Anavex Life Sciences, a leading biopharmaceutical company, has recently announced positive findings
from the 48-week, open-label extension of their phase 2 study involving
blarcamesine. This investigational agent has shown great potential in the
treatment of Parkinson disease dementia (PDD), meeting both primary and
secondary objectives in the study.
Despite facing delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the extension phase demonstrated
significant improvements in PDD symptoms among patients who chose to continue
treatment with blarcamesine. The results were observed for up to 48 weeks,
suggesting the agent’s effectiveness in both slowing and potentially reversing
the life-altering symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
During the extension phase, patients consistently saw improvements in their clinical
symptoms. The study measured the changes in various parameters, including the
Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS)
Parts II and III, as well as the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I)
scores. The data revealed consistent improvements in these areas when patients
resumed treatment with blarcamesine.
Christopher U. Missling, PhD, President and CEO of Anavex Life Sciences,
expressed his optimism regarding the study’s findings. He stated, “It is
encouraging that the patients’ clinical symptoms consistently improved
longitudinally over time during the extension phase under active ANAVEX2-73 treatment.”
These promising results add to the growing body of evidence supporting the therapeutic
potential of blarcamesine in the management of PDD. Notably, blarcamesine did
not impair sleep and even had a positive effect on rapid eye movement (REM)
sleep behavior disorder, which is often associated with Parkinson’s disease.
While the study had a small sample size and should be interpreted with caution, the observed
improvements highlight the urgent need for effective treatments for Parkinson’s
disease and its associated dementia.
Anavex Life Sciences plans to further investigate the potential of blarcamesine in a forthcoming
six-month PD study, with MDS-UPDRS II + III and CGI-I as the primary and key secondary endpoints.
Overall, these findings offer hope for individuals living with Parkinson disease dementia, and
Anavex Life Sciences continues to make significant strides in advancing the
treatment options for this complex neurological condition.
Like this page on Facebook, for more information.
More about Anavex on https://www.biospace.com/article/releases/anavex-life-sciences-initiates-placebo-controlled-u-s-phase-2-clinical-trial-of-anavex-3-71-in-schizophrenia/