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Anavex Life Sciences Announces Publication of Foundational Data for ANAVEX®2-73 (blarcamesine) in Rett Syndrome
Published in Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, Results Highlight Improvements in Multiple Motor, Sensory, and Autonomic Phenotypes Associated with Rett
About this update from Anavex Life Sciences Corp.
[{"type":"text","content":"Published in Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, Results Highlight Improvements in Multiple Motor, Sensory, and Autonomic Phenotypes Associated with Rett Syndrome\n Study Provided Proof-of-Concept for Ongoing ANAVEX®2-73 (blarcamesine) Phase 2 Trials NEW YORK, Nov. 06, 2019 (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 disorders including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Rett syndrome and other central nervous system (CNS) diseases, today announced that preclinical data of ANAVEX®2-73 (blarcamesine) in Rett syndrome were published in the peer-reviewed journal, Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior. Rett syndrome, a rare genetic neurological disorder that afflicts mostly girls, is caused by a genetic defect associated with severe physical and cognitive impairments. The study evaluated doses of ANAVEX®2-73 (blarcamesine) in heterozygous MECP2 mice, a validated animal model for the disease, which resulted in improvements in motor, sensory, and autonomic phenotypes related to the disease. These included motor coordination and balance, acoustic and visual responses, and other improvements. ANAVEX®2-73 (blarcamesine) also showed a good safety profile. \"Testing novel drugs that can safely improve the symptoms of Rett syndrome is a high priority,” said Walter E Kaufmann, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Anavex and corresponding author of the paper. “ANAVEX®2-73 (blarcamesine) is a sigma-1 receptor agonist and muscarinic receptor modulator with a strong safety record. The drug’s ability to enhance calcium homeostasis and improve the mitochondrial and cellular functions that underlie pathological processes and compensatory mechanisms in Rett syndrome, make ANAVEX®2-73 (blarcamesine) a promising candidate.\" The study, “ANAVEX®2-73 (blarcamesine), a Sigma-1 receptor agonist, ameliorates neurologic impairments in a mouse model of Rett syndrome,” served as a proof-of-concept for the ongoing Phase 2 ANAVEX2-73-RS-001 study (NCT03758924) as well as for upcoming pediatric studies. Preliminary results from the first cohort of this study were recently presented at the 6th Annual European Rett Syndrome Conference. The data described significant imp...