Released on: December 14, 2007, 10:29 am

Press Release Author: ANAVEX LIFE SCIENCES

Industry: Biotech

Press Release Summary: ANAVEX 7-1037 has been shown to kill human HCT116 colon
cancer cells in advanced pre-clinical studies. In addition, ANAVEX 7-1037
demonstrated its ability to significantly suppress tumor growth in immune-deficient
mice. ANAVEX 7-1037 is the company\'s lead drug candidate for the treatment of
colorectal cancer and other types of solid tumors.

Press Release Body: GENEVA, Switzerland, Dec. 11, 2007- Anavex Life Sciences Corp.
(\"ANAVEX\") (OTCBB: AVXL) today announced that ANAVEX 7-1037 has been shown to kill
human HCT116 colon cancer cells in advanced pre-clinical studies. In addition,
ANAVEX 7-1037 demonstrated its ability to significantly suppress tumor growth in
immune-deficient mice. ANAVEX 7-1037 is the company\'s lead drug candidate for the
treatment of colorectal cancer and other types of solid tumors.
\"These results are very encouraging, particularly regarding the therapeutic signals
from the significant in vivo anti-cancer activity against HCT116 xenografts at low
nanomolar level,\" said Dr. Kontzalis, Chief Executive Officer for ANAVEX. \"We are
committed to further exploring the benefits of ANAVEX 7-1073 as we aim to develop
first-class therapeutics to fight various types of cancer.\"
A novel small synthetic sigma ligand, ANAVEX 7-1037 is a member of a new class of
drugs designed to treat colorectal and other types of human cancer. Toxicological
studies in mice have shown no evidence of the side effects that are usually observed
with anti-cancer drugs available today. In pre-clinical lab tests, ANAVEX 7-1037 has
demonstrated its ability to kill cancer cells.
Preclinical testing of ANAVEX 7-1037 also reveals that the drug candidate:
- exhibits high affinity for sigma-1 (nanomolar) and moderate
(micromolar) affinity for sigma-2 and sodium channels;
- induces initially detachment of cells as early as 6 hours after the
addition of 20 micromolars to the culture and subsequent apoptosis
that was accompanied by activation of both caspases -8 and -9 and
subsequent activation of caspase 3, as this was estimated by FACS and
western blot analysis; and
- causes growth delay when administrated i.p. to SCID mice, suggesting
a significant in vivo anticancer activity against HCT116 xenografts,
according to NCI criteria.
As such, pre-clinical studies so far suggest that ANAVEX 7-1037 may possess
chemotherapeutic potential for the treatment of colorectal and other types of human
cancer.
Ongoing pre-clinical studies are being conducted in collaboration with Universite
Montpellier in France. These studies on immune-deficient mice are designed to assess
and analyze ANAVEX 7-1037\'s ability to slow down and prevent tumor growth, stop
cancer cells from spreading, enable the growth of new blood vessels and increase the
number of cells through cell growth and division.
Published results were presented at the 15th Euroconference on Apoptosis (Portoroz,
Slovenia), and are available at http://www.anavex.com/publications.html.


About Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer is an extremely common form of cancer. It has the second highest
mortality rate of all cancers in the western world. By 2010, it is predicted that
over 480,000 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in the seven major
pharmaceutical markets (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, USA and Japan), with a
prevalent population of 1.6 million individuals.
Colorectal cancer originates in the epithelial cells, which line the
gastrointestinal tract. Cancer of the colon occurs when there are abnormal cells
that result in a tumor. Many of the abnormal cells first develop as polyps inside
the colon or rectum and with time can become cancerous and spread to secondary
sites. The major classes of cancer therapies available today include
antineoplastics, immunostimulants, immunosuppressants and cytostatic hormone
therapies. However, these currently available drugs are insufficient to treat the
disease; instead, they have some effect in treating the symptoms and are accompanied
by significant side effects.
Drugs that act on the underlying cause of the disease and/or slow/reverse the
progression of the disease, which have a novel mode of action that could fulfill
some of the most urgent medical needs like efficacy, drug resistance, side effects,
administration and affordability, are needed and have blockbuster potential. ANAVEX
is developing drug candidates demonstrating the above properties.

