Anavex Life Sciences Corp (AVXL)

[makemydaze]

Looks pretty promising to me -- from page 85 of the WPC2016 abstracts (credit for this find goes to someone else) -

------------------------------------------------------------------

Investigating the potential neurorestorative effects of a clinical Sigma-1 receptor agonist in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease. Veronica Francardo1, Francesco Bez1, Jeffrey Sprouse2, Christopher Missling2, M. Angela Cenci Nilsson1 1 Basal Ganglia Pathophysiology Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden 2 Anavex Life Sciences, New York, New York, USA
Background: Sigma-1 receptor is an endoplasmic reticulumchaperone protein promoting mechanisms that protect cells under stress. We have recently demonstrated, for the first time in an animal model of Parkinson’s disease (PD), that a compound known to enhance the activity of Sig-1R promotes recovery of motor functions and activates neuroplasticity mechanisms in the nigrostriatal system (Francardo et al Brain 2014). Objective: Using the same animal model of PD as in our previous study, we aim to investigate the potential neurorestorative effects of ANAVEX 2-73, a compound with activity at both Sigma-1 and muscarinic receptors that is currently being tested in people affected by Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, we aim to study the Sigma-1 receptor occupancy of different doses of ANAVEX 2-73 in the brain. Methods: The following experiments are now ongoing: (i) doseresponse effects of ANAVEX 2-73 on the behavior of intact mice, (ii) setting up a radiographic method to assess brain Sigma-1 receptor occupancy by ANAVEX 2-73 in the mouse, (iii) behavioralpharmacological evaluation of the effects of the compound in mice sustaining intrastriatal 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesions. Treatment is given daily for 5 weeks. Results: In intact mice, ANAVEX 2-73 reduced novelty/stressinduced horizontal activity (a potential anxiolytic effect), although basal activity levels were not significantly reduced. Behavioral patterns were completely normal (no signs of either dystonia or stereotypic behaviors). Ongoing experiments on mice sustaining 6OHDA lesions show trends towards an amelioration of parkinsonian motor symptoms in tests assessing spontaneous rotational activity and forelimb use asymmetry. Significance: If successful, this study will accelerate the clinical development of ANAVEX 2-73 as a potential disease-modifying therapy for PD. We are in the fortunate situation that safety, bioavailability, tolerability of this compound have already been proven in human subjects, and that preliminary indications of a cognitive benefit have been obtained in a Phase 2a clinical trial for Alzheimer’s disease (ANAVEXTM Life Science Corp).

http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.wpc2016.org/resource/resmgr/abstracts/wpc2016_final.pdf?hhSearchTerms=%22anavex%22