Anavex Life Sciences Corp (OTCMKTS:AVXL) has gained encouragement from a new study, which reveals the positive role of sigma-1 receptors in treating brain injuries. The company itself has been working on developing therapeutics for brain injuries using the same sigma-1 receptors. The study used real-time in vivo imaging to see how microglial inflammation can be resolved through sigma-1 receptors. It was found that these receptors reduced the negative effects of mircroglia over-activation. The condition, if not stopped, destroys brain cells leading to sever brain injury and Alzheimer’s disease.
In the event of a brain injury, the microglia moves towards the damaged area and engulf the dying neurons, acting as immune cells for brain injury. However, if these injuries are chronic, the effect is enhanced and cause neuro-degeneration. The sigma-1 receptors reduce this effect for chronic injuries, but do not disturb the normal microglial movement. Anavex has developed a few drugs with the help of sigma-1 receptors, with some drugs in the clinical study stage for Alzheimer’s disease. The company also aims to extend this drug towards treatment of other central nervous system disorders.
The phase 1 of the clinical trial showed a clean profile for the company’s drugs and with this study the company aims to build up a positive hype before the final launch. Anavex 3-71 is one of the preclinical drugs, which has shown that it enhances neuro-protection and cognition in Alzheimer’s disease. Even small doses of the drug have shown major improvements in mice. The company has already presented the details of the drugs on a high-profile platform, the 12th International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinsons disease. Further progress reports on the development and clinical results of the drug are planned to be released in the next quarter of this year.
Anavex Life Sciences Corp (OTCMKTS:AVXL) had been on the decline for a pretty long time and has just started to rise this month. It closed at $0.310 on April 15, despite losing 4.62%. The company has 56.44 million shares being traded in the market, with a 52-week range of $0.15-$0.42.
