Presentation Includes New Data from Phase 2a Long-Term Extension Cohort
NEW YORK, Nov. 04, 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
presented new clinical pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) data for ANAVEX2-73 in a late-breaking oral presentation at
the 2017 Clinical Trials on Alzheimer’s Disease (CTAD) Meeting.
Data presented include new results from the Phase 1 study (ANAVEX®2-73-001), the Phase 2a study (ANAVEX®2-73-002), and data from
the first year of the Phase 2a long-term extension study (ANAVEX®2-73-003).
At 109 weeks and halfway into the long-term extension Phase 2a study ANAVEX®2-73-003, data from the cohort of patients with the
highest ANAVEX2-73 concentrations point towards the continued ability of the medication to stop the decline in the exploratory
secondary endpoints cognition (MMSE) and function (ADCS-ADL). At 57 weeks, this cohort had demonstrated improvement of the measures
MMSE and ADCS-ADL compared to baseline. For the primary endpoint, ANAVEX2-73 demonstrated continued favorable safety and
tolerability through 109 weeks.
“We are cautiously optimistic about the promising results of ANAVEX2-73 observed in patients who have received the drug for over
two years,” said Christopher U Missling, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Anavex. “We are committed to advancing
ANAVEX2-73, utilizing all relevant scientific knowledge we can learn, in hopes of helping those affected by the disease.”
Additionally, clinical data from 54 subjects from the Phase 1 (ANAVEX®2-73-001) and the Phase 2a (ANAVEX®2-73-002) trials were
analyzed including using formal concept analysis (FCA), non-linear mixed effect (NLME) modeling and non-compartmental analysis
methods.
Data analysis demonstrates:
- Strong drug concentration / response relationship for exploratory secondary endpoints cognition (MMSE) and function
(ADCS-ADL). Drug concentration in the upper tertile increased the probability of improved MMSE score 2.1-fold (110%) during 57
weeks. Also, higher drug concentration increased the probability of improved ADCS-ADL score 1.6-fold (67%) during the same
period.
- Alzheimer’s patients with milder disease stage (baseline MMSE >20) tended to respond better to ANAVEX2-73 than patients
with more advanced disease stage (baseline MMSE <20).
- No difference in the pharmacokinetics of ANAVEX2-73 was observed between women and men.
- ANAVEX2-73 administration does not prolong QTc interval.
This data provide support to proceed with the clinical development of ANAVEX2-73 for Alzheimer’s disease in a focused Phase 2/3
study using the precision medicine paradigm, including DNA whole exome, RNA expression and gut microbiome characterization. Further
clinical studies in other indications, such as Rett syndrome and Parkinson’s disease are under development utilizing the
translational potential of precision medicine approach of ANAVEX2-73.
ANAVEX2-73 is a novel, orally available sigma-1 receptor agonist. Sigma-1 receptor, an emerging therapeutic target in
Alzheimer’s disease and other central nervous system disorders, has been shown to reduce cellular stress and regulate
neuroplasticity and cellular homeostasis. The Company previously reported that the Phase 2a (ANAVEX®2-73-002) trial successfully
achieved both primary and secondary endpoints.
Presentation Details:
Title: Clinical Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics Characterization of ANAVEX2-73 for Designing a Phase 2/3 Study in
Mild-to-Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease
Date and Time: Saturday November 4th, 2017 at 3:30 pm ET
The slides are accessible through the investor relations section of the Company's website at www.anavex.com.
About ANAVEX®2-73-002 Phase 2a Clinical Study (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02244541)
The multicenter Phase 2a clinical trial of ANAVEX 2-73 consisted of two parts and a total of 32 mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s
patients. PART A was a randomized, open-label, two-period, cross-over between oral (30mg/50mg) and IV (3mg/5mg) administration,
adaptive trial lasting up to 5 weeks for each patient. PART B was an open-label extension for an additional 52 weeks. Initially
planned for 26 weeks, PART B was extended to 52 weeks as a result of requests from patients and caregivers.
The primary endpoint of the Phase 2a trial was safety, tolerability and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of ANAVEX2-73, which had
shown potential in preclinical studies to prevent, halt and/or reverse the course of the disease. Secondary endpoints included dose
response, bioavailability, and exploratory cognitive as well as functional measures using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE)
and evaluation of Alzheimer’s Disease Co-operative Study – Activities of Daily Living Inventory (ADCS-ADL), as well as Cogstate
test battery and biomarker EEG/ERP.
About ANAVEX®2-73-003 Phase 2a Clinical Study (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02756858)
The multi-center Phase 2a clinical trial of ANAVEX 2-73 consists of an open-label extension for an additional 104 weeks,
allowing for the collection of potential safety data for ANAVEX 2-73 cumulatively over three years.
The new 104-week (two-year) extension of the multi-center Phase 2a clinical trial of ANAVEX 2-73 will follow mild-to-moderate
Alzheimer’s patients who have already completed 52 weeks in PART B of the study. Every three months, patients will be
scheduled for physician visits to assess primary and secondary endpoints.
The primary endpoint of the new Phase 2a trial is to establish continued safety and tolerability of ANAVEX 2-73. Secondary
endpoints are exploratory cognitive as well as functional measures using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and evaluation of
Alzheimer’s Disease Co-operative Study – Activities of Daily Living Inventory (ADCS-ADL), respectively.
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 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. 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. The grant fully funds 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
Investors & Media:
Clayton Robertson
The Trout Group
(646) 378-2900
crobertson@troutgroup.com
