Targacept has announced positive results from its Phase II clinical trial of TC-1734 (AZD3480) in age associated memory impairment (AAMI). TC-1734 is a highly selective alpha4 beta2 neuronal nicotinic receptor agonist.

The trial was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-finding study conducted at 16 U.S. sites. Subjects were between the ages of 50 and 80, reported memory impairment without evidence of dementia, neurological illness or other medical cause and scored at least one standard deviation below the mean established for young adults on the Wechsler Memory Scale.