Anavex Life Sciences Reports Publication of New Data that Show ANAVEX®2-73 Induces Cellular Recycling Process Linked to the ...
March 04 2019 - 7:00AM
New preclinical data establishes ANAVEX®2-73 as a modulator of
autophagy through Sigma-1 receptor activation, possibly needed for
the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative conditions
including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and ALS
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 diseases including Alzheimer’s disease,
Parkinson’s disease, Rett syndrome and other central nervous system
(CNS) diseases, today announced the publication by an independent
scientific group of new preclinical data for ANAVEX®2-73, an orally
available investigational therapy that restores cellular
homeostasis by targeting the sigma-1 receptor (Sig-1R) and
muscarinic receptors. The drug has completed a Phase 2a clinical
trial and is currently being studied in a Phase 2b/3 study for the
treatment of early Alzheimer’s disease and a Phase 2 study for
Parkinson’s disease dementia.
The current findings show for the first time
that activation of Sig-1R with ANAVEX®2-73 leads to the prominent
induction of the autophagy “cellular recycling” process and
enhanced protein clearance in cells. The study, led by Christian
Behl et. al. of the University Medical Center at Johannes Gutenberg
University, in Mainz, Germany, has been published in the
peer-reviewed journal, Cells (link).
“These results show that activating the sigma-1
receptor (Sig-1R) with ANAVEX®2-73 can selectively induce the
autophagy process and increase protein homeostasis in both in vitro
and in vivo models,” said Christopher U. Missling, PhD, President
and Chief Executive Officer of Anavex. “The ability to identify key
molecular functions in age-related disease is central to
developing new therapeutic strategies that target these mechanisms
and ultimately provide clinical impact by preventing or treating
disease.”
Autophagy is a cellular process that cleans
cells of defective proteins and is part of a set of mechanisms that
participate in proteostasis, or the balance of the protein network.
Loss of proteostasis and dysfunction of the autophagy process, has
been closely linked to the pathogenesis of human neurodegenerative
diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and
ALS1.
“There is a great amount of data linking
dysfunction and malfunction of autophagy to neurodegenerative
disease and, consistent with its role in proteostasis, to the
accumulation of protein aggregates. Thus, the modulation of
autophagy has become one key pharmacological target in
neurodegeneration,” the researchers reported. “In fact, there are
multiple overlaps of autophagy and pathogenesis pathways in
Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and ALS. Recently
different alternative views and new pharmacological targets towards
Alzheimer’s prevention and treatment are evolving and include a
strong focus on the autophagy process.”
The Cells paper also noted that this is the first
report to show that Sig-1R activation enhances the autophagic flux
in human cells and in C. elegans with positive effects on
proteostasis in vitro and in vivo, an important concept towards the
stabilization of neuronal survival and function that may help to
prevent age-associated neurodegeneration.
The paper entitled, “Sigma-1 Receptor Activation
Induces Autophagy and Increases Proteostasis Capacity In Vitro and
In Vivo,” can be found online on the Cells website.
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 diseases 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, recently
completed a successful Phase 2a clinical trial for Alzheimer’s
disease. ANAVEX®2-73 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 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 for the treatment of Parkinson’s
disease. ANAVEX®3-71, which targets sigma-1 and M1 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
neuroinflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction. 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:Scott GordonCore
IRscottg@coreir.com
___________________________________________
1 Klaips, C.L.; Jayaraj, G.G.; Hartl, F.U. Pathways of cellular
proteostasis in aging and disease. J. Cell Biol. 2018, 217, 51–63.;
Ramesh N, Pandey UB. Autophagy Dysregulation in ALS: When Protein
Aggregates Get Out of Hand. Front Mol Neurosci. 2017;10:263.
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