Winston-Salem, NC Nov 11, 2003
Targacept, Inc., a central nervous system-focused biopharmaceutical company, announced today that Targacept scientists and collaborators are presenting multiple research findings and advancements in Targacept’s drug pipeline at the Society for Neuroscience 33rd Annual Meeting in New Orleans from November 8th through November 12th.
Gregory Gatto, Targacept’s Director of Behavioral Pharmacology, gave an oral presentation titled “Nicotinic Ligands Induce Neuroprotection and Inhibition of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines” on Sunday, November 9th. Nicotinic ligands are molecules that modulate the activity of certain receptors in the nervous systems known as neuronal nicotinic receptors. Dr. Gatto’s presentation included in vitro data demonstrating their role in promoting neuroprotection, as well as in inhibiting the activity of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Since inflammation is implicated in the pathology of Alzheimer’s disease, this is a key finding that provides additional insight into the development of possible treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.
One of Targacept’s three poster presentations focuses on TC-1734, Targacept’s lead product candidate that is currently being evaluated in Phase II clinical trials as a potential treatment for cognitive and memory disorders. TC-1734 was discovered by Targacept scientists using Pentad™, the company’s powerful proprietary in-silico engine for discovering drug candidates that selectively target specific CNS receptors, minimize activity at other receptors that are implicated in side effects and have superior pharmacokinetic and pharmaceutical properties. In extensive pre-clinical testing, TC-1734 demonstrated long lasting positive effects on memory and learning as well as neuroprotective activity and, in two Phase I clinical trials, the compound demonstrated dose-specific, positive effects on direct and surrogate measures of memory and attention.
The second poster outlines research conducted on one of Targacept’s novel alpha-7 ligands and its effect on maintaining the viability of nerve cells. This research demonstrated that ligand interaction with the alpha-7 neuronal nicotinic receptor may override the effects of beta-amyloid, a protein present in the plaque of the brain cells of Alzheimer’s disease sufferers, enhancing cell growth and inhibiting the cascade that leads to cell death.
The third poster describes a study conducted to explore the pharmacology of cells transfected with the alpha-6 neuronal nicotinic receptor, which indicated that alpha-6 may be an important target for novel drugs to treat Parkinson’s disease.
“We are pleased to have the opportunity to present many significant scientific findings at this important neuroscience meeting, including data on our lead clinical product candidate, TC-1734,” said J. Donald deBethizy, Ph.D., President and CEO of Targacept. “We believe that our substantial neuronal nicotinic receptor expertise and related Pentad technology will enable us to develop and advance our candidates for first-in-class therapeutics to treat multiple neuropsychiatric indications.”
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 unparalleled 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.