Topline phase IIb results for

RNS Number : 7637J

AstraZeneca PLC

09 December 2008

 



ASTRAZENECA AND TARGACEPT ANNOUNCE TOP-LINE RESULTS FROM PHASE IIb STUDY OF AZD3480 IN COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION IN SCHIZOPHRENIA

AstraZeneca and Targacept, Inc. today announced top-line results from a Phase IIb clinical trial of AZD3480 (TC-1734) conducted by AstraZeneca in cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia (CDS), known as the HALO trial.

AZD3480 did not meet the trial's criteria for statistical significance on the primary outcome endpoints, improvement on various cognitive domains measured by the IntegNeuro computerized test battery. AZD3480 was generally well tolerated in the study. AstraZeneca and Targacept do not expect to progress AZD3480 into Phase III studies for CDS.  

In addition to the HALO trial, AstraZeneca and Targacept previously announced top-line results from a Phase IIb study of AZD3480 in mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease, known as the Sirocco trial and are currently evaluating AZD3480 in a Phase II exploratory study in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults. A decision by AstraZeneca with respect to potential further development of AZD3480 in Alzheimer's disease or ADHD is now expected in the first half of 2009, pending completion of the adult ADHD study and other ongoing evaluations. 

'While this trial outcome did not meet our objectives, we continue to pursue medicines that target neuronal nicotinic receptors (NNRs) with Targacept to treat cognitive disorders,' said Bob Holland, Vice President and Head of the Neuroscience Therapy Area, AstraZeneca.

AstraZeneca and Targacept also announced that the lead compound arising out of the parties' preclinical research collaboration is poised to enter the clinic. AstraZeneca plans by the end of 2008 to initiate a Phase I trial of AZD1446 (TC-6683), a product candidate selective for the alpha4beta2 NNR. Under the terms of the parties' collaboration agreement, AstraZeneca has agreed to make a $2.0 million milestone payment to Targacept.

'We are obviously disappointed that AZD3480 did not meet our goals in the HALO trial,' commented J. Donald deBethizy, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Targacept. 'We thank AstraZeneca for its commitment to AZD3480 and its investment in this pioneering work in an emerging area considered to be critical in the treatment of patients with schizophrenia. We look forward to continuing our cognition-focused collaboration with AstraZeneca.'

Study Design 

The Phase IIb HALO trial was conducted by AstraZeneca under the terms of an exclusive global license and research collaboration agreement. The trial was a multi-center, randomized, double blind, placebo controlled, dose-finding study conducted at approximately 70 enrolling sites in the United States and Canada. Subjects (n = 445) between 18 and 55 years of age who were active smokers and taking medication from the class of drugs known as atypical anti-psychotics were randomly assigned to one of three dose groups of AZD3480 or to placebo and dosed over a 12-week period. The primary outcome measures of the trial were change from baseline after 12 weeks on various domains of cognition as measured by the IntegNeuro computerized test battery.

About Cognitive Dysfunction in Schizophrenia 

Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe and disabling form of psychosis that, in addition to symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations, is often marked by impairments in cognitive functions such as attention, vigilance, memory and reasoning. These cognitive impairments play a primary role in the inability of schizophrenic patients to function normally. It has been estimated that there are 7.9 million schizophrenic patients in the world's seven major pharmaceutical markets and that the majority of all schizophrenic patients are cognitively impaired.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in research, development, manufacturing and marketing of prescription pharmaceuticals and supplier for healthcare services. AstraZeneca is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies with healthcare sales of US $29.55 billion and is a leader in gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory, oncology and infection product sales. AstraZeneca is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (Global) as well as the FTSE4Good Index. For more Information visit www.astrazeneca.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. Targacept's 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, cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia, pain and depression, as well as multiple preclinical programs. Targacept also has a cognition-focused collaboration with AstraZeneca and a strategic alliance with GlaxoSmithKline. Targacept's news releases are available on its website at www.targacept.com

Contacts

AstraZeneca:

Media Enquiries US:
Jamie Smith	[phone]
Media Enquiries UK:
Chris Sampson	[phone] (24 hours)
Neil McCrae	[phone] (24 hours)
Sarah Lindgreen	[phone] (24 hours)
Investor Enquiries UK:
Jonathan Hunt	[phone]	mob: [phone]
Mina Blair	[phone]	mob: [phone]
Karl Hard	[phone]	mob: [phone]
Investor Enquiries US:
Ed Seage	[phone]	mob: [phone]
Jorgen Winroth	[phone]	mob: [phone]
Peter Vozzo (MedImmune)	[phone]	mob: [phone]

Targacept:

Alan Musso, VP and CFO, Targacept, Inc. 

Tel: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

Michelle Linn, Linnden Communications

Tel: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

9 December 2008

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