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 6, 2017

Minerva Neurosciences, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 
 	 	 	 	 	
Delaware	 	001-36517	 	26-0784194	
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)	 	(Commission
File Number)	 	(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)	
 	 	
1601 Trapelo Road
Suite 284
Waltham, MA	 	02451	
(Address of principal executive offices)	 	(Zip Code)	
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code): (617) 600-7373
(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:
 
☐	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)	
 
☐	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)	
 
☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))	
 
☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))	

 

Item 8.01.	Other Events.	
Minerva Neurosciences, Inc. (the “Company”) is filing the investor presentation slides attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K which the Company may use from time to time in conversations with investors and analysts. The presentation will also be available on the investor relations section of the Company’s website.
 
Item 9.01.	Financial Statements and Exhibits.	
 
(d)	Exhibits	

Exhibit
No.	  	Description	
 	 	
99.1	  	Investor Presentation dated January 2017.	

SIGNATURE
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.

MINERVA NEUROSCIENCES, INC.	
 	 	
By:	 	/s/ Mark S. Levine	
Name:	 	Mark S. Levine	
Title:	 	Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary	
Date:    January 6, 2017

INDEX OF EXHIBITS

Exhibit
No.	  	Description	
 	 	
99.1	  	Investor Presentation dated January 2017.	

Innovation to treat unmet medical needs in CNS disorders January 2017 Nasdaq: NERV Exhibit 99.1

This presentation contains certain forward-looking statements about Minerva Neurosciences that are intended to be covered by the safe harbor for “forward-looking statements” provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. Words such as “expect(s),” “feel(s),” “believe(s),” “will,” “may,” “anticipate(s)” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements include, but are not limited to: the benefits, efficacy and safety of our new formulations; whether studies performed on analogs or backups of our compounds are a good predictor of the clinical efficacy of our compounds; the timing and results of future clinical milestones; the timing of future clinical trials and results of such clinical trials; statements regarding our ability to successfully develop and commercialize our therapeutic products; our ability to expand our long-term business opportunities; our expectations regarding approval for our products by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or equivalent foreign regulatory agencies; estimates regarding the market potential for our products; financial projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions; and future performance. All of such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of the Company, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the benefits, efficacy and safety of our new formulations; whether analogs or backups of our compounds are a good predictor of the clinical efficacy of our compounds; the timing and results of future clinical milestones; the timing of future clinical trials and results of such clinical trials; whether any of our therapeutic candidates will advance further in the clinical trials process and whether and when, if at all, they will receive final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or equivalent foreign regulatory agencies and for which indications; whether any of our therapeutic candidates will be successfully marketed if approved; whether our therapeutic product discovery and development efforts will be successful; our ability to achieve the results contemplated by our collaboration agreements; the strength and enforceability of our intellectual property rights; competition from pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies; the development of and our ability to take advantage of the market for our therapeutic products; our ability to raise additional capital to fund our operations on terms acceptable to us; general economic conditions; and the other risk factors contained in our periodic and interim reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission which are available on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Our audience is cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof, and we do not undertake any obligation to revise and disseminate forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, or to reflect the occurrence of or non-occurrence of any events. All trademarks, trade names and service marks appearing in this presentation are the property of their respective owners. Forward-Looking Statement Safe-Harbor

Merger Nov ‘13 Acquisition Feb ‘14 Co-development Feb ‘14 July 2014 NASDAQ: NERV Cyrenaic (MIN-101) Sonkei (MIN-117) MIN-202 Mind-NRG SA (MIN-301) A CNS company targeting schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, insomnia and Parkinson’s disease

Investment highlights Broad late-stage pipeline Lead asset, MIN-101, has differentiated MoA with specific effect on negative symptoms and is planned to initiate pivotal Phase III trials for treatment of schizophrenia in Q3 2017 Compelling efficacy and safety data generated in randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 clinical trials Significant unmet needs and market opportunities in schizophrenia, MDD and insomnia Strong cash position Experienced CNS-focused management team

