Benzinga | May 19, 2021 04:34PM EDT

Annovis Bio Announces Data From Phase 2 Trial Of ANVS401 Showing ' levels of inflammatory markers in PD patients treated with ANVS401 were significantly lower than before treatment.'

Annovis Bio Inc. (NYSE:ANVS), a clinical-stage drug platform company addressing Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD) and other neurodegenerative diseases, today announced results from its double-blind, placebo-controlled trial for ANVS401, its lead drug candidate for the treatment of PD and AD. The levels of inflammatory markers in PD patients treated with ANVS401 were significantly lower than before treatment.

"These positive results confirm ANVS401's potential to be a meaningful treatment for neurodegeneration. Our study reveals a highly statistically significant lowering of inflammatory markers in Parkinson's disease patients, which is one step in reversing the toxic cascade," said Annovis Bio CEO Dr Maria Maccecchini, PhD. "Today's news combined with our previous study results revealing ANVS401 increases speed, coordination and motor function in PD patients mark important milestones, as we continue to pursue a novel approach and therapy to fight Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases."

"Our hypothesis is that nerve cells die because high levels of neurotoxic proteins impair axonal transport, increase inflammation and eventually lead to nerve cell death and permanent loss of function. When we administer our drug, we expect a reversal of this toxic cascade leading to efficacy. Inflammation is a very important step in the toxic cascade, because it lasts for years and takes over the entire brain. Therefore, reversing inflammation means that we have reversed at least one step of the toxic cascade leading to nerve cell death."