Anavex Life Sciences, or Anavex, is a leading biopharmaceutical company, and has recently announced
positive findings from the 48-week open-label extension of their phase 2 study
involving the investigational agent ANAVEX2-73, also known as blarcamesine.
This study focused on evaluating the efficacy and safety of blarcamesine in individuals
with Parkinson disease dementia (PDD). 

Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Anavex’s study showed significant improvements in PDD symptoms among patients who continued
treatment with blarcamesine during the extension phase. The delay caused by the
pandemic resulted in a reduced enrollment rate and a “drug holiday,”
but the patients who resumed treatment demonstrated consistent and longitudinal
improvements in their clinical symptoms over time.

Christopher U. Missling, PhD, President and CEO of Anavex Life Sciences, expressed his
optimism about the study results, stating, “It is encouraging that the
patients’ clinical symptoms consistently improved longitudinally over time
during the extension phase under active ANAVEX2-73 treatment.” These findings suggest that
blarcamesine has the potential to not only slow down the progression of
Parkinson’s disease but also potentially reverse its debilitating symptoms. 

The study outcomes were measured using various efficacy endpoints, including the Movement Disorder
Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) Parts II and III
and the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) scale. The patients who
received blarcamesine treatment demonstrated improvements in these measures,
indicating a positive response to the investigational agent. 

The results from this phase 2 extension study build upon the previous data that highlighted
blarcamesine’s ability to increase sigma-1 receptor (SIGMAR1) mRNA expression.
This increase correlated with improvements in cognitive function and motor
symptoms as measured by the Cognitive Drug Research (CDR) system and MDS-UPDRS
scores, respectively. 

As Anavex Life Sciences continues its research efforts, these promising results pave the way for
further investigation and potential breakthroughs in the treatment of Parkinson
disease dementia. The company aims to conduct a six-month study to further
evaluate the efficacy and safety of blarcamesine in individuals with Parkinson’s disease. 

In conclusion, the phase 2 extension study by Anavex Life Sciences demonstrates the potential of
blarcamesine as a promising treatment option for individuals with Parkinson
disease dementia. The consistent improvements in clinical symptoms observed
over the 48-week period provide hope for patients and their families who are
affected by this debilitating condition. Further research and clinical trials
will be essential to fully understand the therapeutic potential of blarcamesine
in addressing the unmet needs of individuals with Parkinson’s disease. Visit this page on LinkedIn, for more information. 

Find more information about Anavex on https://www.clinicaltrialsarena.com/news/anavex-data-trial-alzheimers/