A portfolio of innovative product candidates to treat various CNS diseases Program Origin Primary Indications Mechanisms of Action Pre- clinical Phase I Phase II Status MIN-101 Mitsubishi Tanabe Schizophrenia ● 5-HT2A antagonist ● Sigma2 antagonist Positive results announced May & October 2016 MIN-202 Janssen (under co-development) Primary Insomnia Major Depressive Disorder ● Selective Orexin2 antagonist Positive results Announced January 2016 Positive results announced March 2016 MIN-117 Mitsubishi Tanabe Major Depressive Disorder ● 5-HT1A ● 5HT transporter ● Alpha-1a, b ● Dopamine transporter ● 5-HT2A antagonist Positive results announced May 2016 MIN-301 Mind-NRG Parkinson’s Disease ● Neuregulin 1β1 activating ErbB4 Next steps: IND or IMPD filing, with Phase 1 expected to initiate thereafter Phase IIb completed Phase IIa completed Phase Ib completed Pre-clinical Phase IIa completed

CNS expertise Extensive knowledge of the pathology, course and impact of CNS diseases Focus on desired outcomes that address unmet patient needs Understanding of the impact of novel MOAs Insights into CNS clinical trial design and conduct based on extensive hands-on experience Ability to characterize and validate patient populations who will benefit from treatment with our compounds

Summary of Partnerships

MIN-101: In-licensed from Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharmaceutical Company (MTPC) Minerva: exclusive worldwide license includes rights to develop, commercialize and sub-license MIN-101 (and back-ups) outside of certain Asian countries MTPC: retains rights to commercialize and sell MIN-101 in certain Asian countries including China, Japan, India and South Korea (MTPC Territory) Milestones upon launch and commercialization goals could total up to $47.5 million payable Royalties payable on net sales range from high single digits to low teens

Minerva: exclusive worldwide license includes rights to develop, commercialize and sub-license MIN-117 outside of certain Asian countries MTPC: retains rights to commercialize and sell MIN-117 in certain Asian countries including China, Japan, India and South Korea (MTPC Territory) Milestones upon launch and commercialization goals could total up to $47.5 million payable Royalties payable on net sales range from high single digits to low teens MIN-117: In-licensed from Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharmaceutical Company (MTPC)

MIN-202: Co-development and license agreement with Janssen Pharmaceutica NV (Janssen) Minerva has commercialization rights for EU, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland & Norway (Minerva Territory) with rights to sub-license Minerva pays quarterly high single digit % royalty to Janssen on Minerva Territory net sales Janssen has commercialization rights in all territories outside of the Minerva Territory Janssen pays high single digit % royalty to Minerva on all sales outside of Minerva Territory Minerva contributes 40% of development cost subject to ceiling caps at various points in the clinical development plan

MIN-101 A paradigm shift in the treatment of schizophrenia

Schizophrenia: three symptom domains Positive Symptoms - delusions - hallucinations - thought disorder Negative Symptoms - avolition - apathy - restricted social interaction - restricted emotional feelings and display - physical and mental slowness - depressed mood Impaired Cognition

Current standard of care: ‘Major tranquilizers’ or atypical antipsychotics (block dopamine D2 receptors) – Significant unmet needs exist 75% patients are non-adherent to existing therapies within 2 years of being discharged from hospital1 Reduce agitation and therefore the need for physical restraint and seclusion Ameliorate severity of acute positive symptoms in about 60% of the patients Once positive symptoms ameliorated, chronic administration could impair functional improvement Induce adverse effects such as: body stiffness and involuntary movements diabetes, weight gain, and cardiovascular diseases a sense of mental slowness, heaviness, and apathy BUT No effect on negative symptoms No effect on cognitive functioning No real-life effect on social and vocational re-integration Patients who do not respond to the first Rx with an antipsychotic would probably not respond to anything (maybe with the exception of clozapine) The main difference between currently marketed antipsychotics lies in their side effect profiles (except for clozapine) Relative improvement in certain aspects of a side effect profile does not constitute efficacy on negative symptoms (“pseudo-specificity”) 1. Weiden PJ et al. Psychiatr Serv,1995; 46:1049-1054

Receptor subtypes Materials Ki values, nmol/L Serotonin 5-HT2a Rat, cerebral cortex Human recombinant 7.5 5.2 Sigma2 Guinea pig, brain 8.2 Sigma1 Guinea pig, brain 253.8 A1 adrenergic Rat, brain 14.4 MIN-101: a differentiated approach/MoA Unique combination of pharmacological targets without any direct binding to dopaminergic (DA) receptors Specific affinity for s2, 5-HT2A and a1-adrenergic receptors No affinity (>1000 nM) for other receptors including dopaminergic, muscarinic, cholinergic and histaminergic receptors No direct dopamine binding, unlike most (or all) available antipsychotics The behavioral pharmacology package is consistent with an antagonistic effect for s2 and 5-HT2A receptors

