Full Press Release Details
ANAVEX ADDS DR. PAUL AISEN TO SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY
Hoboken, NJ February 16, 2011 -- Anavex Life Sciences
Corp. ( Anavex , AVXL.OB) today announced the appointment of Dr. Paul Aisen to
the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) as a clinical expert. The SAB works closely
with the company to support development of the Anavex product pipeline,
including its lead compound ANAVEX 2-73, which is being studied for Alzheimer s
disease and is scheduled to enter Phase I clinical trials shortly.
Dr. Aisen is a leading clinician and researcher in Alzheimer s
disease clinical trials and is on the faculty of the University of California,
San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine s Department of Neurosciences. His primary
research interests focus on the development of new strategies for the treatment
of Alzheimer s disease. Since 2007, Dr. Aisen has been Director of the
Alzheimer s Disease Cooperative Study, a consortium funded by the National
Institute on Aging (NIA) to develop assessment instruments and conduct clinical
trials. Dr. Aisen is Associate Editor of Alzheimer s Research and Therapy, a
major international peer-reviewed journal, and sits on the editorial board of
BMC Medicine. He has published more than 180 peer-reviewed papers.
We are delighted that Dr. Aisen has agreed to join the Anavex
Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Aisen is one of the world s leading clinical
trials research scientists in the field of Alzheimer s disease. His
contributions in the development of ANAVEX 2-73 will be of great importance as
we enter clinical trials, said Dr. Cameron Durrant, Executive Chairman of
I am excited to be assisting Anavex in their endeavors, since
my career efforts have been directed towards the development of better therapies
for Alzheimer s disease. We all know that the first drug to treat Alzheimer s
disease came out in 1993 but we are in need of better therapies. I sincerely
hope that ANAVEX 2-73, with its unique sigma-1 receptor agonism as well as
muscarinic and cholinergic effects, as we have seen in pre-clinical data, will
have an impact on the disease process and treatment in patients, said Dr.
While Alzheimer s is most common in people over the age of 65,
it can strike adults of any age irrespective of their gender, background or
socioeconomic status. According to the Alzheimer s Association an estimated 5.3
million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer s disease. The number of
Americans aged 65 and over with Alzheimer s is estimated to reach 7.7 million in
2030. By 2050, between 11 million and 16 million Americans over 65 are expected
to have Alzheimer s disease.
ANAVEX 2-73 is the first of a new class of oral,
disease-modifying drugs being studied to potentially treat Alzheimer s disease
itself, versus treating its symptoms.
About Anavex Life Sciences Corp.
Sciences Corp. (www.anavex.com) is a specialty pharmaceutical company engaged in
the discovery and development of novel drug candidates for the treatment of
neurological diseases and cancer. The Anavex proprietary SIGMACEPTOR Discovery
Platform involves the rational design of drug compounds targeted to specific
receptors involved in the modulation of multiple cellular biochemical signaling
The SIGMACEPTOR -N program involves the development of novel
drug candidates that target neurological and neurodegenerative diseases
(Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, depression, pain). The company's lead drug
candidates exhibit high affinity for sigma receptors, which have been
extensively documented as potentially valuable drug targets and have
demonstrated anti-amnesic and neuroprotective properties.
Anavex is a publicly traded company under the symbol AVXL .
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press
release that are not strictly historical in nature are forward-looking
statements. These statements are only predictions based on current information
and expectations and involve a number of risks and uncertainties.
Forward-looking statements in this press release include that ANAVEX 2-73 is
scheduled to enter Phase I clinical trials shortly; that Dr. Aisens
contributions in the development of ANAVEX 2-73 will be of great importance;
that ANAVEX 2-73 will have an impact on the disease process and treatment in
patients and that ANAVEX 2-73 is the first of a new class of oral,
disease-modifying drugs being studied to potentially treat Alzheimer s disease
itself, versus treating its symptoms. Actual events or results may differ
materially from those projected in any of such statements due to various
factors, including the risks and uncertainties inherent in drug discovery and
development, which include, without limitation, the potential failure of
development candidates to advance through preclinical studies or demonstrate
safety and efficacy in clinical testing and the ability to pass clinical trials
so as to move on to the next phase, our ability to retain key employees and our
ability to finance development or satisfy the rigorous regulatory requirements
for new drugs. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. All
forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary
statement and Anavex Life Sciences Corp. undertakes no obligation to revise or
update this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date
For Further Information
Anavex Life Sciences Corp.
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