BioCentury
ARTICLE | Clinical News

Targacept drops TC-1734, continues trimming pipeline

July 14, 2014 11:28 PM UTC

Targacept Inc. (NASDAQ:TRGT) discontinued development of TC-1734 after the compound missed the co-primary endpoints of improving cognitive and global function from baseline to week 52 vs. donepezil in a 293-patient Phase IIb trial to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. The company regained rights to the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha(4)beta(2) agonist from AstraZeneca plc (LSE:AZN, NYSE:AZN) last year. The discontinuation is just the latest in a string of setbacks for Targacept, which discontinued development of TC-5619 in December for schizophrenia and AD. The company had already discontinued development of the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha 7 (CHRNA7) agonist for ADHD (see BioCentury Extra, Dec. 16, 2013).

Targacept's remaining pipeline includes dexmecamylamine ( TC-5214), which is in a Phase IIb trial for overactive bladder; and TC-6499, which is in Phase I/II testing for diabetic gastroparesis. Dexmecamylamine is an S-enantiomer of mecamylamine, a broad-spectrum non-competitive nicotinic receptor antagonist. TC-6499 is a small molecule agonist of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors alpha(3)beta(4) and alpha(4)beta(2). ...