Business Description and Basis of Presentation

6 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2016

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Business Description and Basis of Presentation

Note 1 Business Description and Basis of Presentation

Business

Anavex Life Sciences Corp. (the “Company”) is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development of differentiated therapeutics for the treatment of neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental diseases including drug candidates to treat Alzheimer’s disease, other central nervous system (CNS) diseases, pain and various types of cancer. The Company’s lead compound ANAVEX 2-73 is being developed to treat Alzheimer’s disease and potentially other central nervous system (CNS) diseases, including rare diseases, such as Rett syndrome.

In December 2014 a Phase 2a clinical trial was initiated for ANAVEX 2-73, which is being evaluated for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. The randomized trial is designed to assess the safety and exploratory efficacy of ANAVEX 2-73 alone as well as in combination with donepezil (ANAVEX PLUS) in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. ANAVEX 2-73 targets sigma-1 and muscarinic receptors, which have been shown in preclinical studies to reduce stress levels in the brain and to reverse the pathological hallmarks observed in Alzheimer’s disease. ANAVEX 2-73 showed no serious adverse events in a previously performed Phase 1 study. In pre-clinical studies, ANAVEX 2-73 demonstrated anti-amnesic and neuroprotective properties in various animal models including the transgenic mouse model Tg2576. In February 2016 the Company presented positive preclinical data for ANAVEX 2-73 in Rett syndrome, a rare neurodevelopmental disease indication. In March 2016, the Company received approval from the Ethics Committee in Australia to extend the ongoing Phase 2a clinical trial, which had been requested by the patients and their caregivers. The trial extension will allow participants who complete 52 weeks in Part B to roll-over into a new trial and continue taking ANAVEX 2-73 for an additional 104 weeks, providing an opportunity to gather extended safety data. The trial is independent of the Company’s planned larger Phase 2/3 double-blinded placebo-controlled study of ANAVEX 2-73 in Alzheimer’s disease.

Effective October 7, 2015, the Company effected a reverse stock split on the basis of 1:4. As such, the Company’s authorized capital was decreased from 400,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 to 100,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 and all shares of common stock issued and outstanding were decreased on the basis of one new share for each four old shares. These condensed consolidated financial statements give retroactive effect to such reverse split and all share and per share amounts have been adjusted accordingly.

Basis of Presentation

These interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared, without audit pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the annual financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. In the opinion of management, the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading.

These statements reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, which in the opinion of management are necessary for fair presentation of the information contained herein. These interim condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements included in its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2015. The Company follows the same accounting policies in the preparation of interim reports.

Operating results for the six months ended March 31, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending September 30, 2016.

Basic and Diluted Loss per Share

The basic loss per common share is computed by dividing net loss available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted loss per common share is computed similar to basic loss per common share except that the denominator is increased to include the weighted average of all potentially dilutive shares of common stock that were outstanding during the period. Additionally, the numerator is also adjusted for changes in fair value of the derivative financial instruments where it is presumed they will be share settled.

As of March 31, 2016, loss per share excludes 3,691,291 (September 30, 2015 – 6,101,534) potentially dilutive common shares related to outstanding options, warrants, and convertible debentures as their effect was anti-dilutive.