Worldwide, lung cancer is the second most common cancer with an estimated 1.2m new cases being diagnosed every year on a global basis. The "epidemic" of lung cancer mortality has been identified as a major health issue confronting both developed and developing countries, and the disease features high mortality rates across all countries.Lung cancer is a malignant tumor that develops from the uncontrolled growth of lung cells. Lung cancer usually begins in one lung from where it moves to the lymph nodes and tissues in the other lung. If left untreated it can metastasize to the liver, brain, bones, and eventually throughout the body. There are two main types of lung cancer, small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the diagnosis of which can be ascertained by histopathological studies. By the year 2015 it is estimated that the incidence of the disease will have reached 448,000 (AACR: 0.3%) and the prevalence 635,000 individuals (AAGR: 0.3%). The overall prognosis of lung cancer depends on the stage at which the disease is diagnosed and at which treatment is applied. For limited stage NSCLC, cure rates may be as high as 25%, while cure rates for extensive stage disease are less than 5%. By 2015, the estimated lung cancer market is $ 24 billion.

ANAVEX 28-1078 AND ANAVEX 35-3016
The drug candidates exhibit a profile without any secondary effects, especially in the case of ANAVEX 28-1078 and ANAVEX 35-3016 which have shown better cytotoxic and cytostatic properties in cell cultures of lung cancer. Toxicological studies in mice have shown no evidence of adverse events usually observed with conventional anti-cancer drugs. These bioactive compounds have shown evidence of pro-apoptotic properties in cancer cells (in vitro studies). Further preclinical in vivo studies are currently being conducted using specialized animal models (i.e. in immunodeficient mice) to further assess and analyze potential activity on the inhibition/ prevention of tumor growth, metastasis, angiogenesis and cell proliferation for the above compounds and related derivatives.