Delusions

First patient screened ahead of schedule Trial to investigate positive, negative, and cognitive domains of schizophrenia ANAVEX®3-71’s differentiated dual novel mechanism of action offers the potential to synergistically activate both SIGMAR1 and M1 muscarinic receptors and treat all symptom domains of schizophrenia without the side effects of standard of care antipsychotics NEW YORK, March 18, 2024 (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, neurodevelopmental, and psychiatric disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Rett syndrome, schizophrenia, and other central nervous system (CNS) diseases, today announced that the first patient in its U.S. FDA cleared placebo-controlled Phase 2 clinical study of ANAVEX®3-71 for the treatment of schizophrenia has been screened ahead of schedule. “Initiating our Phase 2 trial of ANAVEX®3-71 in schizophrenia ahead of schedule is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our clinical study team,” stated Christopher U Missling, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Anavex. “Schizophrenia is a challenging disorder that can impair social and occupational functions and overall quality of life for the nearly 24 million people affected worldwide. Following on from our positive initial Phase 1 results in healthy volunteers, our Phase 2 study will apply novel neuroinflammatory, metabolomic, and transcriptomic biomarkers at the intersection of schizophrenia pathophysiology and ANAVEX®3-71’s novel, dual mechanism of action, with the goal of addressing the large unmet need in this patient population. We are excited to build on our diverse Precision Medicine Platform, which advanced blarcamesine (ANAVEX®2-73) onto a regulatory pathway for potential treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.” ANAVEX®3-71’s differentiated mechanism is a dual SIGMAR1 receptor agonist and M1 positive allosteric modulator with agonistic effects.1,2 This novel mechanism of action offers the potential to treat all symptom domains of schizophrenia -- positive symptoms (hallucinations and delusions), negative symptoms (difficulty enjoying life and withdrawal from others), and cognitive impairment (deficits in memory, concentration, and decision-making) -- without the side effects of standard of care antipsychotics, which do not adequately address all symptom domains in schizophrenia. ANAVEX®3-71’s ability to modulate both SIGMAR1 and M1 receptors is expected to potentially address disruptions to neuronal homeostasis observed in individuals with schizophrenia, upstream of the targets leveraged by standard of care medications. Preceding this study, ANAVEX®3-71 demonstrated an adequate safety profile in a Phase 1 trial in healthy volunteers.3,4 ANAVEX®3-71 Phase 2 Program Outline The placebo-controlled Phase 2, two-part, in-patient trial, ANAVEX®3-71-SZ-001 (NCT06245213), will investigate the effects of ANAVEX®3-71 in patients with schizophrenia. Part A is a double-blind, placebo-controlled, multiple ascending dose trial. The results of Part A will be used to select a dose for Part B, a proof-of-concept efficacy, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.Participants will undergo either 10 or 28 days of dosing (Part A and Part B, respectively).Standard clinical outcome measures, including the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and novel fluid and electrophysiological biomarkers will be assessed. Anavex is leveraging several advances in electroencephalography/event-related potential (EEG/ERP) biomarkers in schizophrenia developed in collaboration with the industry-led ERP Biomarker Qualification Consortium.5 This includes a validated, and automated data analysis pipeline for quantitative EEG and ERP biomarkers, as well as normative EEG/ERP data in patients with schizophrenia and matched healthy volunteers. These advances also include recently established relationships between EEG/ERP biomarkers and clinically important measures in schizophrenia. In addition to the electrophysiological biomarkers, Anavex is applying novel neuroinflammatory, metabolomic, and transcriptomic biomarkers at the intersection of schizophrenia pathophysiology and ANAVEX®3-71’s novel, dual mechanism of action. About Schizophrenia Schizophrenia is a persistent and often disabling mental illness impacting how a person thinks, feels, and behaves, and affects nearly 24 million people worldwide, including 2.8 million people in the U.S. It is characterized by three symptom domains: positive symptoms (hallucinations and delusions), negative symptoms (difficulty enjoying life and withdrawal from others), and cognitive impairment (deficits in memory, concentration, and decision-making). In part due to limitations with current treatments, people living with schizophrenia often