About Sigma Receptors
Sigma receptors are a unique family of proteins, present mainly in the central
nervous system (CNS) but also in various peripheral tissues. The receptors are
classified into two subtypes: the sigma-1 and sigma-2. These subtypes are
distinguishable pharmacologically, functionally and by molecular size. Sigma-1
receptors have been cloned and shown to be distinct from any known receptor class.
Both sigma receptor subtypes are highly expressed in tumor cell lines from various
tissues. These include neuroblastomas, glioma, melanoma and carcinoma cell lines of
breast, prostate and lung. Interestingly, sigma receptors are more highly expressed
in rapidly proliferating cells and are down-regulated when cells become inactive.
Their high density in various tumor cell types, and particularly in proliferating
cells, makes sigma receptors a potential target for diagnostic imaging as well as
therapeutic agents. Recent data suggest that sigma-2 receptor agonists induce cell
death in various tumor cell lines including prostate and breast carcinoma, with
features consistent with apoptosis. Sigma-2 receptor agonists are reported to induce
apoptosis by a novel mechanism, exhibiting similar potency in tumors with wild-type
or mutant p53 gene, unlike other agents such as DNA-damaging agents. The mechanism
of sigma-2 receptor-mediated apoptosis differs from that of agents that trigger DNA
damage, based on observations with inhibitors of caspases. The involvement of
distinct apoptotic pathways is further supported by the ability of sigma agonists to
potentiate the cytotoxicity of DNA-damaging antineoplastics in various tumor cell
lines.

About Anavex
Anavex Life Sciences Corp. (www.anavex.com) is an emerging biopharmaceutical company
engaged in the discovery and development of novel drug targets for the treatment of
cancer and neurological diseases. The company\'s proprietary SIGMACEPTOR(TM)
Discovery Platform involves the rational drug design of compounds that fulfill
specific criteria based on unmet market needs and new scientific advances. Selected
drug candidates demonstrate high, non-exclusive affinity for sigma receptors, which
are involved in the modulation of multiple cellular biochemical signaling pathways.
ANAVEX\'s SIGMACEPTOR(TM)-N program involves the development of novel and original
drug candidates, targeting neurological and neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer\'s
disease, epilepsy, depression, etc.). The company\'s lead drug candidates exhibit
high, non-exclusive affinity for sigma receptors with strong evidence for
anti-amnesic, neuroprotective, anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory,
anti-convulsive, anti-depressant and anxiolytic properties.

ANAVEX SIGMACEPTOR(TM)-C program involves the development of novel and original drug
candidates targeting cancer. The company\'s lead drug candidates exhibit high,
non-exclusive affinity for sigma receptors with strong evidence for selective
pro-apoptotic, anti-metastatic and low toxicity properties in various types of solid
cancers such as colon, prostate, breast, lung, etc.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements for Anavex Life Sciences
Corp. that 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. Among other things, there can be no assurance that any of the Company\'s
development efforts relating to its product candidate, Anavex 7-1037, will be
successful, or such product candidate will be successfully commercialized or that
Anavex 7-1037 will have the potential to treat colon cancer or other types of human
cancer or that Anavex 7-1037 will provide clinically relevant advantages over other
competitive compounds in development or that sigma ligands will have the potential
to be a new class of drugs to treat colon cancer. Other risks that affect
forward-looking information contained in this press release include the high degree
of risk associated with drug development, results of further research and
development, the impact of competition and of technological advances and other risks
detailed to Anavex\'s SEC filings. Other than as required by federal securities laws,
we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any of our forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of changed circumstances, new information, future
events, or for any other reason occurring after the date of this news release

Further Information
Investor Relations
Toll-free: 1-866-505-2895
Outside North America: +1 (416) 489-0092
ir@anavex.com
www.anavex.com



Web Site: http://www.anavex.com/press_release_2007_12_11.html

Contact Details: Investor Relations
Toll-free: 1-866-505-2895
Outside North America: +1 (416) 489-0092
ir@anavex.com
www.anavex.com