Filed by newsfilecorp.com Anavex appoints Dr. George Tidmarsh as Executive Director Hoboken, NJ

Anavex appoints Dr. George Tidmarsh as Executive

Hoboken, NJ October 12, 2011 -- Anavex Life Sciences

Corp. ( Anavex ) (OTCBB: AVXL) today announced the appointment of Dr. George

Tidmarsh as director, and his engagement to act as an executive director. Dr.

Tidmarsh is an executive-level physician/scientist and consultant who has

founded and built several successful biotechnology companies. He has more than

20 years of experience and brings to Anavex a significant track record in

clinical trials, FDA drug approvals and corporate growth.

Anavex has established itself as an innovative leader in the

field of Alzheimer s drug research and development. I am extremely pleased to be

joining the company at such an exciting time in its evolution, said Dr.

Tidmarsh. The advancement of ANAVEX 2-73, the company s lead compound for

Alzheimer s disease, coupled with a robust product pipeline and potential to

apply proprietary technology to the development of additional drug candidates

represent significant growth opportunities for Anavex. I look forward to working

with the Anavex team and to helping propel the company to new heights.

Welcoming an executive with Dr. Tidmarsh s qualifications,

reputation for success in clinical trials and performance standards is critical

for Anavex at this stage in our growth, said Harvey Lalach, President of

Anavex. Dr. Tidmarsh has direct experience in successful early-stage trials,

the ability to successfully expand emerging companies as well as expert

pharmaceutical knowledge. We appreciate Dr. Tidmarsh s confidence in Anavex and

believe his qualifications will help take the company to the next level.

Dr. Tidmarsh is also a consultant for biopharmaceutical

companies and is currently working with Citizen s Oncology Foundation and Solana

Therapeutics among others. He has also founded several successful companies

including Horizon Therapeutics (now Horizon Pharma) (NASDAQ: HZNP). From 2005

through 2008 Dr. Tidmarsh served as Horizon s Chief Executive Officer,

successfully completing four Phase I and two large Phase III trials, including

the registration trials for Duexa. Prior to Horizon, Dr. Tidmarsh founded

Threshold Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: THLD) where he served as the company s

President and as a Director from 2001 to 2006. Most recently, Dr. Tidmarsh

served as Chief Scientific Officer at Spectrum Pharmaceuticals as a part of

their acquisition of Metronome Therapeutics, a novel cancer drug development

company that Dr. Tidmarsh founded in 2007. In addition, Dr. Tidmarsh s

background includes various positions at Coulter Pharmaceuticals, including

Chief Medical Officer, and SEQQUS where he played a key role in the approval of

Doxil. He has also held scientific and clinical positions at Gilead Sciences and

Dr. Tidmarsh has published 25 peer-reviewed articles in leading

journals and authored 15 U.S. patents. He received his Bachelor of Science,

M.D., and Ph.D. from Stanford University, where he also completed Residency and

Fellowship training. In addition, Dr. Tidmarsh is currently an Associate

Professor of Pediatrics and Neonatology at Stanford University School of

About Anavex Life Sciences Corp.

Anavex Life 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. A portfolio of back-up

compounds to ANAVEX 2-73 are also in development.

Anavex is a publicly traded company under the symbol AVXL.