struggle to maintain employment, live independently, and manage relationships. While current treatments can be effective in managing select symptoms, approximately 34% of people do not respond to therapy, 6 with an additional 50-60% experiencing only a partial improvement in symptoms or unacceptable side effects.7 About Anavex Life Sciences Corp. Anavex Life Sciences Corp. (Nasdaq: AVXL) is a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Rett syndrome, schizophrenia and other central nervous system (CNS) diseases, pain, and various types of cancer. Anavex's lead drug candidate, ANAVEX®2-73 (blarcamesine), has successfully completed a Phase 2a and a Phase 2b/3 clinical trial for Alzheimer's disease, a Phase 2 proof-of-concept study in Parkinson's disease dementia, and both a Phase 2 and a Phase 3 study in adult patients and one Phase 2/3 in pediatric patients with Rett syndrome. ANAVEX®2-73 is an orally available drug candidate that restores cellular homeostasis by targeting SIGMAR1 and muscarinic receptors. Preclinical studies demonstrated its potential to halt and/or reverse the course of Alzheimer's disease. ANAVEX®2-73 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 for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. ANAVEX®3-71, which targets SIGMAR1 and M1 muscarinic receptors, is a promising clinical stage 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, Instagram, 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.Research & Business DevelopmentToll-free: 1-844-689-3939Email: info@anavex.com Investors:Andrew J. BarwickiInvestor RelationsTel: 516-662-9461Email: andrew@barwicki.com 1 Fisher A, Bezprozvanny I, Wu L, et al. AF710B, a Novel M1/σ1 Agonist with Therapeutic Efficacy in Animal Models of Alzheimer’s Disease. Neurodegener Dis. 2016;16(1-2):95-110. doi:10.1159/0004408642 Hall H, Iulita MF, Gubert P, et al. AF710B, an M1/sigma-1 receptor agonist with long-lasting disease-modifying properties in a transgenic rat model of Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement. 2018;14(6):811-823. doi:10.1016/j.jalz.2017.11.0093 Fadiran EO, Hammond E, Tran J, et al. Concentration-QTc Relationship from a Single Ascending Dose Study of ANAVEX3-71, a Novel Sigma-1 Receptor and Allosteric M1 Muscarinic Receptor Agonist in Development for the Treatment of Frontotemporal Dementia, Schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's Disease. Clin Pharmacol Drug Dev. 2023;12(9):888-901. doi:10.1002/cpdd.13034 Fadiran EO, Hammond E, Tran J, Missling CU, Ette E. Population-Based Characterization of the Pharmacokinetics and Food Effect of ANAVEX3-71, a Novel Sigma-1 Receptor and Allosteric M1 Muscarinic Receptor Agonist in Development for Treatment of Frontotemporal Dementia, Schizophrenia, and Alzheimer Disease. Clin Pharmacol Drug Dev. 2024;13(1):21-31. doi:10.1002/cpdd.13235 Cecchi M, Adachi M, Basile A, et al. Validation of a suite of ERP and QEEG biomarkers in a pre-competitive, industry-led study in subjects with schizophrenia and healthy volunteers. Schizophr Res. 2023;254:178-189. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2023.02.0186 Potkin SG, Kane JM, Correll CU, et al. The neurobiology of treatment-resistant schizophrenia: paths to antipsychotic resistance and a roadmap for future research. NPJ Schizophr. 2020;6(1):1. Published 2020 Jan 7. doi:10.1038/s41537-019-0090-z7 Nucifora FC Jr, Woznica E, Lee BJ, Cascella N, Sawa A. Treatment resistant schizophrenia: Clinical, biological, and therapeutic perspectives. Neurobiol Dis. 2019;131:104257. doi:10.1016/j.nbd.2018.08.016

WASHINGTON, March 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (NASDAQ: SXTP, SXTPW) (“60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals” or the “Company”), a pharmaceutical company focused on developing new medicines for infectious diseases, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has communicated its intention to send any comments regarding the Company’s babesiosis trial within the month of April, 2024, rather than March, 2024 as anticipated by the Company. The protocol submission mechanism as directed by the FDA, i.e., under the Company’s existing (rather than a new) Investigational New Drug application, technically does not require a response from the FDA within a specified time frame. The Company is continuing preparations for a June 1, 2024 start date as previously communicated. Tafenoquine is the active ingredient in an anti-malarial approved by the FDA in 2018 and is indicated for the prophylaxis of malaria in patients aged 18 years of age and older. About ARAKODA® (tafenoquine) Tafenoquine was discovered by Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. Tafenoquine was approved for malaria prophylaxis in 2018 in the United States as ARAKODA® and in Australia as KODATEF®. Both were commercially launched in 2019 and are currently distributed through pharmaceutical wholesaler networks in each respective country. They are available at retail pharmacies as a prescription-only malaria prevention drug. