New Data on Two Anavex Alzheimer's Drugs to be Unveiled at AD/PD 2015


NEW YORK, March 19, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Anavex Life Sciences Corp. ("Anavex" or the "Company") (OTCQX:AVXL), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing drug candidates to treat Alzheimer's and other central nervous system (CNS) diseases, pain and various types of cancer, is pleased to announce the upcoming presentation of new data for two of its Alzheimer's drug candidates, ANAVEX 2-73 and ANAVEX 3-71, at the 12th International Conference on Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases and Related Neurological Disorders (AD/PD 2015).

Tangui Maurice, PhD, CNRS Research Director, Head of Team 2 'Endogenous Neuroprotection in Neurodegenerative Diseases', at the University of Montpellier and INSERM, will reveal new preclinical data on ANAVEX 2-73 in the following AD/PD 2015 presentation:

Title: Targeting the Sigma-1 Protein for Neuroprotection in Alzheimer's Disease
Date: Friday, March 20, 2015
Time: 16:05 local time
Place: Apollon room of the Nice Acropolis Convention Center

ANAVEX 2-73 is currently undergoing a Phase 2a trial in Alzheimer's patients after completing a Phase 1 study with a clean data profile. In earlier preclinical studies, ANAVEX 2-73 showed potential to halt and/or reverse Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, positive preclinical data reveals the potential for ANAVEX 2-73 as a platform drug to treat additional CNS disorders, including epilepsy.

Abraham Fisher, PhD, co-founding Chairman and President of AD/PD, will present new data on ANAVEX 3-71:

Title: Towards a Comprehensive Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) – a Highly Potent Activator of Sigma-1/M1 Receptors
Date: Friday, March 20, 2015
Time: 16:25 local time
Place: Apollon room of the Nice Acropolis Convention Center

ANAVEX 3-71, previously AF710B, is a unique and promising preclinical drug candidate with a novel mechanism of action shown to enhance neuroprotection and cognition in Alzheimer's disease. It is a CNS-penetrable mono-therapy that bridges treatment of both cognitive impairments with disease modifications. ANAVEX 3-71 is highly effective in very small doses against the major Alzheimer's hallmarks in transgenic (3xTg-AD) mice, including cognitive deficits, amyloid and tau pathologies, and also has beneficial effects on inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunctions.

Drs. Maurice and Fisher are members of the Anavex Scientific Advisory Board.

About Anavex Life Sciences Corp.

Anavex Life Sciences Corp. (OTCQX:AVXL) is a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of novel drug candidates to treat central nervous system (CNS) diseases, pain and various types of cancer. The Company's lead drug candidates, ANAVEX 2-73 and ANAVEX PLUS, a combination of ANAVEX 2-73 and donepezil (Aricept®), are currently being evaluated in a Phase 2a clinical trial for Alzheimer's disease. ANAVEX 2-73 is an orally available drug candidate that targets sigma-1 and muscarinic receptors and has successfully completed a Phase 1 study with a clean data profile. Preclinical studies have demonstrated its potential to halt and/or reverse the course of Alzheimer's disease. In addition, ANAVEX PLUS produced up to 80 percent greater reversal of memory loss in Alzheimer's disease models compared to when the drugs were used individually. Recent positive preclinical data indicates that ANAVEX 2-73 may also exhibit anticonvulsant, anti-amnesic, neuroprotective and anti-depressant properties, indicating its potential to treat additional CNS disorders, including epilepsy and others. Further information is available at www.anavex.com.

About AD/PD 2015

Attracting international medical and scientific professionals from around the world, AD/PD 2015 is at the forefront of unraveling the mechanisms and improving the treatment of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other related neurodegenerative diseases. In a setting that uniquely combines distinct neurodegenerative diseases and examines their similarities and differences, AD/PD 2015 has a strong focus on mechanisms of disease, prevention and therapy. Additional information about AD/PD 2015 is available from the conference website.

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. Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in any of such statements due to various factors, including the risks set forth in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. 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 hereof.



            

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