Anavex Life Sciences Corp. (NASDAQ: AVXL) announced research findings that identify shared biological mechanisms between autism spectrum disorder and Alzheimer's disease, supporting the company's development of its drug candidate blarcamesine.

The company cited multiple peer-reviewed publications indicating that autistic adults may be diagnosed with Alzheimer's and related dementias at rates up to 8 times higher than the general population, with onset occurring years or decades earlier than typical. Research published in JAMA analyzed Medicare and Medicaid records covering more than 114,000 autistic adults.

According to the company, both conditions share disruptions in autophagy, the cellular process for clearing misfolded proteins and damaged organelles. In autism, excess synaptic connections form that are not properly pruned during development, while in Alzheimer's disease, impaired autophagy allows toxic protein aggregates to accumulate.

Anavex's blarcamesine is an oral therapy that activates SIGMAR1, a protein that the company says restores impaired autophagy. The drug has completed Phase IIb/III trials in early Alzheimer's disease, Phase II/III studies in Rett syndrome, and Phase II trials in Parkinson's disease dementia.

In the Alzheimer's trial, blarcamesine slowed cognitive and functional decline over 48 weeks compared to placebo. The company reported that patients carrying wild-type SIGMAR1, representing approximately 70% of the global population, showed enhanced clinical responses.

"The growing recognition that neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative conditions share fundamental disease biology validates the foundational science behind Anavex's platform," said Wolfgang Liedtke, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Neurology at Anavex.

The company stated these findings support its intent to advance blarcamesine into pivotal clinical studies, subject to further evaluation and regulatory considerations.