Anavex Life Sciences Corp (AVXL)

[orveko_inc]

Something I've often wondered was whether or not the metabolite of ANAVEX 2-73 (aka ANAVEX 19-144) would need its own phase 1. The A2-73 phase 1 measured the pharmacokinetics of both A2-73 and its metabolite A19-144, but only after oral administration of parent A2-73.

http://www.anavex.com/wp-content/uploads/2014-11-14_Poster_Anavex_2-73_Phase_1_Study_CNS_Summit_2014.pdf

This is relevant to the antiepilepsy indication because only one of the formulations cited in the preclinical abstract was with parent ANAVEX 2-73 (A2-73 + ethosuximide). The other two were combinations involving metabolite ANAVEX 19-144.

I imagine they'll run a phase 2 trial with ANAVEX 2-73 alone and perhaps in combination with ethosuximide, but I'm not sure that they can go straight to phase 2 with ANAVEX 19-144 in combination with vaporic acid or gabapentin.

It is interesting to note that gabapentin's antiepilepsy indication is marketed by Pfizer as Neurontin, which was once a $3B drug. What other former multi billion dollar drug does Pfizer market? Oh, yeah: Aricept (donepezil). Hmmm...