WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., Oct. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Targacept, Inc. , a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a new class of drugs known as NNR Therapeutics(TM), announced today that it presented research findings at the 36th annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience. NNR Therapeutics selectively target neuronal nicotinic receptors, or NNRs, which are key regulators of nervous system activity. Targacept researchers presented two posters summarizing recent preclinical work related to the alpha-7 and alpha-6 NNR subunits.
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The alpha-7 research, conducted jointly by scientists at Targacept and the Vascular Biology Center of the Medical College of Georgia, offers evidence that this NNR subunit plays a central role in modulating a single protein target involved in both neuroprotection and anti-inflammation. "These findings suggest that novel small molecules targeting the alpha-7 NNR have promise as treatments for the many central nervous system disorders characterized by neurodegeneration or inflammation," said Merouane Bencherif, M.D., Ph.D, Vice President of Preclinical Research for Targacept.
The other poster presented research conducted by Targacept scientists in which the binding of a molecule to the alpha-6 NNR subunit triggered an increase in the number of alpha-6 subunits present on neuronal membranes, an effect known as up-regulation. These findings provide insights into novel therapeutic strategies for conditions such as Parkinson's disease where the number of receptors, and therefore the number of targets for potential therapeutic activity, decreases as a result of neuronal death.
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 and cognitive deficits in schizophrenia, pain and depression and multiple preclinical programs. Targacept is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. For further information, please visit the Targacept website at www.targacept.com.
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Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010517/CHTH002LOGOPRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.comTargacept, Inc.CONTACT: Alan Musso, VP and CFO of Targacept, Inc., +1-336-480-2186, oralan.musso@targacept.com; or Michelle Linn of Linnden Communications,+1-508-419-1555, or linnmich@comcast.net
Web site: http://www.targacept.com/
