NEW YORK, Feb. 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Anavex Life Sciences Corp. (“Anavex” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: AVXL), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing differentiated therapeutics for the treatment of neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Rett syndrome and other central nervous system (CNS) diseases, today reported financial results for its fiscal 2020 first quarter.

“We are excited about the progress across our pipeline, including the receipt of Fast Track designation for the ANAVEX®2-73 (blarcamesine) clinical development program from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of Rett syndrome,” commented Christopher U Missling, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Anavex. “Our clinical Rett syndrome programs are on track with continued enrollment. While our enrollment and early data have been exciting, we are humbled by the needs of the rare disease and Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease communities with whom we engage. They impress a sense of urgency on our work to deliver a new paradigm that underscores the need for new treatment options for patients and their families.”

Program Updates and Milestones:

Financial Highlights:

The financial information for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2019 should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated interim financial statements, which will appear on EDGAR, www.sec.gov and will be available on the Anavex website at www.anavex.com.

Conference Call / Webcast Information

Anavex will host a conference call and webcast today at 4:30 p.m. ET.

The live webcast of the conference call may be accessed online at http://www.wsw.com/webcast/cc/avxl12.

To join the conference call, live via telephone, interested parties within the U.S. should dial, toll-free, 1 (866) 939-3921 and international callers should dial 1 (678) 302-3550. Please use confirmation number 49361235, followed by the pound sign (#).

A replay of the conference call will also be available on www.anavex.com.

About Anavex Life Sciences Corp.

Anavex Life Sciences Corp. (Nasdaq: AVXL) is a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of differentiated therapeutics for the treatment of neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Rett syndrome and other central nervous system (CNS) diseases, pain and various types of cancer. Anavex’s lead drug candidate, ANAVEX®2-73 (blarcamesine), recently completed a successful Phase 2a clinical trial for Alzheimer’s disease. ANAVEX®2-73 (blarcamesine) is an orally available drug candidate that restores cellular homeostasis by targeting sigma-1 and muscarinic receptors. Preclinical studies demonstrated its potential to halt and/or reverse the course of Alzheimer’s disease. ANAVEX®2-73 (blarcamesine) also exhibited anticonvulsant, anti-amnesic, neuroprotective and anti-depressant properties in animal models, indicating its potential to treat additional CNS disorders, including epilepsy. The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research previously awarded Anavex a research grant, which fully funded a preclinical study to develop ANAVEX®2-73 (blarcamesine) for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. ANAVEX®3-71, which targets sigma-1 and muscarinic receptors, is a promising preclinical drug candidate demonstrating disease-modifying activity against the major hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease in transgenic (3xTg-AD) mice, including cognitive deficits, amyloid and tau pathologies. In preclinical trials, ANAVEX®3-71 has shown beneficial effects on mitochondrial dysfunction and neuroinflammation.

Further information is available at www.anavex.com. You can also connect with the company on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical in nature are forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions based on current information and expectations and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in any of such statements due to various factors, including the risks set forth in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement and Anavex Life Sciences Corp. undertakes no obligation to revise or update this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.

 
ANAVEX LIFE SCIENCES CORP.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM BALANCE SHEETS
As at December 31, 2019 and September 30, 2019
Expressed in US Dollars    
 December 31, September 30, 
 20192019
ASSETS    
Current    
Cash and cash equivalents$  27,458,423 $  22,185,630 
Incentives and taxes receivable  3,730,672   2,642,745 
Prepaid expenses and deposits  234,972   500,998 
Total assets$  31,424,067 $  25,329,373 
     
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY    
Current    
Accounts payable$  3,127,498 $  3,523,332 
Accrued liabilities  2,336,419   1,516,342 
Total liabilities  5,463,917   5,039,674 
Common stock  57,082   52,652 
Additional paid-in capital  165,891,753   153,633,807 
Accumulated deficit  (139,988,685)  (133,396,760)
Total stockholders' equity  25,960,150   20,289,699 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity$  31,424,067 $  25,329,373 
     


ANAVEX LIFE SCIENCES CORP.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
THREE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2019 AND 2018
(Unaudited)
Expressed in US Dollars    
 2019 2018 
Operating Expenses    
General and administrative$  1,352,035 $  1,761,307 
Research and development  6,348,668   5,712,210 
Total operating expenses  7,700,703   7,473,517 
     
Operating Loss  (7,700,703)  (7,473,517)
Other income    
Grant income  74,944   74,528 
Research and development incentive income  943,215   413,682 
Interest income, net  46,720   78,800 
Foreign exchange gain (loss)  53,113   (4,507)
Total other income   1,117,992   562,503 
Net loss before income taxes  (6,582,711)  (6,911,014)
Income tax expense - current  (9,214)  (8,717)
Net loss$  (6,591,925)$  (6,919,731)
     
Net loss per Share    
Basic and Diluted$  (0.12)$  (0.15)
     
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding    
Basic and Diluted  54,773,685   46,327,482 
     

For Further Information:

Anavex Life Sciences Corp.
Research & Business Development
Toll-free: 1-844-689-3939
Email:  info@anavex.com

Investors & Media:
Email:  ir@anavex.com

1 ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03774459
2 ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03790709