Even Tobacco Companies Can Make The World A Healthier Place

Even tobacco companies can make the world a healthier place — or at least former units of them. Targacept, which was spun out of the research division of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco in 2000, announced that it has struck a drug development deal with GlaxoSmithKline worth up to $1.5 billion.

Targacept is developing drugs that target neuronal nicotinic receptors in the brain to treat Alzheimer’s disease, pain, obesity and other indications.

Neuronal nicotinic receptors are found on nerve cells throughout the nervous system. Though the receptors got their name through their association with nicotine, which is why the former R.J. Reynolds unit developed an expertise in them, their primary function in the brain is to regulate the release of a variety of neurotransmitters, including acetylcholine, which aids learning and memory.

GlaxoSmithKline gets the exclusive option to license Targacept compounds in five areas: pain, smoking cessation, obesity, Parkinson’s disease and addiction.

[Get the full story ¦Forbes]