and managing several high performing products,” stated Dr. Cohen. “Her expertise and insight further strengthen an outstanding commercial team at Acorda as we prepare for the commercial launch of AMPYRA™.”
 
Before joining Acorda, Ms. Sabella was the Founder and Principal of Tugboat Consulting Group, an independent consulting practice assisting companies in the commercialization process. Ms. Sabella also served as Corporate Officer and VP of Commercial Development at Altus Pharmaceuticals, with responsibility for all aspects of commercialization. Prior to joining Altus, Ms. Sabella was employed by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals for 18 years in positions of increasing responsibility. In her last role, she served as VP of Sales, Eastern Zone, where she led the successful sales launch of Spiriva and ran both Primary Care and Specialty Divisions, including Neurology, Urology and Cardio/Pulmonary. Prior to this role, she had over ten years of marketing experience where she led several brand launches including Mobic, an NSAID which became a $1 billion dollar brand. Ms. Sabella holds a B.B.A. from Hofstra University.
 
“It’s a very exciting time to be joining Acorda. The approval of AMPYRA is an important milestone for the MS community and for Acorda, and I’m looking forward to working with the terrific commercial team already in place at the Company to bring this treatment to the market and to maximize its potential,” said Sabella.
 
About Acorda Therapeutics
Acorda Therapeutics is a biotechnology company developing therapies for multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury and related nervous system disorders. The Company’s marketed products include AMPYRA™ (dalfampridine), a potassium channel blocker approved as a treatment to improve walking in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), as demonstrated by an improvement in walking speed; and ZANAFLEX CAPSULES® (tizanidine hydrochloride), a short-acting drug for the management of spasticity. The Company’s pipeline includes a number of products in development for the treatment, regeneration and repair of the spinal cord and brain.
 
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, regarding management’s expectations, beliefs, goals, plans or prospects should be considered forward-looking. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual

 
results to differ materially, including Acorda Therapeutics’ ability to successfully market and sell Ampyra in the United States and to successfully market Zanaflex Capsules, the risk of unfavorable results from future studies of Ampyra, the occurrence of adverse safety events with our products, delays in obtaining or failure to obtain regulatory approval of Ampyra outside of the United States and our dependence on our collaboration partner Biogen Idec in connection therewith, competition, failure to protect Acorda Therapeutics’ intellectual property or to defend against the intellectual property claims of others, the ability to obtain additional financing to support Acorda Therapeutics’ operations, and unfavorable results from our preclinical programs. These and other risks are described in greater detail in Acorda Therapeutics’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Acorda Therapeutics may not actually achieve the goals or plans described in its forward-looking statements, and investors should not place undue reliance on these statements. Acorda Therapeutics disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release.