Anavex Life Sciences has announced promising results from a Phase 2b/3 clinical trial of their
investigational oral therapy, Anavex 2-73 (blarcamesine), in treating early
Alzheimer’s disease. The trial’s data analysis revealed that participants
receiving Anavex 2-73 experienced a significant slowing of both cognitive and
functional decline compared to those on a placebo.
Key Findings
The clinical trial enrolled 509 participants aged 60-85, all diagnosed with mild cognitive
impairments or mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease. Over a 48-week period,
participants were administered either one of two doses of Anavex 2-73 or a
placebo. The primary efficacy endpoints were cognitive improvement, assessed by
the Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale-Cognition (ADAS-Cog), and overall daily
function, measured by the Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study-Activities of
Daily Living Scale (ADCS-ADL).
Clinical Benefits
In terms of cognitive improvement, those treated with Anavex 2-73 were 84% more likely to experience a meaningful boost compared to
the placebo group. Moreover, the therapy was associated with a 45% slower rate
of cognitive decline. Functional improvements were also significant, with
Anavex 2-73 leading to a 167% higher likelihood of achieving clinically
meaningful gains in daily living activities.
Mechanism of Action
Anavex 2-73
operates by activating the sigma-1 receptor, a protein in the brain that plays
a crucial role in neuroprotection. This activation helps to prevent toxic
protein accumulation and reduce neuroinflammation and oxidative stress—common
pathological features in Alzheimer’s disease. Anavex believes enhancing sigma-1 receptor activity can mitigate the neurological changes
that lead to Alzheimer’s-related cognitive decline.
Future Prospects
The new data are particularly encouraging, showing that Anavex 2-73 not only slows cognitive and
functional decline but also reduces brain volume loss and amyloid-beta protein
levels. As a next step, Anavex Life Sciences plans to meet with regulatory
authorities in the U.S., Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region to discuss
potential approval pathways for Anavex 2-73. If approved, this treatment could
offer a new, convenient, and effective option for those battling early-stage
Alzheimer’s disease. See related link for additional information.
Learn more about Anavex on https://www.biospace.com/article/releases/anavex-life-sciences-reports-fiscal-2024-first-quarter-financial-results-and-provides-business-update/