In a groundbreaking development, Anavex Life Sciences has reported promising results from a long-term extension study of their
investigational therapy, Anavex 2-73, targeting Parkinson’s disease dementia.
The study revealed substantial reductions in symptom severity, bringing hope to
patients and healthcare providers alike.
Anavex 2-73, also known as blarcamesine, functions by activating SIGMAR1, a receptor
protein that plays a crucial role in maintaining brain cell health. This
receptor is typically found at lower levels in individuals with
neurodegenerative conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease,
and Rett syndrome. The experimental therapy aims to address this deficiency,
thereby potentially reversing or slowing disease progression.
The Phase 2 trial, ANAVEX 2-73-PDD-001, included 132 adults with Parkinson’s disease dementia.
Results over the initial 3.5-month study period suggested that daily doses of
Anavex 2-73 led to improvements in memory and cognitive functions.
Encouragingly, these benefits extended to motor and non-motor symptoms, as
measured by the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS).
Following the Phase 2 trial, participants were given the option to continue Anavex 2-73 treatment
in an open-label extension study, ANAVEX 2-73-PDD-EP-001. Despite delays due to
the COVID-19 pandemic, 20 patients completed the extension study, showing consistent
improvement in symptom severity over the 48-week period.
Dr. Christopher Missling, the president and CEO of Anavex Life Sciences,
expressed optimism about these findings. “It is encouraging that the
patients’ clinical symptoms consistently improved longitudinally over time
during the extension phase under active Anavex 2-73 treatment,” he stated.
Anavex Life Sciences is preparing to initiate a pivotal Phase 3 trial to further evaluate
the efficacy of Anavex 2-73. If successful, these data will support regulatory
applications for the therapy’s approval, potentially offering a new lifeline
for those suffering from Parkinson’s disease dementia. Refer to this article for related information.
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