NEW YORK, Oct. 30, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 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, other central nervous system (CNS) diseases, pain and various types of
cancer, today announced additional data for ANAVEX®2-73 in a model for
experimental parkinsonism. The data will be shown today at the Michael J. Fox
Foundation’s Parkinson's Disease Therapeutics Conference taking place at
Convene Midtown East, New York City in a poster titled, “ANAVEX2-73, a clinical
Alzheimer drug candidate, induces neurorestoration in experimental
parkinsonism.”
The study’s principle investigators, Veronica Francardo, PhD and
Angela Cenci, MD, PhD, Professor of Experimental Medical Research at Lund
University, Sweden, stated, “These new results indicate that ANAVEX2-73 has
robust neurorestorative effects on the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway in
all doses tested. The encouraging results we have gathered in this model,
coupled with the favorable profile of this compound in the Alzheimer’s disease
trial, support the notion that ANAVEX2-73 is a promising clinical candidate
drug for Parkinson’s disease.”
It was previously shown that ANAVEX2-73 significantly promotes
recovery of motor functions (p<0.05), induces higher levels of striatal
dopamine fibers (p<0.05) and reduces microglial activation (p<0.05) in a
mouse model of nigrostriatal dopaminergic degeneration relevant to Parkinson's
disease.
A consistent abnormality in Parkinson's
disease is degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra,
leading to a reduction of dopamine axon fibers and dopamine levels in the
striatum. As tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) catalyzes the formation of L-DOPA, the
rate-limiting step in the biosynthesis of dopamine,
tyrosine hydroxylase-deficiency levels are correlated with the severity of
parkinson-like motor deficits.
The additional data reveals that ANAVEX2-73 not only seems to have
a wide dose-response profile but also activates neuroplasticity mechanisms and
exerts noticeable neurorestorative effects on striatal dopamine axon fibers.
This was confirmed by expression of a marker of axonal regeneration in the
striatum, Growth Associated Protein 43 (GAP43), being co-localized with TH,
which was only found in the ANAVEX2-73-treated animal cohorts but not in the control
cohort.
Further analyses are ongoing in order to better understand the
underlying mechanisms that contribute to the neurorestorative properties of
ANAVEX2-73.
The study is supported by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for
Parkinson’s Research.
“These findings are very encouraging and support our strategy to
initiate a randomized and placebo controlled phase 2 study in Parkinson's
disease with ANAVEX2-73,” said Christopher U. Missling, PhD, President and
Chief Executive Officer of Anavex.
About The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
As the world’s largest non-profit funder of Parkinson’s research,
The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to accelerating a cure for
Parkinson’s disease and improved therapies for those living with the condition
today. The Foundation pursues its goals through an aggressively funded, highly
targeted research program coupled with active global engagement of scientists,
Parkinson’s patients, business leaders, clinical trial participants, donors and
volunteers. In addition to funding more than $700 million in research to date,
the Foundation has fundamentally altered the trajectory of progress toward a
cure. Operating at the hub of worldwide Parkinson’s research, the Foundation
forges ground breaking collaborations with industry leaders, academic
scientists and government research funders; increases the flow of participants
into Parkinson’s disease clinical trials with its online tool, Fox Trial
Finder; promotes Parkinson’s awareness through high-profile advocacy, events
and outreach; and coordinates the grassroots involvement of thousands of Team
Fox members around the world.
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, other central nervous system (CNS)
diseases, pain and various types of cancer. Anavex’s lead drug candidate, ANAVEX®2-73, recently completed
successfully a 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. It has 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 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.
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 Development
Toll-free: 1-844-689-3939
Email: info@anavex.com
Anavex Life Sciences Corp.
Research & Business Development
Toll-free: 1-844-689-3939
Email: info@anavex.com
/EIN News/ -- Investors
& Media:
Clayton Robertson
The Trout Group
(646) 378-2900
crobertson@troutgroup.com
Clayton Robertson
The Trout Group
(646) 378-2900
crobertson@troutgroup.com
https://health.einnews.com/pr_news/412635663/anavex-life-sciences-announces-additional-data-at-the-michael-j-fox-foundation-s-parkinson-s-disease-therapeutics-conference
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