AstraZeneca, the British-based pharmaceutical giant, has started a Phase IIb clinical trial of a compound produced by its strategic collaborator, Targacept (Winston-Salem).
The compound, AZD3480, is Targacept's lead product candidate, and it acts selectively on neuronal nicotinic receptors. In a previous Phase IIb clinical trial conducted by Targacept in age associated memory impairment, AZD3480 achieved "statistically significant results" on all of the primary endpoints, demonstrating cognitive enhancing effects in memory-impaired older adults.
The trial, conducted at sites in Western Europe, Eastern Europe and Canada, provides for approximately 500 patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease to be randomly assigned to one of three dose groups of AZD3480, to an active comparator or to placebo and to be dosed over a 12-week period.
The trial is expected to complete by the end of 2008.
Partnership History
In December 2005, Targacept and AstraZeneca entered into an exclusive global license and research collaboration agreement for the development and commercialization of Targacept's proprietary compound TC-1734, which AstraZeneca refers to as AZD3480.The companies want to use the compound to treat Alzheimer's disease, cognitive deficits in schizophrenia and other cognitive disorders.
Targacept received an initial payment of $10 million from AstraZeneca and a $20 million milestone payment in late 2006.
Read the news release.