Anavex Life Sciences Corp (AVXL)

[Steady_T]

Ummm, it is less clear cut than you might think. In pain studies patients given placebo pills and told they were strong pain relievers experienced less pain and had reduced biomarkers of pain.

Having said that, the measured changes in GABA and Glutamate are strong indicators of 2-73 having a clinical effect. I find the chemical level changes much more persuasive than the various measurement scales. They are less susceptible to expectation bias. Less susceptible does not mean immune.

Taken together, the changes in the measurement scales that correlate with the biomarker changes make strong argument for 2-73 even though it is a small N unblinded drug trial.

I would call this data strongly suggestive.

It will take the blinded, placebo controlled trial to be convincing to skeptical observers such as drug approval bodies. And that is as it should be.