Anavex Life Sciences
Anavex Life Sciences Corp. an Athens-based biopharmaceutical company engaged in [...] discovery and development using sigma receptor ligands to treat central nervous system (CNS) diseases and cancer.
According to a number of recent studies, these ligands have the ability to target certain CNS conditions, such as depression and Alzheimer’s disease , as well as certain types of cancer , through agonism or antagonism of sigma receptors.
Anavex’s neuroscience program targets compounds that protect and enhance the function of the CNS in order to treat conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, depression and pain. The company’s oncology program targets compounds that selectively kill malignant cells to treat various types of cancer including colon, breast, prostate, lung and melanoma.
Anavex has scientific collaborations with European academic institutions, such as Université Montpellier, Université Louis Pasteur and the Institute for Biomedical Research of Athens Academy.
Program pipeline
The company’s [...] development program is based around its proprietary SIGMACEPTOR Discovery Platform, which generates small-molecule candidates. The company currently has four patents covering various compounds in its [...] discovery program.
Sigmaceptor-N
Anavex’s SIGMACEPTOR-N program involves the development of novel and original [...] candidates that target neurological and neurodegenerative diseases.
In pre-clinical testing, Anavex’s candidates exhibited evidence of anti-amnesic, neuroprotective, anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidative, anti-convulsant, anti-depressant, anti-fatigue and anti-addictive properties.
ANAVEX 2-73 is the company’s lead [...] candidate to treat Alzheimer’s disease and epilepsy. During pre-clinical trials (in-vitro and in-vivo in mice), ANAVEX 2-73 demonstrated significant neuroprotective, anti-amnesic and anti-convulsant properties. It also exhibited an excellent safety profile and therapeutic activity at very low doses.
ANAVEX 2-73 has been shown to provide protection from oxidative stress, which damages and destroys neurons and is believed to be a primary cause of Alzheimer’s disease. Research in recent years indicates that oxidative stress is a precursor to amyloid-beta plaques and tau (see also Neuro-Fibrillary Tangles), and could be a novel and appropriate therapeutic target.
The company's ANAVEX 1-41 [...] candidate is a compound in pre-clinical development for Alzheimer’s disease and depression. Animal studies indicate that ANAVEX 1-41 prevents oxidative stress and the expression of caspase-3, an enzyme that plays a key role in programmed cell death and in the loss of cells in the hippocampus, the part of the brain that regulates learning, emotion and memory.
ANAVEX 2-73 and/or ANAVEX 1-41 are scheduled to enter Phase 1 clinical trials in 2009.
Sigmaceptor-C
Anavex’s SIGMACEPTOR-C program involves the development of novel [...] candidates targeting cancer. These compounds induced apoptosis during in-vitro and in-vivo studies in various types of cancers such as colon, prostate, breast, lung and melanoma, demonstrating evidence of pro-apoptotic and anti-metastatic action with low toxicity.
In advanced pre-clinical studies, ANAVEX 7-1037, the company’s lead [...] candidate for the treatment of solid tumors, revealed anti-tumor potential without major toxic side effects. The compound has also been shown to selectively kill human cancer cells without affecting normal/healthy cells and also to suppress tumor growth in immune-deficient mouse models.
ANAVEX 7-1037 is scheduled to enter Phase 1 clinical trials in 2009.