NEW YORK, March 3, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Anavex Life Sciences Corp. ("Anavex" or the "Company") (OTCQX:AVXL) today announced that Christopher U. Missling, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer, will present at the 27th Annual ROTH Conference on Wednesday, March 11, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. PT in Salon 2 at the Ritz Carlton in Dana Point, California. Investors may view Dr. Missling's presentation via live webcast on the ROTH website or access an archived version via Anavex.com.
Dr. Missling's presentation comes at an opportune time to provide an overview of Anavex's advancing clinical development programs including the current Phase 2a adaptive trial evaluating ANAVEX 2-73 and ANAVEX PLUS in Alzheimer's patients. The Company began trial enrollment in January 2015 and reported dosing of the first patient later that month. Topline data results are expected to be released in Q3 2015.
In addition to the Phase 2a clinical trial, a preclinical research report in the current issue of peer-reviewed scientific journal Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience underscores the possibility for ANAVEX 2-73 to potentially act as a preventative Alzheimer's drug in addition to treating its symptoms. Anavex also recently confirmed positive preclinical data for ANAVEX 2-73 for the potential treatment of epilepsy, validating the compound as a prospective platform drug for the treatment of other neurodegenerative diseases beyond Alzheimer's.
Focused on the small and mid-cap space, the 27th Annual ROTH Conference takes place March 8 to 11, 2015. Hosted by ROTH Capital Partners, the invitation-only event is one of the largest investor conferences, bringing together executives from over 500 public and private companies and approximately 1,000 investors.
About Anavex Life Sciences Corp.
Anavex Life Sciences Corp. (OTCQX:AVXL) is a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of novel drug candidates to treat central nervous system (CNS) diseases, pain and various types of cancer. The Company's lead drug candidates, ANAVEX 2-73 and ANAVEX PLUS, the combination of ANAVEX 2-73 and donepezil (Aricept®), are currently being evaluated in a Phase 2a clinical trial for Alzheimer's disease. ANAVEX 2-73 is an orally available drug candidate that targets sigma-1 and muscarinic receptors and has successfully completed a Phase 1 study with a clean data profile. Preclinical studies demonstrate its potential to halt and/or reverse the course of 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. Recent positive preclinical data indicates that ANAVEX 2-73 also exhibits anticonvulsant, anti-amnesic, neuroprotective and anti-depressant properties. 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.