Promising Results for Anavex Life Sciences’ Blarcamesine in Parkinson’s Disease Dementia Study
Anavex has recently announced encouraging findings from a 48-week open-label extension of its
phase 2 clinical trial. The study, focusing on the investigational drug
ANAVEX2-73, also known as blarcamesine, aimed to assess its safety and efficacy
in patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD).
Despite delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in a “drug holiday” for participants,
the results indicate significant improvements in the clinical symptoms of PDD.
Patients who continued treatment with blarcamesine showed consistent enhancements
in movement and cognitive functions. These improvements were measured using
established scales such as the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson’s
Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) and the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) scale.
Christopher U. Missling, PhD, the President and CEO of Anavex Life Sciences, expressed optimism about the data, highlighting blarcamesine’s
potential to address critical unmet needs in Parkinson’s treatment. “The
clinical symptoms consistently improved over time under active ANAVEX2-73
treatment,” he stated. This suggests that the drug may not only slow but
potentially reverse the progression of debilitating symptoms associated with PDD.
The study included 132 patients who were randomized to receive either 30 mg or 50 mg of
blarcamesine or a placebo for up to 14 weeks. Participants maintained their
existing Parkinson’s disease treatments, ensuring a stable regimen throughout
the trial. Remarkably, the patients on high-dose blarcamesine displayed a
relative improvement of 18.9% over 14 weeks compared to the placebo group, with
significant reductions in MDS-UPDRS total scores.
Additionally, the phase 2 study revealed that blarcamesine influenced biomarkers associated with
neurodegenerative diseases. The therapeutic effect of the drug was correlated
with improvements in cognitive measures, further emphasizing its potential benefits.
Anavex Life Sciences continues to explore the full capabilities of ANAVEX2-73, with plans for forthcoming
studies to expand on these promising results. As research progresses, the drug
may offer new hope for individuals grappling with Parkinson’s disease dementia.
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