Independent Research Describes ANAVEX 3-71 as Potent Cognitive Enhancer in Alzheimer’s Disease Models
November 30 2015 - 08:00AM
Anavex Life Sciences Corp. (“Anavex” or the “Company”)
(Nasdaq:AVXL), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company
developing drug candidates to treat Alzheimer’s disease (AD), other
central nervous system (CNS) diseases, pain and various types of
cancer, announced today the publication of further data for ANAVEX
3-71 (formerly AF710B) in the peer-reviewed scientific journal
Neurodegenerative Diseases. The ANAVEX 3-71 data provides
evidence for a positive, more upstream effect on reducing synaptic
loss, amyloid and tau pathologies, and neuroinflammation, which is
potentially beneficial for the treatment of Alzheimer’s and other
neurological diseases. ANAVEX 3-71 is part of the Company’s
pipeline including ANAVEX 2-73 targeting sigma-1 and muscarinic
receptors.
“Our preclinical findings for ANAVEX 3-71 demonstrate its
significant potential to enhance neuroprotection and cognition via
concomitant activation of sigma-1 receptor and M1 muscarinic
acetylcholine receptor (M1R), which could be a therapeutic
advantage in treating Alzheimer’s and other related
protein-aggregation diseases,” said study author Abraham Fisher,
PhD. “Specifically, the study results reveal that ANAVEX 3-71
effects a strong reversal of synaptic loss in hippocampal
neurons. At very low doses, it mitigates cognitive deficits
and normalizes major pathological hallmarks in Alzheimer’s disease
models indicating that ANAVEX 3-71 exerts a comprehensive
disease-modifying effect. This data adds to the strong
foundation of preclinical evidence to support the potential use of
ANAVEX 3-71 in Alzheimer's disease and a wide array of other
central nervous system diseases.”
“In addition to ANAVEX 2-73, which is currently the subject of
an ongoing PART B longitudinal extension of the Phase 2a study, it
appears that ANAVEX 3-71 could be a highly effective treatment for
Alzheimer’s when compared with competing drugs, including donepezil
(Aricept®), the current standard of care,” said Christopher U.
Missling, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of
Anavex. “Based on the growing body of positive preclinical
data, we look forward to continuing to advance ANAVEX 3-71 towards
a potential first human clinical trial.”
The results of the preclinical study demonstrate that ANAVEX
3-71:
- Protects post-synaptic dendritic spines and reverses synaptic
loss in hippocampal neurons, which are important for learning and
memory and their loss may cause cognitive decline in AD.
Results show that ANAVEX 3-71 efficiently rescues mushroom
spines via potential activation of sigma-1 receptor/M1R.
- Mitigates cognitive impairments and lessens Alzheimer’s-like
pathology in the 3xTg-AD animal model. Notably ANAVEX 3-71
showed exceptional efficacy in restoring cognitive decline
associated with AD and with lessening BACE1, GSK3beta activity,
p25CDK5, neuroinflammation, soluble and insoluble Abeta40, Abeta42,
accumulation of amyloid plaques and tau pathologies.
- Reverses the cognitive decline induced by the M1R antagonist,
trihexyphenidyl via activation of both sigma-1 receptor and
M1R.
The paper, “AF710B, a Novel M1/ Sigma-1 Agonist with Therapeutic
Efficacy in Animal Models of Alzheimer’s disease,” was published in
Neurodegenerative Diseases. It was co-authored by A. Fisher,
the inventor of ANAVEX 3-71, and I. Bezprozvanny, L. Wu, D. A.
Ryskamp, N. Bar-Ner, N. Natan, R. Brandeis, H. Elkon, V. Nahum, E.
Gershonov, F. M. LaFerla and R. Medeiros from the Israel Institute
for Biological Research (Ness-Ziona, Israel), the University of
Texas Southwestern Medical Center (Dallas, TX), St. Petersburg
State Polytechnical University (St. Petersburg, Russia) and the
University of California (Irvine, CA), respectively.
Dr. Abraham Fisher is a member of the Anavex Scientific Advisory
Board.
About ANAVEX 3-71
ANAVEX 3-71, previously AF710B, is a promising preclinical drug
candidate with a novel mechanism of action shown to enhance
neuroprotection and cognition in Alzheimer’s disease. It is a
CNS-penetrable mono-therapy that bridges treatment of both
cognitive impairments with disease modifications. ANAVEX 3-71
is highly effective in very small doses against the major
Alzheimer’s hallmarks in transgenic (3xTg-AD) mice, including
cognitive deficits, amyloid and tau pathologies, and also has
beneficial effects on neuroinflammation and mitochondrial
dysfunctions.
About Anavex Life Sciences
Corp.
Anavex Life Sciences Corp. (Nasdaq:AVXL) is a publicly traded
biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of novel
drug candidates to treat central nervous system (CNS) diseases and
various types of cancer. Anavex’s lead drug candidates, ANAVEX 2-73
and ANAVEX PLUS, the combination of ANAVEX 2-73 and donepezil
(Aricept®), are currently in a Phase 2a clinical trial for
Alzheimer’s disease. The drug combination ANAVEX PLUS produced up
to 80% greater reversal of memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease
models versus when the drugs were used individually. ANAVEX 2-73 is
an orally available drug candidate that targets sigma-1 and
muscarinic receptors and successfully completed Phase 1 with a
clean data profile. Preclinical studies demonstrated its potential
to halt and/or reverse the course of Alzheimer’s disease. It has
also exhibited anticonvulsant, anti-amnesic, neuroprotective and
anti-depressant properties in convulsive epileptic animal models,
indicating its potential to treat additional CNS disorders,
including epilepsy and others. Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) for
Parkinson’s Research has awarded Anavex a research grant to develop
ANAVEX 2-73 for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease to fully fund
a preclinical study, which could justify moving ANAVEX 2-73 into a
Parkinson’s disease clinical trial. ANAVEX 3-71, also targeting
sigma-1 and M1 muscarinic receptors, is a promising preclinical
drug candidate demonstrating disease modifications against the
major Alzheimer’s hallmarks in transgenic (3xTg-AD) mice, including
cognitive deficits, amyloid and tau pathologies, and also with
beneficial effects on neuroinflammation and mitochondrial
dysfunctions. Further information is available at
www.anavex.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release that are not strictly
historical in nature are forward-looking statements. These
statements are only predictions based on current information and
expectations and involve a number of risks and uncertainties.
Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected
in any of such statements due to various factors, including the
risks set forth in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form
10-K filed with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as
of the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in
their entirety by this cautionary statement and Anavex Life
Sciences Corp. undertakes no obligation to revise or update this
press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date
hereof.
For Further Information
Anavex Life Sciences Corp.
Research & Business Development
Toll-free: 1-844-689-3939
Email: info@anavex.com
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Toll-free: 1-866-505-2895
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Email: ir@anavex.com
www.anavex.com
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