Exhibit 99.1

Targacept Reports Third Quarter 2011 Financial Results

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, November 1, 2011 – Targacept, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRGT), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel NNR Therapeutics™, today reported its financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2011.

Targacept reported net loss of $9.1 million for the third quarter of 2011, compared to net income of $2.5 million for the corresponding 2010 period, and net income of $1.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to net income of $13.1 million for the corresponding 2010 period. As of September 30, 2011, cash and investments in marketable securities totaled $270.9 million.

“We look forward to top-line results becoming available soon from the first of five studies in the Phase 3 RENAISSANCE Program for TC-5214, a drug candidate under investigation as an adjunct to antidepressant treatment for patients with major depressive disorder who do not respond adequately to initial therapy,” said J. Donald deBethizy, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Targacept. “Our recent initiation of the Phase 2b trial of AZD3480 in Alzheimer’s disease reflects our commitment to advancing a deep pipeline of innovative NNR Therapeutics, with the goal of delivering new medicines to build health and restore independence for patients in multiple areas where large unmet medical needs continue to exist.”

Recent Highlights and Program Updates:

TC-5214 (co-development with AstraZeneca)

TC-5619

AZD3480 and AZD1446

TC-6987

Scientific Leadership

Company Developments

Financial Results

Targacept reported net loss of $9.1 million for the third quarter of 2011, compared to net income of $2.5 million for the third quarter of 2010. The net loss position for the 2011 period as compared to net income for the 2010 period was primarily due to an increase in research and development expenses and a decrease in amounts recognized into revenue from payments previously received from AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, Targacept reported net income of $1.3 million, compared to net income of $13.1 million for the corresponding period of 2010. The decrease in net income for the 2011 period was primarily due to an increase in research and development expenses, partially offset by an increase in amounts recognized into revenue from payments previously received from AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline. Non-cash, stock-based compensation charges of $2.1 million and $1.2 million were recorded for the third quarter of 2011 and 2010, respectively, and $6.5 million and $3.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Net operating revenues totaled $19.0 million for the third quarter of 2011, compared to $21.8 million for the third quarter of 2010. The lower net operating revenues for the 2011 period were principally attributable to decreases of $2.4 million in recognition of deferred revenues associated with TC-5619 and $826,000 in recognition of deferred revenues associated with a now concluded alliance with GlaxoSmithKline.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, net operating revenues totaled $78.7 million, compared to $62.2 million for the corresponding 2010 period. The higher net operating revenues for the 2011 period were principally attributable to increases of $15.9 million in recognition of deferred revenues associated with the concluded GlaxoSmithKline alliance and $638,000 in recognition of deferred revenues associated with TC-5619.

Research and development expenses totaled $25.4 million for the third quarter of 2011, compared to $17.3 million for the third quarter of 2010. The higher research and development expenses were principally attributable to increases of $7.4 million in costs incurred for third-party research and development services in connection with clinical-stage product candidates, $1.4 million in costs incurred for third-party research and development services in connection with preclinical programs and $793,000 in other research and development-related operating costs, including compensation-related expenses for research and development personnel and infrastructure costs. These increases were partially offset by the inclusion for the 2010 period of a $1.5 million upfront payment made to Cornerstone Therapeutics Inc. in August 2010. The higher costs incurred for third-party research and development services in connection with clinical-stage product candidates for the 2011 period were principally due to: a greater level of development activities for TC-5214 as the Phase 3 program progressed; the conduct of activities in preparation for a Phase 2b clinical trial of AZD3480 in Alzheimer’s disease; and the conduct of two Phase 2 clinical trials of TC-6987; partially offset by lower clinical trial costs for TC-5619 as a result of the completion of two Phase 2 studies.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, research and development expenses totaled $69.1 million, compared to $42.1 million for the corresponding 2010 period. The higher research and development expenses were principally attributable to increases of $22.0 million in costs incurred for third-party research and development services in connection with clinical-stage product candidates, $3.6 million in costs incurred for third-party research and development services in connection with preclinical programs and $3.0 million in other research and development-related operating costs, including compensation-related expenses for research and development personnel and infrastructure costs. These increases were partially offset by the inclusion for the 2010 period of the upfront payment to Cornerstone Therapeutics Inc. The higher costs incurred for third-party research and development services in connection with clinical-stage product candidates for the 2011 period were principally due to the activities described above for the third quarter, further offset by a decrease in costs for TC-6499 as a result of the completion of an exploratory Phase 2 clinical study in the third quarter of 2010.

General and administrative expenses totaled $2.8 million for the third quarter of 2011, compared to $2.1 million for the third quarter of 2010. The higher general and administrative expenses were primarily attributable to an increase of $718,000 in compensation-related expenses for general and administrative personnel. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, general and administrative expenses totaled $9.1 million, compared to $5.7 million for the corresponding 2010 period. The higher general and administrative expenses were principally attributable to increases of $2.2 million in compensation-related expenses for general and administrative personnel and $1.3 million in infrastructure costs associated with growth.