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the long terminal half-life of tafenoquine, which is approximately 16 days, may offer potential advantages in less frequent dosing for prophylaxis for malaria. ARAKODA® is not suitable for everyone, and patients and prescribers should review the Important Safety Information below. ARAKODA® (tafenoquine) Important Safety Information ARAKODA® is an antimalarial indicated for the prophylaxis of malaria in patients aged 18 years of age and older. Contraindications ARAKODA® should not be administered to: Patients with Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency or unknown G6PD status. Lactating women who are breastfeeding when the infant is found to be G6PD deficient or if G6PD status is unknown. Patients with a history of psychotic disorders or current psychotic symptoms. Patients with known hypersensitivity reactions to tafenoquine, other 8-aminoquinolines or any component of ARAKODA®. Warnings and Precautions Hemolytic Anemia: G6PD testing must be performed before prescribing ARAKODA® due to the risk of hemolytic anemia. Monitor patients for signs or symptoms of hemolysis. G6PD Deficiency in Pregnancy or Lactation: ARAKODA® may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman with a G6PD-deficient fetus. ARAKODA® is not recommended during pregnancy. A G6PD-deficient infant may be at risk for hemolytic anemia from exposure to ARAKODA® through breast milk. Check infant’s G6PD status before breastfeeding begins. Methemoglobinemia: Asymptomatic elevations in blood methemoglobin have been observed. Initiate appropriate therapy if signs or symptoms of methemoglobinemia occur. Psychiatric Effects: Serious psychotic adverse reactions have been observed in patients with a history of psychosis or schizophrenia, at doses different from the approved dose. If psychotic symptoms (hallucinations, delusions or grossly disorganized thinking or behavior) occur, consider discontinuation of ARAKODA® therapy and evaluation by a mental health professional as soon as possible. Hypersensitivity Reactions: Serious hypersensitivity reactions have been observed with administration of ARAKODA®. If hypersensitivity reactions occur, institute appropriate therapy. Delayed Adverse Reactions: Due to the long half-life of ARAKODA® (approximately 16 days), psychiatric effects, hemolytic anemia, methemoglobinemia and hypersensitivity reactions may be delayed in onset and/or duration. Adverse Reactions: The most common adverse reactions (incidence greater than or equal to 1%) were: headache, dizziness, back pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, increased alanine aminotransferase, motion sickness, insomnia, depression, abnormal dreams and anxiety. Drug Interactions Avoid co-administration with drugs that are substrates of organic cation transporter-2 or multidrug and toxin extrusion transporters. Use in Specific Populations Lactation: Advise women not to breastfeed a G6PD-deficient infant or infant with unknown G6PD status during treatment and for 3 months after the last dose of ARAKODA®. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals at 1- 888-834-0225 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or . ARAKODA® full prescribing information is here. About 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals, Inc., founded in 2010, specializes in developing and marketing new medicines for the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases that affect the lives of millions of people. 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals achieved FDA approval of its lead product, ARAKODA® (tafenoquine) for malaria prevention, in 2018. 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals also collaborates with prominent research organizations in the U.S., Australia and Singapore. The 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals mission has been supported through in-kind funding from the United States Department of Defense and private institutional investors including Knight Therapeutics Inc., a Canadian-based pan-American specialty pharmaceutical company. 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals is headquartered in Washington D.C., with a majority-owned subsidiary in Australia. Learn more at . Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward‐looking statements reflect the current view about future events. When used in this press release, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “future,” “intend,” “plan” or the negative of these terms and similar expressions, as they relate to us or our management, identify forward‐looking statements. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: there is substantial doubt as to our ability to continue on a going-concern basis; we might not be eligible for Australian government research and development tax rebates; if we are not able to successfully develop, obtain FDA approval for, and provide for the commercialization of non-malaria prevention indications for tafenoquine (ARAKODA® or other regimen) or Celgosivir in a timely manner, we may not be able to expand our business operations; we may not be able to successfully conduct planned clinical trials; and we have no manufacturing capacity which puts us at risk of lengthy and costly delays of bringing our products to market. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including our Annual Report on Form 10-K and our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC’s web site at As a result of these matters, changes in facts, assumptions not being realized or other circumstances, the Company’s actual results may differ materially from the expected results discussed in the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. Media Contacts: Sheila A. Burke SheilaBurke-consultant@60degreespharma.com (484) 667-6330 Investor Contact: Patrick Gaynes patrickgaynes@60degreespharma.com (310) 989-5666

An Acadia Pharmaceuticals drug that’s already approved for treating psychosis in Parkinson’s disease patients could not beat a placebo in a pivotal schizophrenia study, spelling the end of efforts to develop a medication the company once envisioned as having potential applications across a range of neurological disorders. The clinical trial failure announced Tuesday evaluated the drug, pimavanserin, as a treatment for negative symptoms of schizophrenia. The main goal was to show a change in score according to an assessment used to measure the disease’s symptoms. According to the preliminary results, the pimavanserin arm achieved a numerical change in score that was similar to the change reported in a prior Phase 2 study. But San Diego-based Acadia also said the placebo effect in Phase 3 was higher. Consequently, the score change in the Phase 3 trial was not enough to be statistically significant. Pimavanserin was initially approved in 2016, a regulatory decision that made the drug the first treatment for the hallucinations and delusions experienced by some Parkinson’s patients. In this indication, the once-daily capsule is marketed under the brand name Nuplazid. The Acadia drug is a small molecule designed to bind to 5-HT2A, a serotonin receptor that plays a role in psychosis. Parkinson’s psychosis was just the lead indication for the drug. The company conducted additional clinical trials to support potential label expansion. In 2021, the FDA rejected Acadia’s application for pimavanserin in dementia-related psychosis, pointing to a lack of statistical significance in some patient subgroups. The following year, FDA turned an application for the drug as a treatment for psychosis in Alzheimer’s patients, asking the company to conduct another clinical trial. Acadia instead discussed a resubmission based on additional analyses of existing clinical data. That resubmission was also rejected, leading the company to cease efforts to develop the drug for Alzheimer’s psychosis. The latest failure in schizophrenia marks the last time the company will try to expand pimavanserin’s label beyond Parkinson’s psychosis. “We are disappointed the trial did not meet its primary endpoint given the significant unmet need in patients with negative symptoms of schizophrenia,” Acadia CEO Steve Davis said in a prepared statement. “We will continue to analyze these data with our scientific advisors, but we do not intend to conduct any further clinical trials with pimavanserin.” Nuplazid accounted for $549.2 million in revenue in 2023, a 6.1% increase over sales of the product in 2022, according to Acadia’s financial reports. The company also has a new contributor to revenue, Daybue. A year ago, this drug became the first FDA-approved treatment for Rett syndrome, a rare genetic neurological disorder. In 2023, Daybue accounted for $177.2 million in sales. Acadia reported a cash position of $438.9 million at the end of 2023. In addition to supporting commercialization of Nuplazid and Daybue, the capital will also support development of a pipeline of drug candidates in various stages of development for central nervous system disorders and rare diseases. After the wind down of pimavanserin, Acadia’s next most advanced program is ACP-101, a drug in Phase 3 clinical trials for treating the insatiable appetite caused by the rare disease Prader-Willi syndrome. The pipeline also includes ACP-204, a novel molecule that has reached Phase 2 testing in Alzheimer’s disease psychosis.