Phase IIb in schizophrenic patients (MIN-101C03) Core study results published in May 2016 & 6 months extension results published in October 2016

MIN-101 Phase IIb study design: monotherapy, double-blind, placebo-controlled in schizophrenic patients with negative symptoms MIN-101 64mg (n = 78) Screening Treatment & Assessments < 4 weeks Screening 12 week double blind phase ‘core study’ 24 week open label ‘extension’ phase Placebo (n = 78) MIN-101 32mg (n = 78) R MIN-101 64mg MIN-101 32mg Crossover = Randomization R

Summary findings from Phase IIb trial with MIN-101 MIN-101 treatment resulted in statistically significant improvement in PANSS negative symptoms and total PANSS scores MIN-101 also shown to be statistically superior to placebo on multiple key secondary endpoints Effect of MIN-101 demonstrated to be specific for negative symptoms and not secondary to improvement in other symptoms MIN-101 well tolerated, with incidence and types of side effects not differing significantly from placebo; two patients out of 162 who received MIN-101 discontinued based on QT prolongation (both at higher dose)

Efficacy: Summary table of statistically significant results Endpoint 32 mg 64 mg 32 mg 64 mg PANSS Negative Subscale Score (Pentagonal Structure Model) 0.0213 0.0030 0.45 0.58 PANSS Total Score 0.0714 0.0027 0.35 0.59 PANSS Positive Subscale Score (Pentagonal Structure Model) 0.5933 0.1926 -0.10 0.25 Dysphoric Mood Subscale Score (Pentagonal Structure Model) 0.5156 0.0238 0.12 0.43 Activation Subscale Score (Pentagonal Structure Model) 0.0213 0.0111 0.45 0.49 Autistic Preoccupation Subscale Score (Pentagonal Structure Model) 0.7004 0.2586 0.08 0.22 PANSS Negative Subscale Score 0.0058 0.0004 0.55 0.70 PANSS Positive Subscale Score 0.3388 0.2832 0.18 0.21 PANSS General Psychopathology Subscale Score 0.2270 0.0032 0.23 0.57 Brief Negative Symptoms Scale 0.0934 0.0044 0.33 0.56 Clinical Global Impression of Severity 0.0964 0.0266 0.28 0.28 Clinical Global Impression of Improvement 0.2345 0.0042 0.41 0.69 Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia 0.0388 0.5947 0.40 0.10 Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia 0.2315 0.0090 0.23 0.50 Personal and Social Performance 0.2193 0.0021 0.24 0.59 Primary Objective Secondary Objectives Exploratory Objectives p-value Effect Size MIN-101 versus Placebo MIN-101 versus Placebo

Effect size 32 mg: 0.45 64 mg: 0.58 Onset of effect observed after 2 weeks (measured at first visit) Efficacy: Primary endpoint PANSS negative subscale (pentagonal structure)

Efficacy: Secondary endpoint (1) PANSS negative symptom score (3 Factors) Onset of effect observed after 2 weeks (measured at first visit)

Efficacy: Secondary endpoint (2) PANSS total score

Extension Phase Baseline for patients who crossed from placebo to MIN-101 is start of open label (Week 12)

MIN-101C03: Negative Symptoms (Pentagonal Structure) Baseline for Placebo-to-MIN-101 is From Start of Open Label Core Phase Extension Phase Baseline for Placebo-to-MIN-101 is From Start of Open Label (Week 12)

MIN-101C03: Negative Symptoms (3-Factors) Core Phase Extension Phase Baseline for Placebo-to-MIN-101 is From Start of Open Label (Week 12)

Safety (complete study)

