Anavex Life Sciences Corp., a pharmaceutical company engaged in the development of novel drug candidates, has reported promising new data from its lead drug candidate, ANAVEX 2-73 for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

In a scientific study conducted in France at the University of Montpellier and INSERM, ANAVEX 2-73 demonstrated disease-modifying effects, including the ability to repair normal mitochondrial functionality in the hippocampus, the part of the brain involved with learning, memory and emotions. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been consistently reported as an early cause of Alzheimer’s disease. It appears before amyloid-beta plaques can start to accumulate and memory loss begins in Alzheimer’s patients and transgenic mice. In the same study, ANAVEX 2-73 blocked apoptosis (cell death) and oxidative stress, which is believed to prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

“ANAVEX 2-73 appears to be a valuable drug for protection against mitochondrial damages relative to Alzheimer’s disease physiopathology,” said Tangui Maurice, PhD, CNRS Research Director, Head of Team 2 ‘Endogenous Neuroprotection in Neurodegenerative Diseases’, at the University of Montpellier and INSERM. “The unique target combination of the drug is responsible for its activity on mitochondrial dysfunction which is likely the triggering event of the pathology.”

The new study data was revealed in a presentation at the international conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases in Florence, Italy. Now in its 11th year, the conference attracts leading international medical and scientific experts from around the world. The presentation is titled, “Mitochondrial protection in mouse hippocampus against Aß25-35 toxicity is induced by the novel tetrahydrofuran derivative ANAVEX2-73, a mixed s1 receptor and cholinergic agonist.”

The study was jointly conducted by Valentine Lahmy, PharmD, Romain Long, PhD, Didier Morin, PhD, team leader at INSERM, Institut Henri Modor, Créteil, Vanessa Villard, PhD, CEO of Amylgen, Alexandre Vamvakides, PhD, Scientific Founder of Anavex, and Tangui Maurice, PhD.