HEALTH AND BEAUTY CLOSE-UP-17 September 2008-AstraZeneca and Targacept Reports Top-Line Results from Phase 2b Study of AZD3480 in Alzheimer's Disease(C)2008 - CloseUpMedia - newsdesk@closeupmedia.com

AstraZeneca and Targacept announced that results from the Phase 2b clinical trial of AZD3480

In a release, the group noted:

In the 12-week placebo-controlled study, known as the Sirocco trial, neither the active comparator donepezil nor AZD3480 met the trial's criteria for statistical significance on the primary outcome measure, ADAS-Cog1. Both results were impacted by an improvement in the placebo group.

At two of the three doses tested, AZD3480 showed an improvement on the secondary outcome measures ADCS-CGIC2, a widely accepted measure of clinician assessment of change in patients' behavior and ability to function, and MMSE3, a quantitative cognition scale commonly used by neurologists in a clinical setting. Of the three AZD3480 doses, the middle dose performed best on both measures (0.5 point improvement, ADCS-CGIC and 0.9 point improvement, MMSE). Donepezil also showed an improvement on ADCS-CGIC (0.2 point improvement) and the MMSE (1.0 point improvement). Neither donepezil nor AZD3480 showed improvement in any domain of the Cognitive Drug Research computerized test battery in the pooled dataset of all subjects.

AZD3480 exhibited an overall safety and tolerability profile comparable to placebo in the trial, with fewer gastrointestinal-related adverse events (diarrhea, nausea & vomiting) than donepezil.

Analyses of the full dataset from the Sirocco trial are ongoing. AstraZeneca and Targacept plan to discuss the data with leading medical experts and to present and publish more detailed results over the coming months. A decision by AstraZeneca with respect to potential further development of AZD3480 is expected in December 2008.

"While we had hoped for a more conclusive overall outcome, we believe the Sirocco trial provides further support for the clinical rationale for AZD3480 by demonstrating improvement on both ADCS-CGIC, an accepted scale that reflects improvement in everyday activities, and the widely used MMSE cognitive assessment, as well as a favorable safety and tolerability profile," said J. Donald deBethizy, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Targacept. "These findings also strengthen the scientific foundation for our pipeline of NNR Therapeutics. We thank AstraZeneca for its execution of this trial and investment in the broad development of AZD3480."

In addition to Alzheimer's disease, AZD3480 is currently being evaluated in a Phase 2b trial in cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia (the "HALO" trial), as well as a Phase 2 exploratory study in adult attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Top-line results from the cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia trial are expected by the end of 2008.

The Phase 2b Sirocco 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 84 sites in Western Europe, Eastern Europe and Canada. Subjects (n = 567) were between 60 and 85 years of age and diagnosed with probable Alzheimer's disease that was classified, based on a quantitative scale, as mild or moderate in severity. Subjects were assigned to one of three dose groups of AZD3480, to an active comparator, donepezil, or to placebo and dosed over 12 weeks. The primary outcome measure in the trial was change from baseline after 12 weeks on ADAS-Cog. A number of secondary outcome measures were also used in the trial.

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative disorder that attacks the brain's nerve cells, or neurons, resulting in loss of memory, thinking and language skills, and behavioral changes. Approximately 26 million people worldwide suffer from Alzheimer's disease. In the United States, Alzheimer's disease is estimated to affect more than five million people and the number of people age 65 and over afflicted with the disease is projected to increase by more than 50 percent to 7.7 million by 2030. Current treatment options have limited efficacy and significant side effects in many patients.

AstraZeneca is an international healthcare business engaged in research, development, manufacturing and marketing of prescription pharmaceuticals and supplier for healthcare services.

Targacept is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that discovers and develops NNR Therapeutics, a new class of drugs for the treatment of central nervous system diseases and disorders.

((Comments on this story may be sent to health@closeupmedia.com))

((Distributed via M2 Communications Ltd - http://www.m2.com))