âVice President, Business Developmentâ & Scientific Strategyâ
Anavex Life Sciences Corp., is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing treatments for debilitating neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental diseases. The Company's lead product candidate, ANAVEX®2-73 is undergoing four mid- to late-stage clinical trial programs for CNS diseases where no good treatment options exist, or current treatments are inadequate. These include Alzheimer's disease (Phase 2b/3) and Parkinson's disease dementia (Phase 2), which are neurodegenerative diseases that are on the rise due to aging populations in developed nations. Additionally, Anavex has two ongoing Phase 2 trials for Rett syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disease that mostly affects young female girls. Anavex has received Orphan Drug Designation from both the FDA and EMA for Rett syndrome. ANAVEX®2-73 has potential to treat other CNS disorders, given its ability to restore upstream cellular homeostasis. Anavex has received funding from Rett Syndrome Foundation, as well as Michael J Fox Foundation supporting Anavex's studies. Anavex has identified a novel biomarker signature (genetic variants) that have potential to determine which patients will benefit the most from ANAVEX®2-73, which targets the Sigma-1 receptor (SIGMAR1), a natural cell signaling pathway that is activated to restore cellular homeostasis.