AstraZeneca and Targacept Initiate Phase 2b Clinical Trial of TC-5214

AstraZeneca AZN and Targacept, Inc. TRGT today announced initiation of a Phase 2b clinical trial of TC-5214, a nicotinic channel blocker, as a “switch” monotherapy treatment for patients with major depressive disorder who do not respond adequately to initial antidepressant therapy. This study is in addition to the companies' Phase 3 RENAISSANCE Program for TC-5214 as an adjunctive treatment for MDD. The RENAISSANCE Program is designed to support a New Drug Application filing planned for the second half of 2012 and a Marketing Authorization Application filing in Europe planned for 2015. AstraZeneca and Targacept are co-developing TC-5214.