Blarcamesine Shows Promise in Parkinson’s Disease Dementia Trial

Anavex Life Sciences recently announced encouraging results from a
long-term extension of their Phase 2 trial involving ANAVEX2-73, also known as
blarcamesine, aimed at treating Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD). This trial,
designated as ANAVEX2-73-PDD-EP-001, spanned 48 weeks and provided significant
insights into the potential efficacy and safety of the investigational agent. 

During the open-label extension (OLE), patients who continued with blarcamesine treatment
exhibited consistent improvements in several key clinical endpoints. These
include the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale
(MDS-UPDRS) and the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) scale.
Notably, from the OLE baseline to week 48, there was an average change of -2.25
in MDS-UPDRS total score and -0.7 in CGI-I scores, indicating a meaningful
clinical benefit. 

Anavex Life Sciences faced unique challenges during the trial due to delays caused by the
COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these hurdles, the company remained committed to
exploring the potential of blarcamesine in addressing the urgent, unmet needs
of PDD patients. The study’s findings suggest that blarcamesine not only
improved motor symptoms but also had a positive impact on cognitive functions
and sleep disorders associated with Parkinson’s disease dementia. 

The primary and secondary objectives of the trial were met, highlighting blarcamesine’s
potential to slow, and possibly reverse, the debilitating symptoms of PDD. The
132 participants, who were allowed to remain on stable regimens of anti-PD
medications, showed clinically meaningful improvements that underscore the
drug’s promising therapeutic profile. 

Christopher U. Missling, PhD, the CEO of Anavex, expressed optimism about the results, stating, “The data
suggests ANAVEX2-73’s potential capability to slow and potentially reverse the
life-altering symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.” 

Moving forward, Anavex plans to incorporate these findings into their upcoming 6-month
Parkinson’s disease study, aiming to further validate blarcamesine’s clinical
benefits. The continued exploration of ANAVEX2-73 could mark a significant
stride in the treatment landscape for Parkinson’s disease dementia, providing
hope for many affected by this challenging condition. Refer to this article, for related information. 

Learn more about Anavex Life Sciences on https://www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/stocks/avxl