NEW YORK, Nov. 25, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Anavex Life Sciences Corp. (“Anavex” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq:AVXL), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing drug candidates to treat Alzheimer’s disease, other central nervous system (CNS) diseases, pain and various types of cancer, announces that Kristina M. Capiak, CCRP has been promoted the Company’s Vice President of Regulatory Affairs. She is overseeing U.S. and international regulatory matters for Anavex, including filings and interactions with the FDA and other regulatory authorities.
“We are excited to expand Ms. Capiak’s role to oversee the Company’s clinical development programs and other indications given Ms. Capiak’s expertise and we are delighted to have her on our team,” said Dr. Christopher U. Missling, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer for Anavex.
Ms. Capiak has more than 10 years of academic clinical research and healthcare industry experience within the biotech industry. Prior to joining Anavex, Ms. Capiak was the Global Regulatory Lead at Retrophin, Inc. where she implemented U.S. and EU strategy for the ongoing development programs, which received orphan drug designations as well as fast track designation. At Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Ms. Capiak was on the pharmacovigilance and risk management team where she analyzed the ongoing safety events for the pipeline of development products and for EYLEA®.
Ms. Capiak’s background also includes clinical trial staffing and oversight for more than 60 clinical trials at both Columbia University Medical Center, where she co-authored several papers, and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, where she became a Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP) through the Society of Clinical Research Associates.
While an undergraduate, Ms. Capiak participated in translational medical research at the University of Michigan Medical School through the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program. She is a graduate of both the University of Michigan and New York City’s Columbia University.
About Anavex Life Sciences Corp.
Anavex Life Sciences Corp. (Nasdaq:AVXL) is a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of novel drug candidates to treat central nervous system (CNS) diseases and various types of cancer. Anavex’s lead drug candidates, ANAVEX 2-73 and ANAVEX PLUS, the combination of ANAVEX 2-73 and donepezil (Aricept®), are currently in a Phase 2a clinical trial for Alzheimer’s disease. The drug combination ANAVEX PLUS produced up to 80% greater reversal of memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease models versus when the drugs were used individually. ANAVEX 2-73 is an orally available drug candidate that targets sigma-1 and muscarinic receptors and successfully completed Phase 1 with a clean data profile. Preclinical studies demonstrated its potential to halt and/or reverse the course of Alzheimer’s disease. It has also exhibited anticonvulsant, anti-amnesic, neuroprotective and anti-depressant properties in convulsive epileptic animal models, indicating its potential to treat additional CNS disorders, including epilepsy and others. Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) for Parkinson’s Research has awarded Anavex a research grant to develop ANAVEX 2-73 for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease to fully fund a preclinical study, which could justify moving ANAVEX 2-73 into a Parkinson’s disease clinical trial. Further information is available at www.anavex.com.
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.