Anavex has announced significant advancements in Alzheimer’s research, following a successful phase
2b/3 trial of their investigational therapy, blarcamesine. The trial showcased
promising results for patients with early Alzheimer’s disease, marking a
potential breakthrough in the ongoing battle against this debilitating condition. 

The multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study enrolled 508 participants across five
countries. Over the course of 48 weeks, patients were administered daily oral
doses of blarcamesine or a placebo. The primary endpoints involved assessing
cognitive and functional efficacy through the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment
Scale-Cognitive (ADAS-Cog) and the Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative
Study-Activities of Daily Living (ADCS-ADL) subscales. 

In the blarcamesine group, there was a notable reduction in pathological amyloid-ß levels in
plasma, evidenced by an increase in the plasma Aβ42/40 ratio. This biomarker is
critical in tracking the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, MRI
scans indicated a significant slowing of brain atrophy, further substantiating
the therapeutic potential of blarcamesine. 

The trial’s success has garnered positive feedback from the scientific community. Dr. Marwan Noel
Sabbagh, a leading neurology expert, highlighted the dual benefits of
blarcamesine on cognition and neurodegeneration. “The advantage of blarcamesine
is that it is a small oral molecule that exerts clinical benefits on cognition
and neurodegeneration and could be appealing because of its excellent safety profile,” he noted. 

Despite these advancements, treatment-emergent adverse events such as dizziness were
reported. However, these events were mostly mild to moderate in severity,
making the treatment relatively well-tolerated. 

Christopher U Missling, PhD, President and CEO of Anavex Life Sciences, expressed optimism about the trial’s outcomes. He emphasized
Anavex’s commitment to scientific rigor and innovation. “We look forward
to advancing blarcamesine as a potential new convenient orally available
treatment option for Alzheimer’s disease,” Missling stated. 

As Anavex Life Sciences continues to push the boundaries of Alzheimer’s
research, the medical community remains hopeful that these findings will pave the way for more effective treatments. 

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