Anavex Life Sciences has unveiled promising outcomes from the open-label extension of its Phase 2
study on blarcamesine (ANAVEX2-73) for Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD). The
48-week study demonstrated the safety and efficacy of the investigational drug,
providing a glimmer of hope for patients grappling with this debilitating condition.
The extension phase faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a 41-week postponement
on average. Despite these challenges, patients resuming treatment with
blarcamesine showed significant improvements in PDD symptoms.
Clinical efficacy was measured using the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease
Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) and Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I).
From the baseline to week 48, patients exhibited a notable change of -2.25 in
MDS-UPDRS total score and -0.7 in CGI-I, indicating substantial symptom relief.
Christopher U. Missling, PhD, President and CEO of Anavex Life Sciences,
expressed his optimism about these results. “The data suggests
ANAVEX2-73’s potential to slow and possibly reverse the life-altering symptoms
of Parkinson’s disease,” he said.
In addition to improvements in motor and cognitive functions, blarcamesine positively
influenced other critical areas. Patients reported better scores on the
Montreal Cognitive Assessment and the REM Sleep Behavior Disorder Screening
Questionnaire, underscoring the drug’s comprehensive benefits.
The study initially enrolled 132 patients with PDD, who were randomized to receive either 30 mg or
50 mg of blarcamesine, or a placebo, for a duration of up to 14 weeks.
Participants were allowed to continue their existing anti-PD medications,
ensuring the study’s real-world applicability.
Anavex Life Sciences plans to use these positive outcomes to inform future studies,
including an upcoming six-month trial focusing on key efficacy endpoints. Anavex’s commitment to addressing unmet medical needs stands firm, as they
continue to explore the full potential of ANAVEX2-73 in neurodegenerative disease treatment.
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