Targacept Announces Plans to Develop Enantiomer of Mecamylamine as Augmentation Therapy for Depression
Posted: 10-31-2007 : WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Targacept, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRGT), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a new class of drugs known as NNR Therapeutics (TM), announced plans to advance TC-5214, one of two enantiomers of mecamylamine hydrochloride, into clinical development as an augmentation therapy for patients who are inadequate responders to first-line antidepressant treatments. Targacept expects to initiate a Phase 1 trial of TC-5214 in the first quarter of 2008 and to initiate Phase 2 development soon thereafter. The company has no current plans to conduct further clinical development of mecamylamine.

Mecamylamine hydrochloride is a racemic compound comprised of two mirror image halves known as the S+ and R- enantiomers. TC-5214 is the S+ enantiomer of mecamylamine. In a Phase 2 trial in patients who did not respond adequately to first-line treatment with citalopram hydrobromide that Targacept completed in 2006, patients whose citalopram regimen was augmented with mecamylamine showed greater improvement on symptoms of depression and irritability than patients who received citalopram and a placebo. Citalopram hydrobromide is a commonly prescribed treatment for depression from the drug class selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors that is marketed as Celexa(R) in the United States. Targacept recently presented research findings comparing the activity of TC-5214, mecamylamine and the R- enantiomer of mecamylamine at the 20th European College of Neuropsychopharmacology held in Vienna, Austria. The results presented illustrate the superior potency of TC-5214 relative to mecamylamine at specific NNR subtypes believed to have therapeutic application for depression, as well as a favorable preclinical efficacy profile. In light of the Phase 2 results with mecamylamine described above, these findings suggest the compelling potential of TC-5214 as an augmentation treatment for major depression.

"Major depression is a serious medical illness affecting 15 million American adults, and the current treatment options simply are not adequate for many people," said Ranga Krishnan, M.D., Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the Duke University Medical Center and an internationally recognized expert in depression treatments. "The results from Targacept's Phase II efficacy trial of mecamylamine as an augmentation therapy to citalopram helped establish the NNR mechanism as a potential new treatment paradigm for depression," said Dr. Krishnan. "The profile of TC-5214 as a more potent NNR modulator than racemic mecamylamine bodes well for its potential to help address the unmet need." Targacept's poster of preclinical research findings of TC-5214 is available on the company's home page at www.targacept.com.

About Targacept
Targacept is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that discovers and develops NNR Therapeutics (TM), a new class of drugs for the treatment of central nervous system diseases and disorders. Its product candidates selectively modulate neuronal nicotinic receptors that serve as key regulators of the nervous system to promote therapeutic effects and limit adverse side effects. Targacept has product candidates in development for Alzheimer's disease and cognitive deficits in schizophrenia, pain, and depression and anxiety disorders, as well as multiple preclinical programs. Targacept also has strategic alliances with AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline. Additional information about Targacept is available at www.targacept.com.

 NNR Therapeutics(TM) is a trademark of Targacept, Inc. Other service marks, trademarks and trade names appearing in this press release are the property of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Targacept, Inc.
Alan Musso, VP and CFO, 336-480-2186
alan.musso@targacept.com
or
Linnden Communications
Michelle Linn, 508-419-1555
linnmich@comcast.net
SOURCE: Targacept, Inc.