Anavex Life Sciences Appoints Distinguished Researcher in Neurology and Epilepsy to Scientific Advisory Board

NEW YORK, July 20, 2017 -- 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 diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, other central nervous system (CNS) diseases, pain, and various types of cancer, today announced the appointment of Andrew J. Cole, M.D., F.R.C.P.(C.) to its Scientific Advisory Board.

Dr. Andrew J. Cole is Director of the MGH Epilepsy Service, Chief of the Division of Clinical Neurophysiology and Epilepsy and Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School. He graduated from Dartmouth College Magna Cum Laude and Dartmouth Medical School. He trained in Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology at the Montreal Neurological Institute, and then moved to Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine where he was Assistant Professor of Neurology. He came to Massachusetts General Hospital in 1992 where he started and developed the MGH Epilepsy Service and founded the MGH Pediatric Epilepsy Service. He has published extensively in clinical neurology, epilepsy, clinical neurophysiology and basic neuroscience. In addition to research and clinical work, Dr. Cole lectures frequently throughout the United States and internationally, and has been a visiting professor at numerous institutions in the U.S.A. and abroad.

"I am impressed with Anavex and its potential CNS platform drug, ANAVEX 2-73, which has shown encouraging clinical safety data combined with promising preclinical anti-seizure data," said Andrew J. Cole, M.D., F.R.C.P.(C.), Director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Epilepsy Service and Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School. “I look forward to advising the company as it’s about to initiate three clinical trials with significant unmet needs.”

“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Andrew Cole to Anavex’s Scientific Advisory Board,” stated Christopher U. Missling, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Anavex. “Dr. Cole brings extensive experience in neurological diseases to Anavex. I am confident he will make important contributions to our SAB and to the continued development of ANAVEX 2-73 for the treatment of both neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases, including Rett syndrome, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.”

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 diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, other central nervous system (CNS) diseases, pain, and various types of cancer. Anavex’s lead drug candidate, ANAVEX 2-73, recently completed successfully a Phase 2a clinical trial for Alzheimer’s disease. ANAVEX 2-73 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. It has also exhibited anticonvulsant, anti-amnesic, neuroprotective and anti-depressant properties in animal models, indicating its potential to treat additional CNS disorders, including epilepsy and others. The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research has awarded Anavex a research grant to develop ANAVEX 2-73 for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease to fully fund a preclinical study, which could justify moving ANAVEX 2-73 into a Parkinson’s disease clinical trial. ANAVEX 3-71, also targeting sigma-1 and M1 muscarinic receptors, is a promising preclinical drug candidate demonstrating disease modifications against the major Alzheimer’s hallmarks in transgenic (3xTg-AD) mice, including cognitive deficits, amyloid and tau pathologies, and also with beneficial effects on neuroinflammation and mitochondrial dysfunctions. 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.

For Further Information:

Anavex Life Sciences Corp.
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