ANAVEX Life Sciences Corp. is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of new drugs for the treatment of neurological diseases and cancer, utilizing its proprietary drug discovery SIGMACEPTOR™ platform. ANAVEX portfolio involves new sigma receptor compounds (ligands) in preclinical stage that target diseases of the Central Nervous System (CNS) and Cancer. The company’s lead drug candidate ANAVEX 2-73, targeting Alzheimer’s disease (AD) will enter first Human Clinical Trials (HTC) by September. In parallel, another three of Anavex’s compounds (melanoma, prostate cancer and epilepsy) will reach final preclinical stage later this year.

Neurological diseases (CNS): ANAVEX SIGMACEPTOR™-N program involves the discovery and development of original drug candidates, targeting neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, depression and stroke. The company’s lead drug candidates exhibit high affinity and selectivity to sigma receptors and also synergistic action with other receptors, such as Muscarinic and NMDA, with strong evidence of anti-amnesic, neuroprotective, and anxiolytic properties.

Oncology: ANAVEX SIGMACEPTOR™-C program involves the discovery and development of original drug candidates targeting cancer. The company’s lead drug candidates exhibit high affinity to sigma receptors with strong evidence for selective apoptosis of cancerous cells, without affecting healthy cells, anti-metastatic and low toxicity properties in various types of cancer such as melanoma, prostate and pancreas, and neuropathic pain.

In addition, several series of sigma ligands currently at different stages of development, target cancer, diabetes, acute ischemic stroke, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease.