As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on July 14, 2025
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
ANAVEX LIFE SCIENCES CORP.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Nevada |
98-0608404 |
(State
or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) |
(I.R.S.
Employer Identification Number) |
630 5th Avenue, 20th Floor
New York, NY USA 10111
Telephone: (844) 689-3939
(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number,
Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)
Christopher U. Missling, PhD
Chief Executive Officer
630 5th Avenue, 20th Floor
New York, NY USA 10111
Telephone: (844) 689-3939
(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone
Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)
Copy to:
Clayton Parker, Esq.
K&L Gates LLP
200 S. Biscayne Blvd., Ste. 3900
Miami, Florida 33131
Telephone: (305) 539-3306
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale
to public: From time to time after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
If the only securities being registered
on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐
If any of the securities being
registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other
than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is filed to register
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Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective
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number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration
statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective
amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional
classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether
the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging
growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting
company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one):
Large accelerated filer |
☐ |
Accelerated filer |
☐ |
Non-accelerated filer |
☒ |
Smaller reporting company |
☒ |
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Emerging growth company |
☐ |
If an emerging growth company,
indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial
accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
The registrant hereby amends
this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further
amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a)
of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission,
acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this prospectus
is not complete and subject to change. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these
securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JULY
14, 2025
PROSPECTUS
ANAVEX LIFE SCIENCES CORP.
$300,000,000
of
Common Stock
Anavex Life Sciences Corp., a Nevada
corporation (“us”, “we”, “our”, “Anavex” or the “Company”)
may offer and sell from time to time, in one or more series or issuances and on terms that we will determine at the time of the offering,
shares of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share described in this prospectus, up to an aggregate amount of $300,000,000.
This prospectus describes some
of the general terms that may apply to an offering of our common stock. Each time we sell common stock pursuant to this prospectus, we
will file a prospectus supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the offering. Such supplements may also
add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus
supplement before you invest in our common stock. This prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of common stock unless accompanied
by a prospectus supplement.
Common stock may be sold directly
by us, through dealers or agents designated from time to time, to or through underwriters or through a combination of these methods. See
“Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus. We may also describe the plan of distribution for any particular offering of the
common stock in any applicable prospectus supplement. If any agents, underwriters or dealers are involved in the sale of any common stock
in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered, we will disclose their names and the nature of our arrangements with them in a
prospectus supplement. The net proceeds we expect to receive from any such sale will also be included in the sales agreement prospectus
as well as a prospectus supplement to this base prospectus.
Our common stock is currently quoted
on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “AVXL”. On July 11, 2025, the last reported sale price of our common stock was
$11.11 per share.
Investing in our
securities involves a high degree of risk. See the section entitled “Risk Factors” on page 11 of this prospectus and in
the documents we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission that are incorporated in this prospectus by reference for certain
risks and uncertainties you should consider.
Neither the Securities and Exchange
Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy
of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
This prospectus is dated , 2025.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS |
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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY |
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RISK FACTORS |
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11 |
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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS |
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11 |
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USE OF PROCEEDS |
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13 |
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION |
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13 |
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DESCRIPTION OF OUR CAPITAL STOCK |
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15 |
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LEGAL MATTERS |
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EXPERTS |
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION |
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DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE |
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No dealer, salesperson or other
person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations other than those contained or incorporated by reference
in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement in connection with the offer made by this prospectus or any accompanying
prospectus supplement and, if given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by
Anavex Life Sciences Corp. or any such person. Neither the delivery of this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement nor any
sale made hereunder and thereunder shall under any circumstances create an implication that there has been no change in the affairs of
Anavex Life Sciences Corp. since the date hereof. This prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement does not constitute an offer
or solicitation by anyone in any state in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer
or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus of Anavex Life
Sciences Corp., a Nevada corporation (collectively with all of its subsidiaries, the “Company”, “Anavex”,
or “we”, “us”, or “our”) is a part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that
we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) utilizing a “shelf” registration process.
Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, sell shares of common stock in one or more offerings up to a total dollar
amount of $300,000,000 as described in this prospectus.
The registration statement of which
this prospectus is a part provides additional information about us and the securities offered under this prospectus. The registration
statement, including the exhibits and the documents incorporated herein by reference, can be read on the SEC website or at the SEC offices
mentioned under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”
We will provide a prospectus supplement
containing specific information about the amounts, prices and terms of the securities for a particular offering. The prospectus supplement
may add, update or change information in this prospectus. If the information in the prospectus is inconsistent with a prospectus supplement,
you should rely on the information in that prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus and, if applicable, any prospectus
supplement. See “Prospectus Summary — Where You Can Find More Information” for more information.
You should rely only on the information
contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized any other person to
provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it.
We are not making offers to sell or solicitations to buy the securities in any jurisdiction in which an offer or solicitation is not authorized
or in which the person making that offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make an offer
or solicitation. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, as well as the information
we file or previously filed with the SEC that we incorporate by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, is accurate
as of any date other than the date of such document. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed
since those dates.
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
The items in the following
summary are described in more detail later in this prospectus. This summary does not contain all of the information you should consider.
Before investing in our securities, you should read the entire prospectus carefully, including the “Risk Factors” beginning
on page 11 and the financial statements incorporated by reference.
Our Business
Anavex Life Sciences Corp. is a
clinical stage biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development of differentiated therapeutics by applying precision medicine to central
nervous system (“CNS”) diseases with high unmet need. We analyze genomic data from clinical trials to identify biomarkers,
which we use in the analysis of our clinical trials.
Our focus is on developing innovative
treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative, and rare diseases,
including Rett syndrome, and other CNS disorders.
Our research and development pipeline
includes ANAVEX®2-73 currently in three different clinical trial indications, and ANAVEX®3-71 currently
in one clinical trial and several other compounds in different stages of clinical and pre-clinical development.
Clinical Program Overview
Alzheimer’s Disease
In November 2016, we completed
a Phase 2a clinical trial, consisting of Part A and Part B, which lasted a total of 57 weeks, for ANAVEX®2-73 in mild-to-moderate
Alzheimer’s patients. This open-label randomized trial in Australia met both primary and secondary endpoints and was designed to
assess the safety and exploratory efficacy of ANAVEX®2-73 in 32 patients. ANAVEX®2-73 targets sigma-1 and
muscarinic receptors, which have been shown in preclinical studies to reduce stress levels in the brain believed to restore cellular homeostasis
and to reverse the pathological hallmarks observed in Alzheimer’s disease. In October 2017, we presented positive pharmacokinetic
(“PK”) and pharmacodynamic (“PD”) data from the Phase 2a clinical trial, which established a concentration-effect
relationship between ANAVEX®2-73 and trial measurements. These measures obtained from all patients who participated in
the entire 57 weeks include exploratory cognitive and functional scores as well as biomarker signals of brain activity. Additionally,
the clinical trial appeared to show that ANAVEX®2-73 activity was enhanced by its active metabolite (ANAVEX19-144), which
also targets the SIGMAR1 receptor and has a half-life approximately twice as long as the parent molecule.
Two consecutive trial extensions
for the Phase 2a trial have allowed participants who completed the 52-week Part B of the trial to continue taking ANAVEX®2-73,
providing an opportunity to gather extended safety data for a cumulative time period of five years. In August 2020, patients completing
these Phase 2a trial extensions were granted continued access to treatment with ANAVEX®2-73 through the Australian Government
Department of Health - Therapeutic Goods Administration’s compassionate use Special Access Scheme.
In July 2018, we presented the
results of a genomic DNA and RNA evaluation of the participants in the Phase 2a clinical trial. More than 33,000 genes were analyzed using
unbiased, data driven, machine learning, artificial intelligence (AI) system for analyzing DNA and RNA data in patients treated with ANAVEX®2-73.
The analysis identified genetic variants that impacted response to ANAVEX®2-73, among them variants related to the SIGMAR1,
the target for ANAVEX®2-73. Results showed that trial participants with the common SIGMAR1 wild type gene variant, which
is estimated to be about 80% of the population worldwide, demonstrated improved cognitive (MMSE) and functional (ADCS-ADL) scores. The
results from this evaluation supported the continued evaluation of genomic information in subsequent clinical trials, since these signatures
can now be applied to neurological indications tested in future clinical trials with ANAVEX®2-73 including Alzheimer’s
disease, Parkinson’s disease dementia and Rett syndrome.
ANAVEX®2-73 data
met prerequisite information in order to progress into a Phase 2b/3 placebo-controlled trial. This larger Phase 2b/3 double-blind, placebo-controlled
trial of ANAVEX®2-73 in early Alzheimer’s disease commenced in August 2018. The trial enrolled 508 patients, which
were treated with a convenient once-daily oral formulation of ANAVEX®2-73 for 48 weeks, randomized 1:1:1 to two different
ANAVEX®2-73 doses or placebo. The trial took place at 52 sites across North America, Europe and Australia. Primary and
secondary endpoints to assess safety and both cognitive and functional efficacy, were measured through the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment
Scale - Cognitive Subscale test (“ADAS-Cog”), Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study - Activities of Daily Living
(“ADCS-ADL”) and Clinical Dementia Rating - Sum of Boxes for cognition and function (“CDR-SB”).
In addition to these endpoints, the ANAVEX®2-73 Phase 2b/3 trial design incorporated pre-specified statistical analyses
related to potential genomic precision medicine biomarkers previously identified in the ANAVEX®2-73 Phase 2a clinical trial.
The trial was completed in mid-2022 and, in December 2022, the Company presented topline results from the Phase 2b/3 clinical trial. All
statistical analyses were performed by outside consultancy companies.
Furthermore, all pre-specified
clinical endpoints were analyzed using a mixed model for repeated measures (MMRM). Under the multiplicity control rule, a trial is successful
in meeting the co-primary endpoints if the significance of each endpoint is P < 0.05, or if the significance of only one co-primary
endpoint is P < 0.025. If only one primary endpoint is significant at an α level of 0.025, then the secondary endpoint will be
evaluated at the same level of 0.025. The trial was successful, the differences in the least-squares mean (LSM) change from baseline to
48 weeks between the ANAVEX®2-73 and placebo groups for ADAS-Cog13 was significant at a level of P < 0.025 and for CDR-SB
was significant at a level of P < 0.025, in the patients with early Alzheimer’s disease.
The comparison of individual dose
groups vs placebo also supports blarcamesine’s efficacy. For the primary endpoint ADAS-Cog13, blarcamesine is significantly better
than placebo (−2.027; P = 0.0079) as well as for both the 50 mg (−2.149; P = 0.021) and the 30 mg (−1.934; P = 0.026)
blarcamesine dosage groups at Week 48, representing that blarcamesine slowed clinical progression at 48 weeks by 36.3% and by 38.5% and
34.6% in 50 mg and 30 mg groups vs. placebo, respectively. The functional co-primary endpoint, ADCS-ADL, was trending in a positive direction
but did not reach significance at Week 48. The key secondary endpoint CDR-SB was significantly improved vs. placebo (−0.483, P =
0.0104) as well as in both 50 mg (−0.465; P = 0.045) and 30 mg (−0.502; P = 0.020) groups at Week 48. Clinical Global Impression
- Improvement (“CGI-I”) was also significantly improved vs. placebo (−0.278, P = 0.004) as well as in both the
50 mg (−0.314; P = 0.008) and the 30 mg (−0.248; P = 0.024) groups at Week 48. The findings are supported by biomarkers, including
plasma Aβ42/40-ratio and reduction of brain atrophy. Blarcamesine significantly slowed brain atrophy in key regions of interest,
including the whole brain by 37.6%, total grey matter by 63.5%, and lateral ventricles by 25.1%.
In the respective safety population,
common treatment-emergent adverse events included dizziness, which was transient and mostly mild to moderate in severity, and occurred
in 120 participants (35.8%) during titration and in 76 participants (25.2%) during maintenance with ANAVEX®2-73 and 10 (6.0%) during
titration and 9 (5.6%) during maintenance with placebo.
In November 2024, we announced
the submission of a Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA), under the centralized procedure,
for ANAVEX®2-73 for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and, in December 2024, the EMA accepted the submission for
scientific review. The MAA, if approved, would allow direct market access throughout the European Union for oral ANAVEX®2-73
(blarcamesine) for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. A company seeking to market a new pharmaceutical product through the centralized
procedure must file safety data and efficacy data as part of the MAA. After the EMA evaluates the MAA, it provides a recommendation to
the European Commission (“EC”) and the EC then approves or denies the MAA. Throughout the scientific review process
with the EMA, we may receive feedback or comments which, while not a conclusive decision, could suggest the application provided is insufficient
to support the marketing authorization. We may not be able to sufficiently address these comments or requests. Alternatively, these comments
or requests could lead us to decide, after consultation with our advisors or the regulatory authorities, to withdraw or amend our MAA
for blarcamesine. The Company plans to announce the results when the EMA review and decision-making is finished and does not plan to provide
interim updates.
A long-term open label extension
study of ANAVEX®2-73, referred to as the ATTENTION-AD trial was initiated for patients who completed the 48-week Phase
2b/3 placebo-controlled trial referenced above. This trial extension for a duration of up to 96/144 additional weeks was completed in
June 2024. The trial extension demonstrated that blarcamesine-treated patients continued to accrue benefit through up to 4 years, as measured
by the clinical endpoints ADAS-Cog13 and ADCS-ADL. Delayed-start analysis of treatment with oral blarcamesine was significant, reflecting
the importance of early treatment initiation. No new safety findings were observed with continued blarcamesine treatment over three years,
confirming good comparative safety profile and no associated neuroimaging adverse events.
Parkinson’s Disease
In September 2016, we presented
positive preclinical data for ANAVEX®2-73 in an animal model of Parkinson’s disease, which demonstrated significant
improvements on behavioral, histopathological, and neuroinflammatory endpoints. The study was funded by the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
Additional data announced in October 2017 indicated that ANAVEX®2-73 induced robust neurorestoration in experimental Parkinsonism.
We believe the encouraging results we have gathered in this preclinical model, coupled with the favorable profile of this product candidate
in the Alzheimer’s disease trial, support the notion that ANAVEX®2-73 has the potential to treat Parkinson’s
disease dementia.
In October 2020, we completed a
double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled proof-of-concept Phase 2 trial with ANAVEX®2-73 in Parkinson’s disease
dementia in Spain and Australia, to study the effect of the compound on both the cognitive and motor impairment of Parkinson’s disease.
The trial enrolled approximately 132 patients for 14 weeks, randomized 1:1:1 to two different ANAVEX®2-73 doses, 30 mg
and 50 mg, or placebo. The ANAVEX®2-73 Phase 2 Parkinson’s disease dementia trial design incorporated genomic precision
medicine biomarkers identified in the ANAVEX®2-73 Phase 2a Alzheimer’s disease trial.
The trial demonstrated that ANAVEX®2-73
was safe and well tolerated in oral doses up to 50 mg once daily. The results showed clinically meaningful, dose-dependent, and statistically
significant improvements in the Cognitive Drug Research (“CDR”) computerized assessment system analysis. Treatment
with ANAVEX®2-73 also resulted in clinically meaningful improvements as measured by the global composite score of Parkinson’s
disease symptom severity, MDS-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (“MDS-UPDRS”) total score on top of standard
of care including dopaminergic therapy, levodopa and other anti-PD medications after 14 weeks of treatment, suggesting ANAVEX®2-73’s
potential capability of slowing and reversing symptoms that progress in Parkinson’s disease. In addition, the trial confirmed the
precision medicine approach of targeting SIGMAR1 as a genetic biomarker in response to ANAVEX®2-73 may result in improved
clinical outcomes.
A 48-week OLE ANAVEX2-73-PDD-EP-001
Phase 2 trial was offered to participants after completion of the double-blind placebo-controlled ANAVEX2-73-PDD-001 Phase 2 trial discussed
above. The OLE trial assessed safety, tolerability and efficacy, measuring among others, MDS-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating
Scale Parts I, II, III, REM Sleep Behavior Disorder Screening Questionnaire (RBDSQ), CGI-I, as well as cognitive efficacy endpoint Montreal
Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) over a 48-week period.
In March 2023, we reported the
preliminary ANAVEX2-73-PDD-EP-001 OLE trial data, which demonstrated longitudinal beneficial effects of ANAVEX®2-73 on
the pre-specified primary and secondary objectives. Preliminary analysis reveals that ANAVEX®2-73 was found to be generally
safe and well tolerated; and safety findings in this trial were consistent with the known safety profile of ANAVEX®2-73.
In respect to efficacy, across all efficacy endpoints, patients performed better while on ANAVEX®2-73. While all patients
were on drug holiday due to COVID-19 between the double-blind study (DB EOT) and the OLE Baseline, the respective efficacy endpoints,
including the MDS-UPDRS Part II + III and CGI-I, measured at the end of trial of the DB EOT and the OLE Baseline, were worsening, as expected
in a progressive disease like Parkinson’s. However, when patients resumed daily oral ANAVEX®2-73 treatment, a consistent
improvement was observed during the extension phase from OLE Baseline through OLE Week 24 and OLE Week 48, respectively. These results
are consistent with the pattern observed for all efficacy measures in the extension phase.
We anticipate conducting further
clinical trials of ANAVEX®2-73 in Parkinson’s disease dementia after submitting the results of the trial to regulatory
authorities to obtain regulatory guidance.
Also with respect to Parkinson’s
disease, in January 2021, we were awarded a research grant of $1.0 million from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
to explore utilization of PET imaging biomarkers to enable measurement of target engagement and pathway activation of the SIGMAR1 with
clinically relevant doses including in people with Parkinson’s disease.
Rett Syndrome
In February 2016, we presented
positive preclinical data for ANAVEX®2-73 in Rett syndrome, a rare neurodevelopmental disease. The data demonstrated dose
related significant improvements in an array of behavioral and gait paradigms in a mouse model with an MECP2-null mutation that causes
neurological symptoms that mimic Rett syndrome. The study was funded by the International Rett Syndrome Foundation.
Our Rett syndrome program includes
several clinical trials that were conducted in a range of patient age demographics and geographic regions, utilizing an oral liquid once-daily
formulation of ANAVEX®2-73. The FDA has granted Orphan Drug Designation and the Rare Pediatric Disease (RPD) designation
for the treatment of Rett syndrome. The RPD designation is intended to encourage the development of treatments for rare pediatric diseases.
Additionally, the FDA has granted Fast Track designation for the ANAVEX®2-73 clinical development program for the treatment
of Rett syndrome. The FDA Fast Track program is designed to facilitate and expedite the development and review of new drugs to address
unmet medical needs in the treatment of serious and life-threatening conditions. An earlier application for a proposed Rett syndrome study
in the United States resulted in the FDA requesting additional information. The resulting clinical hold and subsequent partial clinical
hold have since been removed after the Company satisfactorily provided the additional information requested. At the present time, the
Company does not plan to conduct a clinical trial in the United States. The following is a summary of clinical trials conducted by the
Company in Rett Syndrome. The first Phase 2 trial, (ANAVEX®2-73-RS-001), took place in the United States, and was completed
in December 2020. This trial was a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled safety, tolerability, PK and efficacy trial of oral liquid
ANAVEX®2-73 formulation in 25 adult female patients with Rett syndrome over a 7-week treatment period including ANAVEX®2-73-specific
genomic precision medicine biomarkers. The primary endpoint of the trial was safety. The dosing of 5 mg ANAVEX®2-73 was
well-tolerated and demonstrated dose-proportional PK. All secondary efficacy endpoints of the trial showed statistically significant and
clinically meaningful response in the Rett Syndrome Behaviour Questionnaire (“RSBQ”) response, when compared to placebo,
in the intent to treat (“ITT”) cohort (all participants, p = 0.011). 66.7% of ANAVEX®2-73 treated subjects
showed a statistically significant improvement in RSBQ response as compared to 10% of the subjects on placebo in the ITT cohort (all participants,
p = 0.011). ANAVEX®2-73 treatment resulted in a sustained improvement in CGI-I response throughout the 7-week clinical
trial, when compared to placebo in the ITT cohort (all participants, p = 0.014). Consistent with previous ANAVEX®2-73 clinical
trials, patients carrying the common form of the SIGMAR1 gene treated with ANAVEX®2-73 experienced stronger improvements
in the prespecified efficacy endpoints. This clinical trial was funded, in part, by a financial grant from the International Rett Syndrome
Foundation of $0.6 million. No other clinical trials with ANAVEX®2-73 related to Rett syndrome have been conducted in the
United States.
The second, international trial
of ANAVEX®2-73 for the treatment of Rett syndrome, called the AVATAR trial, commenced in June 2019. This trial took place
in Australia and the United Kingdom using a higher dose than the U.S. based Phase 2 trial for Rett syndrome. The trial was a Phase 3 randomized,
double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ANAVEX®2-73 in 33 adult patients over a 7-week
treatment period including ANAVEX®2-73 specific precision medicine biomarkers. Based upon the input from the successful
U.S. Phase 2 Rett syndrome trial (ANAVEX®2-73-RS-001), we updated the endpoints for the AVATAR trial (ANAVEX®2-73-RS-002)
to appropriately assess the clinically meaningful outcome following International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines. These
updates were approved by the respective regulatory authorities in the U.K. and in Australia, respectively, where the AVATAR trial was
conducted.
The data from the AVATAR trial
was released in February 2022. The clinical trial met all primary and secondary efficacy and safety endpoints, with consistent improvements
in primary efficacy endpoint, RSBQ response (p = 0.037), and secondary efficacy endpoints, Anxiety, Depression, and Mood Scale (ADAMS)
(p = 0.010) and CGI-I (p = 0.037) response. Efficacy endpoints demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful reductions
in Rett syndrome symptoms. Convenient once daily oral liquid doses of up to 30 mg of ANAVEX®2-73 were also well tolerated
with good medication compliance. All patients who participated in the trial were eligible to receive ANAVEX®2-73 under
a voluntary open label extension protocol and subsequent Compassionate Use Program.
The very first trial of ANAVEX®2-73
in pediatric Rett syndrome patients, the EXCELLENCE trial, completed enrollment in February 2023. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled
Phase 2/3 trial in pediatric patients with Rett syndrome included trial sites in Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. 92 pediatric
patients with Rett syndrome between the ages of 5 through 17 years were treated daily with up to 30 mg ANAVEX®2-73. Participants
were randomized 2:1 (ANAVEX®2-73:placebo) for 12 weeks, followed by a week 16 safety visit and topline results from this
trial were announced in early January 2024.
After 12 weeks, the study showed
improvement on the key co-primary endpoint RSBQ, which is a detailed 45-item questionnaire for assessing multiple Rett syndrome characteristics
by the patients’ caregivers. The other co-primary endpoint, the CGI-I, which represents a less granular assessment by the site investigators
using a seven-point scoring (one=“very much improved” to seven=“very much worse”), was not met.
In an ad-hoc analysis, using the
predefined mixed-effect model for repeated measure (MMRM) method, after 12 weeks of treatment, ANAVEX®2-73-treated patients
improved LS Mean (SE) -12.93 (2.150) points on their RSBQ total score compared to LS Mean (SE) -8.32 (2.537) points in placebo-treated
patients. The LS Mean difference (SE) of -4.61 (2.439) points between treated and placebo groups did not reach statistical significance
(n=77; p=0.063). ANAVEX®2-73-treated patients demonstrated a rapid onset of action with improvements at 4 weeks after treatment
with a RSBQ total score LS Mean (SE) -10.32 (2.086) points in the drug-treated group compared to a LS Mean (SE) -5.67 (2.413) points in
placebo-treated patients. The LS Mean difference of -4.65 (2.233) points between treated and placebo groups was statistically significant
(n=77; p=0.041).
The key secondary endpoint, the
ADAMS, trended favorably. In the same analysis, scores for all RSBQ and ADAMS subscales improved over the course of the study. Collectively,
the RSBQ and ADAMS demonstrated improvements in multiple areas, impacting positively in particular repetitive movements, nighttime disruptive
behaviors, and social avoidance.
A preliminary review of the safety
results indicates there were no new safety signals in the EXCELLENCE study, reinforcing the favorable and manageable safety profile observed
with ANAVEX®2-73 to date.
All patients who participated in
the trial were eligible to receive ANAVEX®2-73 under a voluntary open label extension protocol, which was completed in
June 2024.
A high enrollment rate in the Open
Label Extension (“OLE”) of over 91% and the high level of requests for the Compassionate Use Program (93%) provide
solid numerical evidence for the reported positive Real World Evidence (RWE) from patients with Rett syndrome under Compassionate Use
Authorization. Families whose children were previously on drug or placebo in the placebo-controlled trial commented favorably on the improvement
of their child’s daily life due to ANAVEX®2-73 treatment in the Compassionate Use Program.
Schizophrenia
In March 2024, we commenced the
U.S. FDA-cleared ANAVEX®3-71-SZ-001 clinical trial: a double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trial in schizophrenia.
The trial consists of two parts to explore multiple ascending doses in individuals with schizophrenia followed by a 28-day treatment period
in a larger cohort. The trial will utilize standard clinical outcome measures for schizophrenia including the Positive and Negative Symptoms
Scale (PANSS), and novel fluid and electrophysiological biomarkers will also be assessed, leveraging several advances in electroencephalography/event-related
potential (EEG/ERP) biomarkers in schizophrenia developed in collaboration with the industry-led ERP Biomarker Qualification Consortium.
In addition to the electrophysiological biomarkers, we are also applying novel neuroinflammatory, metabolomic, and transcriptomic biomarkers
at the intersection of schizophrenia pathophysiology and ANAVEX®3-71’s novel, dual mechanism of action.
Preliminary results from Part A
of the ANAVEX®3-71-SZ-001 clinical trial, consisting of a multiple ascending dose study in 16 participants, demonstrated
a dose-dependent effect of ANAVEX®3-71 on two key EEG biomarkers in patients with schizophrenia. The effects were most
pronounced in the higher dose group indicating a dose-dependent pharmacodynamic effect. The observed changes reversed known electroencephalography
(EEG) and ERP biomarker abnormalities associated with schizophrenia. These EEG biomarkers correlate with positive, negative, and cognitive
symptoms of schizophrenia.
In May 2025 we announced the completion
of enrollment of Part B of the placebo-controlled Phase 2 study, which includes more participants and a longer treatment duration, and
will provide more comprehensive data on the efficacy and safety of ANAVEX®3-71 in schizophrenia. We expect to report top-line
data of the Phase 2 ANAVEX®3-71-SZ-001 clinical trial in the second half of 2025.
Corporate Information
Our principal executive office
is located at 630 5th Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10111-0100, and our telephone number is (844) 689-3939. Our website address is
www.anavex.com. Information contained in our website is not a part of, nor incorporated by reference into, this prospectus. Also, this
prospectus may include the names of various government agencies or the trade names of other companies. Unless specifically stated otherwise,
the use or display by us of such other parties’ names and trade names in this prospectus is not intended to and does not imply a
relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, any of these other parties.
RISK FACTORS
An investment in our common
stock involves significant risks. You should carefully consider the risk factors contained in our filings with the SEC, as well as all
of the information contained in any prospectus supplement, free writing prospectus and amendments thereto, before you decide to invest
in our common stock. Our business, prospectus, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected
as a result of any of such risks. The value of our common stock could decline as a result of any of these risks. You could lose all or
part of your investment in our common stock. Some of our statements in sections entitled “Risk Factors” are forward-looking
statements. You should also consider the risks, uncertainties and assumptions discussed under “Part I—Item 1A—Risk Factors”
of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2024 and in “Part II—Item 1A—Risk Factors”
in our most recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed subsequent to such Form 10-K, which are incorporated herein by reference, as may
be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports we file with the SEC in the future. The risks and uncertainties
we have described are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem
immaterial may also affect our business, prospectus, financial condition and results of operations.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus includes forward-looking
statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this prospectus, including statements regarding our
anticipated future clinical and regulatory milestone events, future financial position, business strategy and plans and objectives of
management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “may,” “estimate,”
“continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect” “should,” “forecast,”
“potential,” “predict”, “could,” “would,” “will,” “suggest,” “plan”
and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include,
without limitation, statements regarding:
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volatility in our stock price and in the markets in general; |
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our ability to successfully conduct preclinical studies and clinical trials for our product candidates; |
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our ability to raise additional capital on favorable terms and the impact of such activities on our stockholders and stock price; |
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our ability to generate any revenue or to continue as a going concern; |
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our ability to execute our research and development plan on time and on budget; |
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our products candidates’ ability to demonstrate efficacy or an acceptable safety profile; |
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our ability to obtain the support of qualified scientific collaborators; |
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our ability, whether alone or with commercial partners, to successfully commercialize any of our product candidates that may be approved for sale; |
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our ability to identify and obtain additional product candidates; |
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our reliance on third parties in non-clinical studies and clinical trials; |
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our ability to defend against product liability claims; |
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our ability to safeguard against security breaches; |
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our ability to obtain and maintain sufficient intellectual property protection for our product candidates; |
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our ability to comply with our intellectual property licensing agreements; |
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our ability to defend against claims of intellectual property infringement; |
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our ability to comply with the maintenance requirements of the government patent agencies; |
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our ability to protect our intellectual property rights throughout the world; |
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the anticipated start dates, durations and completion dates of our ongoing and future clinical trials; |
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the anticipated designs of our future clinical trials; |
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our ability to attract and retain qualified employees; |
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the impact of Fast Track designation on receipt of actual FDA approval; |
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our anticipated future regulatory submissions and our ability to receive regulatory approvals to develop and market our product candidates, including any orphan drug or Fast Track designations; |
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the timing and likelihood of the accomplishment of various scientific, clinical, regulatory filings and approvals and other product development objectives, including the timing of a decision by the European Medicines Agency, or EMA, regarding whether to approve the Marketing Authorization Application, or MAA, for blarcamesine for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease; and |
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our anticipated future cash position and ability to obtain funding for our operations. |
We have based these forward-looking
statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events, including the responses we expect from the FDA and
other regulatory authorities and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business
strategy, preclinical studies and clinical trials, and financial needs. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks,
uncertainties and assumptions including without limitation the risks described in “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of our
Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 23, 2024 and our subsequent Quarterly Reports
on Form 10-Q. These risks are not exhaustive. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risk factors
emerge from time to time and it is not possible for our management to predict all risk factors, nor can we assess the impact of all factors
on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those
contained in any forward-looking statements. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. We cannot
assure you that the events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur and actual results
could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this prospectus
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.
USE OF PROCEEDS
We will retain broad discretion
over the use of the net proceeds to us from the sale of our securities under this prospectus. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable
prospectus supplement, we currently expect to use the net proceeds that we receive from this offering for working capital and other general
corporate purposes. The expected use of net proceeds of this offering represents our current intentions based on our present plans and
business conditions. We cannot specify with certainty all of the particular uses for the net proceeds to be received upon the closing
of this offering.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell the securities from
time to time pursuant to underwritten public offerings, “at-the-market” offerings, negotiated transactions, block trades or
a combination of these methods. We may sell the securities to or through one or more underwriters or dealers (acting as principal or agent),
through agents, or directly to one or more purchasers. We may distribute securities from time to time in one or more transactions:
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at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed; |
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at market prices prevailing at the time of sale; |
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at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or |
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at negotiated prices. |
A prospectus supplement or supplements
(and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you) will describe the terms of the offering of the securities,
including, to the extent applicable:
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the name or names of the underwriters, dealers or agents, if any; |
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the purchase price of the securities or other consideration therefor, and the proceeds, if any, we will receive from the sale; |
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any over-allotment or other options under which underwriters may purchase additional securities from us; |
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any agency fees or underwriting discounts and other items constituting agents’ or underwriters’ compensation; |
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any public offering price; |
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any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and |
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any securities exchange or market on which the securities may be listed. |
Only underwriters named in the
prospectus supplement will be underwriters of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement. Dealers and agents participating in
the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and compensation received by them on resale of the securities may
be deemed to be underwriting discounts. If such dealers or agents were deemed to be underwriters, they may be subject to statutory liabilities
under the Securities Act.
If underwriters are used in the
sale, they will acquire the securities for their own account and may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions
at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase
the securities will be subject to the conditions set forth in the applicable underwriting agreement. We may offer the securities to the
public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or by underwriters without a syndicate. Subject to certain
conditions, the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement, other than securities
covered by any over-allotment option. If a dealer is used in the sale of securities, we or an underwriter will sell the securities to
the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at
the time of resale. To the extent required, we will set forth in the prospectus supplement the name of the dealer and the terms of the
transaction. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may change from time to
time.
We may sell securities directly
or through agents we designate from time to time. We will name any agent involved in the offering and sale of securities and we will describe
any commissions payable to the agent in the prospectus supplement. Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, the agent will act
on a best-efforts basis for the period of its appointment.
We may provide agents, underwriters
and dealers with indemnification against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribution with respect
to payments that the agents, underwriters or dealers may make with respect to these liabilities. Agents, underwriters and dealers, or
their affiliates, may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business.
All securities we may offer, other
than common stock, will be new issues of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters may make a market in these securities,
but will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We cannot guarantee the liquidity
of the trading markets for any securities.
Any underwriter may engage in over-allotment,
stabilizing transactions, short-covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act. Over-allotment
involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying
security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum price. Syndicate-covering or other short-covering transactions
involve purchases of the securities, either through exercise of the over-allotment option or in the open market after the distribution
is completed, to cover short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when the securities
originally sold by the dealer are purchased in a stabilizing or covering transaction to cover short positions. Those activities may cause
the price of the securities to be higher than it would otherwise be. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of the activities
at any time.
Any underwriters that are qualified
market makers on the Nasdaq Capital Market may engage in passive market making transactions in the common stock on the Nasdaq Capital
Market in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act, during the business day prior to the pricing of the offering, before the
commencement of offers or sales of the common stock. Passive market makers must comply with applicable volume and price limitations and
must be identified as passive market makers. In general, a passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest
independent bid for such security; if all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker’s bid, however, the passive
market maker’s bid must then be lowered when certain purchase limits are exceeded. Passive market making may stabilize the market
price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market and, if commenced, may be discontinued
at any time.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
Common Stock
We are authorized to issue 200,000,000
shares of common stock with a par value of $0.001. As of July 11, 2025, we had 85,416,692 shares of common stock outstanding. Upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the corporation, the holders of common stock are entitled to share ratably in all net assets available for
distribution to stockholders after payment to creditors. The common stock is not convertible or redeemable and has no preemptive, subscription
or conversion rights. There are no conversion, redemption, sinking fund or similar provisions regarding the common stock. Each outstanding
share of common stock is entitled to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders. There are no cumulative voting rights.
Each stockholder is entitled to
receive the dividends as may be declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for dividends and, in the event of liquidation,
to share pro rata in any distribution of our assets after payment of liabilities. Our board of directors is not obligated to declare a
dividend. Any future dividends will be subject to the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon, among other things, future
earnings, the operating and financial condition of our Company, its capital requirements, general business conditions and other pertinent
factors. It is not anticipated that dividends will be paid in the foreseeable future.
Nevada Anti-Takeover Law and Charter and Bylaws Provisions
Nevada Revised Statutes sections
78.378 to 78.3793 provide state regulation over the acquisition of a controlling interest in certain Nevada corporations unless the articles
of incorporation or bylaws of the corporation provide that the provisions of these sections do not apply. The statute creates a number
of restrictions on the ability of a person or entity to acquire control of a Nevada company by setting down certain rules of conduct and
voting restrictions in any acquisition attempt, among other things. Our bylaws provide that these sections do not apply.
There are no provisions in our
articles of incorporation or our bylaws that would delay, defer or prevent a change in control of our Company.
Indemnification Of Directors And Executive Officers And Limitation On
Liability.
Our Bylaws provide that any person
who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent
of the Company (or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust or other enterprise) shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the fullest extent permitted by Nevada
law against expenses including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement reasonably incurred or suffered
by such person in connection with such proceeding.
The Bylaws also provide that the
expenses of officers and directors incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding must be paid by the Company as
they are incurred and in advance of the final disposition of the action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf
of the director or officer to repay the amount if it is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that he is not entitled
to be indemnified by the Company. Such right of indemnification shall be a contract right which may be enforced in any manner desired
by such person. Such right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other right which such directors, officers or representatives
may have or hereafter acquire and, without limiting the generality of such statement, they shall be entitled to their respective rights
of indemnification under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders, provision of law or otherwise, as well as their rights under the
Bylaws.
The Bylaws provide that the Board
of Directors may cause the Company to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer of the
Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director or officer of another Company, or as its representative in a
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred in any such capacity
or arising out of such status, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person.
Nevada Revised Statutes 78.751
and 78.7502 have provisions that provide for discretionary and mandatory indemnification of officers, directors, employees, and agents
of a corporation. Under these provisions, such persons may be indemnified by a corporation against expenses, including attorney’s
fees, judgment, fines and amounts paid in settlement, actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the action, suit or proceeding,
if he acted in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation
and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.
To the extent that a director,
officer, employee or agent has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding, or in defense
of any claim, issue or matter, the Nevada Revised Statues provide that he must be indemnified by the Company against expenses, including
attorney’s fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense.
Section 78.7502 of the Nevada Revised
Statues also provides that any discretionary indemnification, unless ordered by a court or advanced by the Company, may be made only as
authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the
circumstances. The determination must be made: by the stockholders; by the Company’s Board of Directors by majority vote of a quorum
consisting of directors who were not parties to that act, suit or proceeding; if a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who
were not parties to the act, suit or proceeding cannot be obtained, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion; or if a quorum
consisting of directors who were not parties to the act, suit or proceeding cannot be obtained, by independent legal counsel in a written
opinion.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar
for our common stock is Nevada Agency and Transfer Company. The transfer agent and registrar’s address is 50 West Liberty Street,
Suite 880, Reno, NV 89501.
Listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market
Our common stock is listed on the
Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “AVXL”.
LEGAL MATTERS
Unless otherwise specified in the
applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Snell & Wilmer, L.L.P.,
Reno, Nevada. If legal matters in connection with offerings made by this prospectus are passed on by counsel for the underwriters, dealers
or agents, if any, that counsel will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement.
EXPERTS
The audited financial statements
incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement have been so incorporated by reference in reliance
upon the reports of Grant Thornton LLP, independent registered public accountants, upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting
and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and other
reports and other information with the SEC under the Exchange Act. Our filings with the SEC are also available to the public from commercial
document retrieval services and at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
We make available free of charge
on our internet website at www.anavex.com our annual reports on Form 10-K, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, our current reports on
Form 8-K and any amendments to those reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish
it to, the SEC. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and you should not consider
such information as part of this prospectus.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate
by reference” into this prospectus certain information that we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information
to you by referring you to other documents separately filed by us with the SEC that contain such information. The information we incorporate
by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus and information we later file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede
the information in this prospectus. The following documents filed by us with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act and
any of our future filings under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15 (d) of the Exchange Act, except for information furnished under Item 2.02
or 7.01 of Current Report on Form 8-K, or exhibits related thereto, made before the termination of the offering are incorporated by reference
herein:
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our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024, filed with the SEC on December 23, 2024; |
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our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2024 that we filed with the SEC on February 12, 2025 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 that we filed with the SEC on May 13, 2025; |
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our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC
on June 13, 2025, to the extent information therein is filed and not furnished; and
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our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 3, 2025, to the extent information therein is filed and not furnished; and |
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the description of our common stock contained in the registration statement on Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on October 23, 2015, as updated by Exhibit 4.1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, filed with the SEC on November 28, 2022, together with any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
You should rely only on the information
incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus. We have authorized no one to provide you with different information. You should
not assume that the information in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of this document. In addition,
all documents subsequently filed by us pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (other than any such documents
or portions thereof that are furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K, unless otherwise indicated therein, including any exhibits
included with such Items) before the date the offering of securities hereunder is terminated or complete are deemed to be incorporated
by reference into, and to be a part of, this prospectus.
We will provide to each person,
including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, a copy of any or all of the reports or documents that have been incorporated
by reference in the prospectus contained in the registration statement but not delivered with the prospectus, other than an exhibit to
these filings unless we have specifically incorporated that exhibit by reference into the filing, upon written or oral request and at
no cost to the requester. Requests should be made by writing or telephoning us at the following address:
Anavex Life Sciences Corp.
630 5th Avenue, 20th Floor
New York, NY 10111-0100
(844) 689-3939

Anavex Life Sciences Corp.
Up to $300,000,000 of
Common Stock
PROSPECTUS
, 2025
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The following table sets forth
the various expenses (other than underwriting discounts and commissions) in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities
registered hereby. The Company will bear all of these expenses. All amounts are estimated except for the SEC registration fee:
SEC registration fee | |
$ | 45,930 | |
Legal fees and expenses | |
$ | 50,000 | |
Accounting fees and expenses | |
$ | 30,000 | |
Miscellaneous fees and expenses | |
$ | 2,500 | |
Total expenses | |
$ | 128,430 | |
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Our Bylaws provide that any person
who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent
of the Company (or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust or other enterprise) shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the fullest extent permitted by Nevada
law against expenses including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement reasonably incurred or suffered
by such person in connection with such proceeding.
The Bylaws also provide that the
expenses of officers and directors incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding must be paid by the Company as
they are incurred and in advance of the final disposition of the action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf
of the director or officer to repay the amount if it is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that he is not entitled
to be indemnified by the Company. Such right of indemnification shall be a contract right which may be enforced in any manner desired
by such person. Such right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other right which such directors, officers or representatives
may have or hereafter acquire and, without limiting the generality of such statement, they shall be entitled to their respective rights
of indemnification under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders, provision of law or otherwise, as well as their rights under the
Bylaws.
The Bylaws provide that the Board
of Directors may cause the Company to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer of the
Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director or officer of another Company, or as its representative in a
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred in any such capacity
or arising out of such status, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person.
Nevada Revised Statutes 78.751
and 78.7502 have provisions that provide for discretionary and mandatory indemnification of officers, directors, employees, and agents
of a corporation. Under these provisions, such persons may be indemnified by a corporation against expenses, including attorney’s
fees, judgment, fines and amounts paid in settlement, actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the action, suit or proceeding,
if he acted in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation
and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.
To the extent that a director,
officer, employee or agent has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding, or in defense
of any claim, issue or matter, the Nevada Revised Statues provide that he must be indemnified by the Company against expenses, including
attorney’s fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense.
Section 78.7502 of the Nevada Revised
Statues also provides that any discretionary indemnification, unless ordered by a court or advanced by the Company, may be made only as
authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the
circumstances. The determination must be made: by the stockholders; by the Company’s Board of Directors by majority vote of a quorum
consisting of directors who were not parties to that act, suit or proceeding; if a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who
were not parties to the act, suit or proceeding cannot be obtained, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion; or if a quorum
consisting of directors who were not parties to the act, suit or proceeding cannot be obtained, by independent legal counsel in a written
opinion.
In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer, or controlling
person in the successful defense of any action, suit, or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer, or controlling person connected
with the securities being registered, we will, unless in the opinion of our counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in
the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
Insofar as indemnification for
liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Company pursuant to
the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy
and is, therefore, unenforceable.
Item 16. Exhibits.
Exhibit |
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Description
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1.1* |
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Form
of Underwriting Agreement for Equity Securities |
3.1 |
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Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2021 filed on November 24, 2021) |
3.2 |
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Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 14, 2023) |
4.1 |
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Specimen stock certificate evidencing shares of common stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form SB-2 filed with the SEC on January 13, 2005) |
5.1† |
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Opinion of Snell & Wilmer L.L.P |
23.1† |
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Consent of Grant Thornton LLP |
23.2† |
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Consent of Snell & Wilmer L.L.P. (included in Exhibit 5.1) |
24.1† |
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Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this registration statement) |
107† |
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Filing Fee Table |
† Filed herewith.
* To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a document to be incorporated
by reference herein in connection with an offering of the offered securities.
Item 17. Undertakings.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or
sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
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(i) |
to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; |
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(ii) |
to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” exhibit attached to the effective registration statement; and |
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(iii) |
to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; |
Provided, however, Paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii)
and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs
is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant
to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
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(2) |
That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
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(3) |
To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. |
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(4) |
That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to any purchaser: |
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(i) |
Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to
Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included
in the registration statement; and
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(ii) |
Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which the prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date. |
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(5) |
That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser: |
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(i) |
Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; |
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(ii) |
Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant; |
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(iii) |
The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and |
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(iv) |
Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser. |
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(b) |
That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
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(c) |
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the provisions described in Item 15 above, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, that the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of
the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for
filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized,
in the city of New York, state of New York, on July 14, 2025.
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ANAVEX LIFE SCIENCES CORP. |
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By: |
/s/ Christopher Missling, PhD |
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Name: |
Christopher Missling, PhD |
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Title: |
Chief Executive Officer, Principal |
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Executive Officer and Director |
POWER OF ATTORNEY AND SIGNATURES
We, the undersigned officers and
directors of Anavex Life Sciences Corp., do hereby constitute and appoint Christopher Missling, PhD our true and lawful attorney-in-fact
and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to
sign any and all amendments to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the SEC, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act
and thing requisite are necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or
cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of
the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and
in the capacities and on the dates indicated below:
Signatures |
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Title(s) |
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Date |
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/s/ Christopher Missling, PhD |
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July 14, 2025 |
Christopher Missling, PhD |
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Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and Director |
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/s/ Sandra Boenisch |
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July 14, 2025 |
Sandra Boenisch, CPA, CGA |
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Principal Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Accounting Officer) |
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/s/ Jiong Ma, PhD |
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July 14, 2025 |
Jiong Ma, PhD |
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Director, Chair |
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/s/ Athanasios Skarpelos |
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July 14, 2025 |
Athanasios Skarpelos |
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Director |
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/s/ Claus van der Velden, PhD |
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July 14, 2025 |
Claus van der Velden, PhD |
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Director |
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/s/ Steffen Thomas, PhD |
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July 14, 2025 |
Steffen Thomas, PhD |
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Director |
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/s/ Peter Donhauser, D.O. |
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July 14, 2025 |
Peter Donhauser, D.O. |
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Director |
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