Anavex Completes Scale-up for AD Drug

Anavex Life Sciences Corp. has completed the scale-up manufacturing of Anavex 2-73, its lead compound for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

“With sufficient quantities of Anavex 2-73 in hand we are an important step closer to the commencement of Phase I trials, which are scheduled to begin in early 2010,” said Dr. Herve de Kergrohen, chief executive officer of Anavex. “This lead drug candidate shows potential to alter the course of Alzheimer’s disease by using sigma receptors to correct dysfunction in the mitochondria and ultimately protect cells from oxidative stress, which is believed to be an underlying cause of the disease.”

Syntagon AB manufactured the two kilograms of Anavex 2-73 under GMP conditions. Syntagon developed a five-step synthetic procedure that achieved excellent yields in terms of the quantity of the compound that was produced. Syntagon is a provider of synthetic organic chemistry services headquartered in Sodertalje, Sweden.

Anavex plans to announce the selection of the CRO in charge of carrying out its Phase I trials. To date, Anavex 2-73 has demonstrated powerful neuroprotective, anti-amnesic, anti-convulsive and anti-depressive activity in animal models, with an excellent safety profile and therapeutic activity at low doses.