Anavex Life Sciences has announced encouraging results from a 48-week Phase 2 extension study of
their lead drug candidate, ANAVEX®2-73 (blarcamesine), in patients with
Parkinson’s disease dementia. The clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company
focuses on developing innovative therapeutics for various neurodegenerative and
neurodevelopmental disorders.
In the study, ANAVEX®2-73 showed significant improvements across all efficacy endpoints.
Patients experienced better outcomes on the Movement Disorder Society-Unified
Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS), Clinical Global Impression –
Improvement (CGI-I), and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). These
results bolster the case for ANAVEX®2-73 as a potential treatment for Parkinson’s
disease dementia.
The research underscores ANAVEX®2-73’s ability to activate the sigma-1 receptor (SIGMAR1),
which is believed to restore neural cell homeostasis and enhance
neuroplasticity. This mechanism could explain the drug’s wide-ranging benefits
across multiple neurological conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, Rett
syndrome, and other CNS disorders.
Preliminary data from the extension study demonstrated that ANAVEX®2-73 was generally safe and
well-tolerated. More importantly, patients’ clinical symptoms showed consistent
improvement over the 48-week period when they were on the medication. These positive
outcomes led to Anavex planning a pivotal trial to further investigate the drug’s efficacy in Parkinson’s disease.
The Michael J. Fox Foundation has recognized the potential of ANAVEX®2-73, awarding Anavex Life
Sciences research grants to further examine the drug’s effects on Parkinson’s
disease. This support is critical as it underscores the broader scientific
community’s interest in and validation of ANAVEX®2-73’s potential.
In summary, Anavex Life Sciences continues to make strides in the development of ANAVEX®2-73 with
promising results that suggest it could significantly impact how Parkinson’s
disease dementia is treated, offering hope for improved quality of life for patients.
Read this article for more information.
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