NEW YORK, Nov. 19, 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, today announced the presentation of preclinical epilepsy data at the upcoming American Epilepsy Society Annual Meeting.



Poster Presentation Details

Title: Novel Anti-Seizure Compound ANAVEX 2-73 a Sigma-1 Receptor Agonist in Multiple Seizure Models Date/Time: Monday, December 7, 2015 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Location: Philadelphia, PA Convention Center, Hall A, 200 Level

The American Epilepsy Society Annual Meeting takes place in Philadelphia, PA from December 4-8, 2015. Additional information is available on the American Epilepsy Society website.

“ANAVEX 2-73 demonstrated convincing data in three well-established and predictive preclinical anti-seizure models with potentially more favorable side effect profile than currently marketed epilepsy drugs,” said Christopher U. Missling, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Anavex. “The cognitive-enhancing features of ANAVEX 2-73 might be a differentiating factor since seizures cause neuro-cognitive impairments, which can be worsened by current epilepsy medications. With recent data from the Phase 2a trial for ANAVEX 2-73, the Company is encouraged to continue exploring this additional indication.”

About Epilepsy

Epilepsy is the most common serious neurological disorder, affecting people of all ages. It is a term used for recurring seizure disorder, a condition that is characterized by the tendency for an individual to have repeated nervous seizures (interruption of normal brain activity). Epilepsy is considered to be a spectrum disorder that can cause other health problems, including cognitive impairments, with a wide range of seizure types and control varying from person to person. The greatest unmet needs in epilepsy remain the inadequate control of seizures that occur in 20% to 30% of drug-treated epilepsy patients, effective treatments for related orphan indications like Dravet or Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, rare forms of epilepsy, and therapies with reduced co-morbidity, translating into a significant market opportunity. The global epilepsy market was estimated at $4.2 billion in 2012 and is expected to grow to $5.35 billion by 2022, with more than 50% of sales coming from the United States.

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.

For Further Information Anavex Life Sciences Corp. Research & Business Development Toll-free: 1-844-689-3939 Email: info@anavex.com Shareholder & Media Relations Toll-free: 1-866-505-2895 Outside North America: +1 (416) 489-0092 Email: ir@anavex.com www.anavex.com