Anavex to Present at Third Annual MHPAEA Business Roundtable in Washington, D.C.

NEW YORK, Dec. 07, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Anavex Life Sciences Corp. (“Anavex” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq:AVXL), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing drug candidates to treat Alzheimer’s disease, other central nervous system (CNS) diseases, pain and various types of cancer, today announced that Christopher U. Missling, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer, has been invited to speak at the third annual roundtable on the implementation of the Mental Health Parity Addiction and Equity Act (MHPAEA) of 2008.  The event will take place on Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Missling will present an Alzheimer’s case study on the Anavex pipeline and share his experience in the field of the private sector that can translate to public investment support for brain research.

“Advancing research and establishing a better understanding of how we can potentially improve the treatment of Alzheimer’s patients and develop new medicines for other neurodegenerative diseases are critical milestones in helping more than 25 million people living with Alzheimer’s disease today.  We are honored by the invitation to present to such an esteemed group,” said Dr. Missling.

Other confirmed attendees and speakers include eight members of the United States House of Representatives, including three who sit on the bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s disease, experts from Cohen Veterans Bioscience, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, GoldLab Foundation at University of Colorado Boulder, JFK Partners at University of Colorado School of Medicine and retired U.S. Army leadership.

About Alzheimer’s Disease

Today, Alzheimer’s disease remains the largest unmet medical need in neurology.  More than 25 million people are currently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, with the associated cost of care estimated to exceed $200 billion annually.  By 2050, 100 million people are expected to be living with the disease.  Alzheimer’s disease is a neurological disorder generally characterized by memory loss and cognitive decline.  A neurodegenerative form of dementia, the disease begins with mild symptoms and becomes progressively worse.

About Anavex Life Sciences Corp.

Anavex Life Sciences Corp. (Nasdaq:AVXL) is a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of novel drug candidates to treat central nervous system (CNS) diseases and various types of cancer. Anavex’s lead drug candidates, ANAVEX 2-73 and ANAVEX PLUS, the combination of ANAVEX 2-73 and donepezil (Aricept®), are currently in a Phase 2a clinical trial for Alzheimer’s disease. The drug combination ANAVEX PLUS produced up to 80% greater reversal of memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease models versus when the drugs were used individually. ANAVEX 2-73 is an orally available drug candidate that targets sigma-1 and muscarinic receptors and successfully completed Phase 1 with a clean data profile. 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 convulsive epileptic animal models, indicating its potential to treat additional CNS disorders, including epilepsy and others. Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) 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.

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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