Anavex Life Sciences Corp (AVXL)

[sokol]

Another reason why AVXL 2-73 may be efficacious.

Impaired cerebral blood flow is associated with dementia and Alzheimer's. AVXL 2-73 may alleviate blood pressure and increase cerebral blood flow.

Aggressive lowering of blood pressure reduces MCI risk, study shows
Jul 25 2018
Significant reductions in the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and the combination of MCI and dementia, have been shown for the first time through aggressive lowering of systolic blood pressure in new research results from the federally-funded SPRINT MIND Study reported at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) 2018 in Chicago.

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20180725/Aggressive-lowering-of-blood-pressure-reduces-MCI-risk-study-shows.aspx

Anavex Life Sciences Reports Potential Normalization of Hypertension with ANAVEX®2-73 Published in The Journal of Clinical Hypertension. https://www.anavex.com/anavex-life-sciences-reports-potential-normalization-of-hypertension-with-anavex2-73-published-in-the-journal-of-clinical-hypertension/

“NEW YORK, Jan. 16, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Anavex Life Sciences Corp. (“Anavex” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq:AVXL), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing differentiated therapeutics for the treatment of neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental diseases today reports that the peer-reviewed scientific journal The Journal of Clinical Hypertension [1] has published a post-hoc analysis of blood pressure data collected during the Phase 2a study in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease patients demonstrating that ANAVEX®2-73 seems to normalize systolic blood pressure (SBP) in a patient population with risk for hypertension.

… High blood pressure, or hypertension, occurs when either systolic or diastolic pressure remains elevated over time. High blood pressure is dangerous because it makes the heart work too hard and its extra force can damage arteries. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to heart disease, kidney damage or stroke. New evidence also links high blood pressure to increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia. [2] https://www.alz.org/we_can_help_blood_pressure.asp

… Blood pressure measurement was not a primary goal of this trial, however, the potential beneficial effect of sigma-1 receptor activation restoring homeostasis on blood pressure normalization merits further investigation in future clinical studies,” stated Christopher U. Missling, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Anavex.”

It is interesting to note that the majority of the patients in the Anavex Phase 2a study had elevated blood pressure according to Missling.

See also:

Systolic blood pressure as a potential target of sigma-1 receptor agonist therapy
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jch.13197

“.. Based on existing physiologic evidence, this class of medication might have a feasible mechanism for BP reduction. In rats, sigma-1 receptor stimulation promotes endothelial and neuronal nitric oxide synthase activation and nitric oxide production, resulting in vasodilation and potentially mediating BP decline.3 In addition to acting as a sigma-1 receptor agonist, ANAVEX2-73 also has muscarinic (M1–M4) receptor activity. M3 receptor stimulation triggers nitric oxide–mediated central vasodilation.7Medication-induced activation of this receptor may further contribute to BP reduction.“

Vasodilation is the widening of blood vessels.[1] It results from relaxation of smooth muscle cells within the vessel walls, in particular in the large veins (called venodilators), large arteries, and smaller arterioles. The process is the opposite of vasoconstriction, which is the narrowing of blood vessels.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasodilation

”When blood vessels dilate, the flow of blood is increased due to a decrease in vascular resistance. Therefore, dilation of arterial blood vessels (mainly the arterioles) decreases blood pressure. The response may be intrinsic (due to local processes in the surrounding tissue) or extrinsic (due to hormones or the nervous system). In addition, the response may be localized to a specific organ (depending on the metabolic needs of a particular tissue, as during strenuous exercise), or it may be systemic (seen throughout the entire systemic circulation).

Endogenous substances and drugs that cause vasodilation are termed vasodilators. Such vasoactivity is necessary for homeostasis (keeping the body running normally).”

https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/blood-pressure-and-your-brain

Blood pressure and your brain
Published: October, 2009
”Hypertension is a circulatory disease. Many patients with high blood pressure develop coronary artery disease or heart failure, and many die as a result. But all parts of the body depend on the circulation, and many organs suffer from the impact of untreated hypertension. One of the organs at greatest risk is the brain.”

https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/blood-pressure-and-your-brain

Lower cerebral blood flow in subjects with Alzheimer's dementia, mild cognitive impairment, and subjective cognitive decline using two-dimensional phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5717294/