MIN-101C03: Common Adverse Events (≥ 5% of Patients)   MIN-1012   System Organ Class Preferred Term Placebo1 (N = 83)   32 mg (N = 103) 64 mg (N = 102) Total (N = 205)   Overall (N = 244)   Subjects with Any Common TEAE 20 ( 24.1%) 24 ( 23.3%) 29 ( 28.4%) 53 ( 25.9%) 69 ( 28.3%)   Investigations 0 ( 0.0%) 0 ( 0.0%) 6 ( 5.9%) 6 ( 2.9%) 6 ( 2.5%) Electrocardiogram QT prolonged 0 ( 0.0%) 0 ( 0.0%) 6 ( 5.9%) 6 ( 2.9%) 6 ( 2.5%)   Nervous system disorders 3 ( 3.6%) 9 ( 8.7%) 8 ( 7.8%) 17 ( 8.3%) 19 ( 7.8%) Headache 3 ( 3.6%) 9 ( 8.7%) 8 ( 7.8%) 17 ( 8.3%) 19 ( 7.8%)   Psychiatric disorders 18 ( 21.7%) 17 ( 16.5%) 18 ( 17.6%) 35 ( 17.1%) 50 ( 20.5%) Anxiety 5 ( 6.0%) 8 ( 7.8%) 7 ( 6.9%) 15 ( 7.3%) 19 ( 7.8%) Insomnia 8 ( 9.6%) 7 ( 6.8%) 8 ( 7.8%) 15 ( 7.3%) 22 ( 9.0%) Schizophrenia 9 ( 10.8%) 4 ( 3.9%) 7 ( 6.9%) 11 ( 5.4%) 19 ( 7.8%)   1 Patients treated with placebo during double-blind phase for 3-Month 2 All patients treated with MIN-101 including patients previously treated with placebo during double-blind phase and crossed-over to MIN-101 in open-label extension part of the study

“D2 blocking drugs should only be prescribed for acute episodes of psychosis/positive symptoms.” Data indicate that for the majority of young individuals the first episode of psychosis would ameliorate and occasionally disappear within 2-6 weeks without continuous DA blocking. However In the majority of patients, negative symptoms persist and worsen. Negative symptoms are in part primary negative symptoms, which are a core component (trait markers) of schizophrenic illness and in part secondary negative symptoms, which are adverse effects of antipsychotic drugs that block DA receptors. Once psychotic/agitation symptoms ameliorate, DA blocking drugs should be gradually discontinued and replaced by drugs that specifically target the negative residual symptoms and cognitive impairment. This hypothesis is confirmed by our data from the Phase IIb study. The negative symptom hypothesis

MIN-202 (JNJ42847922) A drug to treat insomnia & depressive disorders by restoring physiological sleep A co-development/co-commercialisation program with;

Insomnia affects about 10% of adults and the majority of people with depression

MIN-202: Exploratory study in patients with MDD and comorbid insomnia (n=20)

Phase IIa in primary insomnia: primary endpoint of sleep efficiency on days 1/2 and 5/6 Δ 8.12 % p <0.001 Δ 5.77 % p <0.001 Sleep Efficiency = (Total Sleep Time/480) * 100% PSG recording = 480 min

Phase IIa in primary insomnia: total sleep time is observed to increase Δ 39 min p <0.001 Δ 27.8 min p <0.001

Phase Ib: observed efficacy on depressive symptoms is independent of effects on sleep HDRS17 = Hamilton Depression Rating Scale Adjusted HDRS17 = Hamilton Depression Rating Scale with 3 sleep items removed DAY 11, N=47

MIN-117 Potential for a more effective and safer treatment to address the unmet medical needs of Major Depressive Disorder patients

Major Depressive Disorder: treatments with faster onset and better response, without side effects, are critically needed Treatments that: Act rapidly Are effective in patients who do not respond to or receive only partial benefit from existing medicines Do not impair cognition or sexual function Free patients from debilitating side-effects Improve sleep What do we need? Major depression: primary cause of disability worldwide by 20301 ~6 million patients in US with treatment- resistant depression2 Only ~30% of patients achieve remission using current treatments3 Current therapies have slow onset of effect; typically 4 – 8 weeks World Health Organisation, “Global Burden of Mental Disorders,” 2011 IMS and Truven Health Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine Volume 75. Number 1 January 2008

MIN-117C01: Phase IIa study design MIN-117 2.5mg (n = 21) Screening Treatment & Assessments 4 weeks Screening Day -28 to -1* 6 week double blind treatment phase 2 wk post treatment follow-up phase MIN-117 0.5mg (n = 21) R Paroxetine 20mg (n = 21) Placebo (n = 21) *Includes overlapping washout period of up to 4 weeks Study drug is double-blind and double-dummy

Efficacy: MADRS primary endpoint (ITT pop) in Phase IIa Effect size MIN-117 0.5 mg: 0.24 MIN-117 2.5 mg: 0.34

Efficacy: HAM-A secondary endpoint in Phase IIa Effect size MIN-117 0.5 mg: 0.49 MIN-117 2.5 mg: 0.45

Next steps Program Primary Indication Status MIN-101 Schizophrenia End of Phase II meeting with FDA planned to be scheduled in Q1 2017 Initiation of pivotal Phase III trials planned in Q3 2017 MIN-202 Primary Insomnia and Major Depressive Disorder Phase II trial preparation underway Next trials in insomnia disorder and MDD planned in early 2017 MIN-117 Major Depressive Disorder Planning underway for next phase of clinical trials expected to begin in 2017 MIN-301 Parkinson’s Disease IND or IMPD, with Phase I expected to initiate thereafter

Financial update ~$91.9 million cash balance (cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities) at September 30, 2016 expected to fund operations into 2018 ~$57.5 million (before fees) received from follow-on stock offering in June 2016 (~6 million shares sold at $9.50/share) Outstanding shares at October 28, 2016: ~34.8 million Fully diluted shares at October 28, 2016: ~40.8 million

Investment highlights Broad late-stage pipeline Lead asset, MIN-101, has differentiated MoA with specific effect on negative symptoms and is planned to initiate pivotal Phase III trials for treatment of schizophrenia in Q3 2017 Compelling efficacy and safety data generated in randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 clinical trials Significant unmet needs and market opportunities in schizophrenia, MDD and insomnia Strong cash position Experienced CNS-focused management team

Appendix

Severity of Illness Chronic Progression of Negative Symptoms & Cognitive Impairment Youth 0-18 Adult 18-40 Mature >40 Cognitive Symptoms Negative Symptoms Positive Symptoms Schizophrenia is a dynamic chronic disease - prevalence of symptoms changes over the lifetime of the patient

Are negative symptoms, apathy and mild cognitive impairment specific to schizophrenia? Idiopathic Parkinson 0.3% Major depression 3% Alzheimer’s Disease1% Frontal dementia0.01% Mental retardation 0.5% Post-brain trauma0.01% Post-CVA0.3% Autism spectrum1.2% Schizophrenia0.7% Schizophrenia spectrum1% Drug abuse0.3% ~10 % of the general population? ** About 20% of the healthy general population has mild manifestation of negative symptoms Werbeloff et al PLOS 2015

What percentage of people diagnosed with schizophrenia have negative symptoms? Depending on the population surveyed and on the criteria, between 60% and 95%. 8 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10427607 9 http://schizophreniabulletin.oxfordjournals.org/content/26/3/737.full.pdf 10 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23523737/

The pharma industry is not blind to the need for a drug to treat negative symptoms – but there is currently no drug approved for this indication

244 patients Patient or patient's legal representative has provided informed consent. Male or female patient, 18 to 60 years of age, inclusive. Patient meets the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fifth Edition (DSM-V), as established by a full psychiatric interview in conjunction with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Patient is stable in terms of positive symptoms of schizophrenia over the last 3 months according to his or her treating psychiatrist Patient presents with negative symptoms of schizophrenia over the last 3 months according to his or her treating psychiatrist Patient with PANSS negative subscore of at least 20 (as measured by PANSS 3 factors). Patient with PANSS item score of <4  on: P4 Excitement, hyperactivity P7 Hostility P6 Suspiciousness G8 Uncooperativeness G14 Poor impulse control MIN-101C03: inclusion criteria

Efficacy: Secondary endpoint (3) PANSS positive symptom score (3 Factors)

Extension Phase Baseline for patients who crossed from placebo to MIN-101 is start of open label (Week 12)

MIN-101C03: Brief Negative Symptom Score Baseline for Placebo-to-MIN-101 is From Start of Open Label Core Phase Extension Phase Baseline for Placebo-to-MIN-101 is From Start of Open Label (Week 12)

MIN-101C03: Positive Symptoms (3-Factors) Core Phase Extension Phase Baseline for Placebo-to-MIN-101 is From Start of Open Label (Week 12)

MIN-101C03: Total PANSS Baseline for Placebo-to-MIN-101 is From Start of Open Label Core Phase Extension Phase Baseline for Placebo-to-MIN-101 is From Start of Open Label (Week 12)

Sleep polysomnography: REM latency in Phase IIa