Anavex Life Sciences Corp (AVXL)

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“Disease Modifying” — What Does That Mean?

This phrase has been used in regard to Anavex drugs. But, what does it mean? I wanted to be sure, so I looked it up. On this particular webpage (http://jonathanharrismd.com/disease-modifying-therapy-what-is-it-and-how-do-we-know-it-works/) it said:

A symptomatic therapy is a therapy designed to reduce the symptoms of a disease. Aspirin to lower the fever from an infection is an example of a symptomatic therapy. A disease-modifying therapy (DMT) is a category of medications used to slow down disease progression.

Ok, then. Blarcamesine will be a “disease modifying” drug. It will, at least, slow the progression of the symptoms of one or more central nervous system diseases. Pretty good.

But it may prove to be even better. For some CNS (or other) diseases it may prove to be “prophylactic,” a prevention of the onset of symptoms. It may stop bad things before they even begin to appear. Even better.

Or, the drug my be “disease reversing” (a term I just made up), where it reverses the progression of typical symptoms, ideally to the point of absence. The better term in that case would be a “disease cure.” The very best.