Anavex Life Sciences Announces Publication of Foundational Data for ANAVEX®2-73 (blarcamesine) in Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
February 24 2020 - 7:00AM
Anavex Life Sciences Corp. (“Anavex” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq:
AVXL), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing
differentiated therapeutics for the treatment of neurodegenerative
and neurodevelopmental disorders including Alzheimer’s disease,
Parkinson’s disease, Rett syndrome and other central nervous system
(CNS) diseases, today announced the publication in the
peer-reviewed Journal of Neuroimmunology, titled “Sigma-1 Receptor
Agonists as Potential Protective Therapies in Multiple Sclerosis“
featuring preclinical data of ANAVEX®2-73 (blarcamesine) relevant
to multiple sclerosis.
“A unique feature of ANAVEX®2-73 (blarcamesine),
compared to another sigma-1 receptor agonist we studied, is that
while these molecules increase proliferation of oligodendrocyte
precursor cells (OPCs), ANAVEX®2-73 (blarcamesine) does not inhibit
the maturation of these OPCs to oligodendrocytes (OLs), also called
oligodendroglia”, said Professor Robert P. Lisak, MD the Parker
Webber Chair in Neurology, Professor of Neurology and Professor of
Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology at Wayne State University
School of Medicine and lead author of the paper. “This is an
important feature since OPCs can replace lost OLs by maturing into
new potential myelin-producing cells. In other words, ANAVEX®2-73
(blarcamesine) might promote remyelination by both providing more
OPCs and not delaying their maturation into mature OLs. Further
data also demonstrates that ANAVEX®2-73 (blarcamesine) provides
protection for OLs, OPCs, as well as central nervous system neurons
in addition to helping repair by increasing the pool of OPCs that
can go on to matter to OLs.“
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of
the central nervous system (CNS) characterized by inflammation,
demyelination, loss of oligodendrocytes (OLs) and axonal damage in
the white matter accompanied by reactivity of astrocytes and
microglia. There are effective disease-modifying therapies (DMTs)
approved for treatment of patients with relapsing remitting MS,
however, none of these DMTs are cures and many have significant
side effects.
The study also described that ANAVEX®2-73
(blarcamesine) provides optimal protection of oligodendroglia
against glutamate toxicity in vitro.
“MS is a lifelong disease that has a significant
impact on the people affected and their caregivers. We are
encouraged by these findings providing additional evidence for the
neuroprotective and neurorestorative effects of ANAVEX®2-73
(blarcamesine), as well as further expanding its potential
application,” said Christopher U. Missling, PhD, President and
Chief Executive Officer of Anavex.
The full paper can be accessed online at:
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165572819305831).
About Multiple Sclerosis
(MS)
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune
disease that causes damage to nerve fibers in the central nervous
system (CNS), including the brain, spinal cord and optic nerve.
This can disrupt communication between the CNS and other parts of
the body, resulting in a wide range of physical and cognitive
symptoms such as muscle weakness, visual loss, poor balance,
chronic pain, tremors, short-term memory loss and other
difficulties associated with dementia.
About Anavex Life Sciences Corp.
Anavex Life Sciences Corp. (Nasdaq: AVXL) is a
publicly traded biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the
development of differentiated therapeutics for the treatment of
neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders including
Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Rett syndrome and other
central nervous system (CNS) diseases, pain and various types of
cancer. Anavex’s lead drug candidate, ANAVEX®2-73 (blarcamesine),
recently completed a successful Phase 2a clinical trial for
Alzheimer’s disease. ANAVEX®2-73 (blarcamesine) is an orally
available drug candidate that restores cellular homeostasis by
targeting sigma-1 and muscarinic receptors. Preclinical studies
demonstrated its potential to halt and/or reverse the course of
Alzheimer’s disease. ANAVEX®2-73 (blarcamesine) also exhibited
anticonvulsant, anti-amnesic, neuroprotective and anti-depressant
properties in animal models, indicating its potential to treat
additional CNS disorders, including epilepsy. The Michael J. Fox
Foundation for Parkinson’s Research previously awarded Anavex a
research grant, which fully funded a preclinical study to develop
ANAVEX®2-73 (blarcamesine) for the treatment of Parkinson’s
disease. ANAVEX®3-71, which targets sigma-1 and muscarinic
receptors, is a promising preclinical drug candidate demonstrating
disease-modifying activity against the major hallmarks of
Alzheimer’s disease in transgenic (3xTg-AD) mice, including
cognitive deficits, amyloid and tau pathologies. In preclinical
trials, ANAVEX®3-71 has shown beneficial effects on mitochondrial
dysfunction and neuroinflammation. Further information is available
at www.anavex.com. You can also connect with the company
on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
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 DevelopmentToll-free: 1-844-689-3939Email:
info@anavex.com
Investors & Media:
Email:
ir@anavex.com
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