Anavex Life Sciences Corp (AVXL)

[WolfWayne]

ANAVEX 2-73 for Epilepsy

"To study the anticonvulsant effect of ANAVEX 2-73, three generations of epilepsy drug candidates were tested in multiple standard seizure-inducing animal models. The results noted below were following administration of ANAVEX 2-73, both alone and in combination with three drugs currently on the market.

On its own, ANAVEX 2-73 exhibited significant anticonvulsive dose-dependent action by providing almost complete protection from tonic seizures. In maximum electroshock (MES)-induced convulsions, it was observed that 30 mg/kg ANAVEX 2-73 alone was able to provide 90% protection.

ANAVEX 2-73 in combination with Ethosuximide (ETS) (Zarontin®), a first-generation antiepileptic drug, showed a strong synergistic effect in the MES test. In MES-induced convulsions, the combination of 10 mg/kg of ANAVEX 2-73 and 200 mg/kg of ETS provided 80% protection, while no protection at all was observed at the same dose ETS alone.

ANAVEX 2-73 in combination with the first line anti-epileptic drug Valproic acid (VPA) (Depakene®) displayed a strong synergistic effect. In the pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced convulsion model, the combination of 10 mg/kg of ANAVEX 2-73 metabolite and 200 mg/kg of VPA showed 92% protection from tonic seizures, compared with modest 12.5% protection when 200 mg/kg of VPA was administered on its own. The combination with ANAVEX 2-73 also prolonged life during a seizure, compared to when VPA was used alone.

ANAVEX 2-73 in combination with the newer generation anti-epileptic drug gabapentin (Neurontin®) also showed a statistically strong effect in the reduction of seizures, compared to gabapentin alone. The combination of 5 mg/kg of ANAVEX 2-73 metabolite with 100 mg/kg of gabapentin resulted in 90% protection from tonic seizures as compared to 40% protection with 100 mg/kg of gabapentin alone in the MEZ test."

http://www.anavex.com/?news=anavex-confirms-positive-preclinical-epilepsy-data-for-anavex-2-73-validation-as-potential-platform-drug-for-multiple-neurodegenerative-diseases