Targacept to Receive $6 Million from GlaxoSmithKline for Initiation of Phase I Trial of Neuropathic Pain Candidate
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Targacept, Inc. has announced that it has initiated a Phase I clinical trial of its product candidate TC-6499. The initiation of the trial triggers a $6.0 million milestone payment to Targacept under the terms of its alliance agreement with GlaxoSmithKline.
TC-6499 is a novel small molecule that Targacept plans to develop initially as a treatment for neuropathic pain. In preclinical studies, TC-6499 demonstrated analgesic activity in multiple models of neuropathic pain. TC-6499 was discovered using Targacept’s proprietary drug design technology known as Pentad™.
The Phase I study is designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of TC-6499. The trial is a double-blind, placebo-controlled study with escalating single doses of TC-6499 administered orally to healthy volunteers.
“TC-6499 represents the third Pentad-enabled product candidate that we have advanced into the clinic this year, demonstrating the strength of Pentad, our ability to execute our operating plans successfully and the breadth and pharmacological diversity of our pipeline of NNR Therapeutics,” said J. Donald deBethizy, Ph.D., Targacept’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are pleased to achieve this milestone in our GlaxoSmithKline alliance, which we entered into only a few months ago.”
“We are delighted to see TC-6499 enter clinical development,” said Hugh Cowley, M.D., Senior Vice President of GlaxoSmithKline and head of the Center of Excellence for External Drug Discovery (CEEDD). “There is a clear need for effective treatments for neuropathic pain and the preclinical profile of TC-6499 is very encouraging. We are pleased to be working with Targacept and excited by the potential of NNR-targeted therapeutics for pain, as well as the other four therapeutic focus areas of the alliance.”
Targacept anticipates that its Phase I program for TC-6499 will include, in addition to the ongoing single dose trial, a multiple rising dose trial. Under its agreement with GlaxoSmithKline, Targacept is eligible to receive an additional milestone payment if, following completion of its Phase I program, Targacept determines to advance TC-6499 into Phase II.
TC-6499 is subject to a contingent future option of GlaxoSmithKline for an exclusive license under the terms of the parties’ agreement. If licensed, Targacept retains an option to co-promote TC-6499 for pain to specialists and hospital-based physicians in the United States.
