Targacept Announces Results Identifying Key Enzyme Involved in Cell Death
Study reported in The Journal of Neuroscience provides greater understanding to support development of novel therapeutics to treat neurodegenerative diseases
Winston-Salem, NC
December 03, 2003
Targacept, Inc. today announced research results that identify a key enzyme implicated in cell death. The findings are reported by researchers at Targacept and Medical College of Georgia in The Journal of Neuroscience (Volume 23(35)) and are expected to have therapeutic application in a variety of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
It is well established in the scientific community that the protein b-amyloid is present in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, and it has also been implicated in other neurodegenerative diseases. b-amyloid induces neuronal cell death, which contributes to the progression of these diseases. Targacept and Medical College of Georgia previously collaborated to identify a key cellular pathway triggered by activation of the alpha-7 neuronal nicotinic receptor that protects against the negative effects of b-amyloid, and this recent development demonstrates that activation of the enzyme SHP-1 blocks that pathway. Together, these significant discoveries provide insight into the mechanisms of cell death, a hallmark of neurodegenerative central nervous system diseases that contributes to the deterioration of a patient’s quality of life.
“These findings represent important advancements in our understanding of the pathways implicated in b-amyloid-induced cell death,” said Merouane Bencherif, M.D., Ph.D., Targacept’s Vice President, Preclinical Research. “Activating receptors involved in cell survival as well as minimizing effects resulting in cell death may have significant therapeutic advantages,” he continued. “These new insights will help us further characterize the responsible molecular targets and should facilitate our discovery of novel therapeutics that treat neurodegenerative diseases by slowing disease progression.”
Targacept, Inc. is a leading central nervous system-focused biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of a new class of drugs to treat a broad spectrum of diseases, including, among others, memory disorders and dementia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ulcerative colitis, pain and Alzheimer’s disease. The company's drug candidates selectively modulate an underexploited class of molecular targets involved in regulating central nervous system (CNS) activity, known as neuronal nicotinic receptors (NNRs), and its NNR expertise, together with Pentad, its powerful proprietary in-silico drug discovery engine, facilitate highly targeted drug design and development. With an extensive portfolio of candidates for first-in-class therapeutics that includes three Phase II compounds and one Phase I compound, decades of management experience and an extensive patent estate, Targacept is pioneering the next generation of CNS therapeutics.
Additional information may be found on the Company’s website: www.targacept.com.
TARGACEPT and PENTAD are trademarks of Targacept, Inc.
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