Anavex Life Sciences has received a U.S. patent covering the use of Anavex 2-73 (blarcamesine) for the treatment of several neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental conditions, including multiple sclerosis (MS) and Rett syndrome.
Issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the new patent (no. 10,507,196) covers therapeutic methods based on Anavex 2-73 that are aimed at treating a wide variety of conditions involving the brain and affecting development. In addition to MS and Rett syndrome, some of the other conditions included are autism, Angelman syndrome, and cerebral palsy.
The company expects the patent to remain in force until at least 2037.
“We are extremely pleased with the continued development of the patent portfolio for Anavex 2-73 (blarcamesine),” Christopher U. Missling, PhD, president and CEO of Anavex, said in a press release. “This new issuance of the U.S. patent continues to expand the breadth and depth of our intellectual property, and is another step in the development of a robust patent portfolio” related to the drug, he said.
Anavex 2-73 is an orally available, small-molecule activator of a protein called the sigma-1 receptor (S1R), which is essential to ensure correct protein folding within nerve cells and to promote neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to adapt or rewire following damage to preserve function.
The activation of S1R mediated by Anavex 2-73 is also thought to decrease mitochondria dysfunction, oxidative stress, and inflammation in the brain, potentially benefiting people with conditions like MS that damage the nervous system.
Mitochondria are the cell compartments responsible for the production of energy in the body. Oxidative stress refers to cellular damage that occurs as a result of having high levels of oxidant molecules.
Anavex 2-73 has been granted orphan drug status and rare pediatric disease designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of Rett syndrome.