There was no income tax expense for the third quarter or nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to income tax expense of $257,000 and $2.4 million for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively. Income tax expense for the 2010 periods was primarily due to the income tax effect of stock option exercises that is recognized only in certain circumstances.

Updated Financial Guidance

Targacept now expects its cash, cash equivalents and investments balance to be at least $240 million at December 31, 2011. Targacept continues to expect its cash resources to be sufficient to meet its operating requirements at least through the end of 2014. This guidance does not include amounts that Targacept could receive if any milestone events are achieved under its collaboration agreements with AstraZeneca. Targacept is not making any adjustment to its previously announced guidance for expected net operating revenues or expected operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Conference Call

As previously announced, Targacept will be hosting a conference call and webcast today, November 1, 2011, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The conference call may be accessed by dialing (866) 730-5764 for domestic participants and (857) 350-1588 for international callers (reference passcode 91779970). A replay of the conference call may be accessed from approximately 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on November 1, 2011 through November 15, 2011 by dialing (888) 286-8010 for domestic callers and (617) 801-6888 for international callers (reference passcode 49874736).

A live audio webcast of the conference call will be accessible from the Investor Relations page of Targacept’s website, www.targacept.com. To ensure a timely connection to the webcast, it is recommended that users register at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. An archived version of the webcast will also be available on the Investor Calendar section of the Investor Relations page of Targacept’s website for at least two weeks following the call.

About Targacept

Targacept is developing a diverse pipeline of innovative NNR Therapeutics™ for difficult-to-treat diseases and disorders of the nervous system. NNR Therapeutics selectively modulate the activity of specific neuronal nicotinic receptors, a unique class of proteins that regulate vital biological functions that are impaired in various disease states. Targacept’s lead program, TC-5214, is being co-developed with AstraZeneca and is in Phase 3 clinical trials as an adjunct treatment for major depressive disorder. Targacept leverages its scientific leadership and proprietary drug discovery platform Pentad™ to generate novel small molecule product candidates to fuel its pipeline and attract significant collaborations with global pharmaceutical companies. For more information, please visit www.targacept.com.

TARGACEPT

Building Health, Restoring Independence^SM

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” made under the provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements, other than statements of historical fact, regarding, without limitation: the progress or scope of development of TC-5214, TC-5619, AZD3480, AZD1446, TC-6987 or any other Targacept product candidate or program, such as the target indication(s) for development, the size, design, population, conduct, duration or objective of any clinical trial or the timing for initiation or completion of or reporting of results from any clinical trial or for submission or approval of any regulatory filing (such as a new drug application with the FDA); the timing for a decision by AstraZeneca whether to conduct further development of AZD1446 in Alzheimer’s disease; any further development of AZD3480 in ADHD; the competitive position of any Targacept product candidate or the commercial opportunity in any target indication; any payments that AstraZeneca may make to Targacept; or Targacept’s plans, expectations or future operations, financial position, revenues, costs or expenses. Actual results, performance or experience may differ materially from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statement as a result of various important factors, including without limitation Targacept’s critical accounting policies and risks and uncertainties relating to: Targacept’s dependence on the success of its collaborations with AstraZeneca; the control or significant influence that AstraZeneca has over the development of TC-5214, AZD3480 and AZD1446, including as to the timing, scope and design of any future clinical trials and as to the conduct at all of further development of AZD1446 in Alzheimer’s disease; the conduct and results of clinical trials and non-clinical studies and assessments of TC-5214, TC-5619, AZD3480, AZD1446, TC-6987 and any other Targacept product candidate, including the performance of third parties engaged to execute such trials, studies and assessments, delays resulting from any changes to the applicable protocols and difficulties or delays in the completion of subject enrollment or data analysis; whether positive findings from completed clinical trials of TC-5214 or TC-5619 will be replicated in ongoing or any future clinical trials of that product candidate; Targacept’s ability to protect its intellectual property; and the timing and success of submission, acceptance and approval of regulatory filings. These and other risks and uncertainties are described in greater detail under the heading “Risk Factors” in Targacept’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in other filings that it makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission. As a result of the risks and uncertainties, the results or events indicated by the forward-looking statements may not occur. Targacept cautions you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement.

In addition, any forward-looking statement in this press release represents Targacept’s views only as of the date of this press release and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. Targacept disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required by applicable law.

NNR Therapeutics™, Pentad™ and Building Health, Restoring Independence^SM are trademarks or service marks of Targacept, Inc. Any other service marks, trademarks and trade names appearing in this press release are the properties of their respective owners.

TARGACEPT, INC

Unaudited Condensed Statements of Operations

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

TARGACEPT, INC

Unaudited Condensed Balance Sheets

(in thousands)