Anavex Life Sciences has signed an agreement with Syntagon AB for the scale-up manufacturing of Anavex 2-73, its lead compound for treating Alzheimer's.
Anavex 2-73 is scheduled to commence Phase 1 studies in 2009.
Harvey Lalach, president of Anavex, said: 'We are very pleased with our progress to date with the compound, which shows enormous potential to modify and reverse the effects of Alzheimer's disease.' Anavex plans to engage a contract research organisation (CRO) shortly to carry out the Phase 1 clinical trials.
During pre-clinical studies (in vitro and in vivo in mice), Anavex 2-73 demonstrated powerful neuroprotective, anti-amnesic, anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidative and anti-convulsive properties.
It also exhibited an excellent safety profile and therapeutic activity at very low doses.
The compound is a novel tetrahydrofuran that exhibits high affinity and selectivity to sigma-1 receptors and synergistic action with muscarinic receptors.
Additional beneficial effects have been demonstrated on NMDA receptors.
Syntagon is a provider of synthetic organic chemistry services.
It has produced candidate drugs for use in clinical trials for a number of major pharmaceutical clients.
Syntagon works in accordance with current industry quality standards and is inspected and approved by the relevant regulatory authorities with respect to the development and manufacturing of material for use in clinical trials.
