Shares of Anavex Life Sciences (AVXL.O) plummeted to a 52-week low today, reflecting a significant decline in investor confidence. The stock dropped approximately 47% in pre-market trading following the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) rejection of its Alzheimer’s therapy, blarcamesine, during a regulatory review. This negative trend vote from the EMA's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has raised concerns about the company's future prospects and prompted increased volatility in the stock.
The recent downturn in AVXL's stock price is compounded by broader market trends, with U.S. stock futures down and several companies reporting disappointing earnings. Anavex's situation was further exacerbated by comments from Martin Shkreli, a convicted securities fraud felon, who indicated intentions to short the stock, predicting a drop below $1.25. As the company prepares for an upcoming oral hearing with the CHMP on November 11, investor sentiment remains cautious amid regulatory uncertainties.
Wall Street analysts forecast AVXL stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for AVXL is 20.00 USD with a low forecast of 20.00 USD and a high forecast of 20.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
2 Analyst Rating
Wall Street analysts forecast AVXL stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for AVXL is 20.00 USD with a low forecast of 20.00 USD and a high forecast of 20.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
1 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 4.870
Low
20.00
Averages
20.00
High
20.00
Current: 4.870
Low
20.00
Averages
20.00
High
20.00
H.C. Wainwright
Buy
downgrade
$42 -> $20
2025-11-19
Reason
H.C. Wainwright
Price Target
$42 -> $20
AI Analysis
2025-11-19
downgrade
Buy
Reason
H.C. Wainwright lowered the firm's price target on Anavex to $20 from $42 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares after blarcamesine received a negative trend opinion from European regulators. The firm cites the reduced probability of approval for blarcamesine in Europe for treatment of Alzheimer's disease for the target cut.
JonesResearch
Soumit Roy
Buy
to
Hold
downgrade
2025-10-23
Reason
JonesResearch
Soumit Roy
Price Target
2025-10-23
downgrade
Buy
to
Hold
Reason
JonesResearch analyst Soumit Roy downgraded Anavex to Hold from Buy without a price target. Anavex's valuation is entirely dependent on the decision from the European Medicines Agency regarding the approval of blarcamesine in Alzheimer's disease, the analyst tells investors in a research note. The firm sees the decision coming in Q1 of 2026. It cites Anavex's current valuation and potential downside on the news for the downgrade.
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HC Wainwright & Co.
Raghuram Selvaraju
Strong Buy
Reiterates
$42
2025-04-07
Reason
HC Wainwright & Co.
Raghuram Selvaraju
Price Target
$42
2025-04-07
Reiterates
Strong Buy
Reason
D. Boral Capital
Jason Kolbert
Strong Buy
Maintains
$46
2025-04-07
Reason
D. Boral Capital
Jason Kolbert
Price Target
$46
2025-04-07
Maintains
Strong Buy
Reason
About AVXL
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. The Company analyzes genomic data from clinical trials to identify biomarkers, which it uses in the analysis of its clinical trials. Its focus is on developing treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative, and rare diseases, including Rett syndrome, and other CNS disorders. It has two core programs and two seed programs. ANAVEX 2-73 is being developed as an oral liquid once-daily formulation for rare diseases such as Rett syndrome as well as an oral once-daily capsule formulation for diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. ANAVEX 3-71 is a CNS-penetrable potential disease-modifying treatment for cognitive impairments. Its other candidates include ANAVEX 1-41, ANAVEX 1066 and ANAVEX 1037.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
