CHRNA7 cholinergic receptor nicotinic alpha 7 subunit
ENSG00000175344 · protein coding · Open Targets profile
Component of neuronal acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) that function as pentameric, ligand-gated cation channels with high calcium permeability among other activities. nAChRs are excitatory neurotrasnmitter receptors formed by a collection of nAChR subunits known to mediate synaptic transmission in the nervous system and the neuromuscular junction. Each nAchR subunit confers differential attributes to channel properties, including activation, deactivation and desensitization kinetics, pH sensitivity, cation permeability, and binding to allosteric modulators (PubMed:15609996, PubMed:33735609, PubMed:8145738). CHRNA7 forms homopentameric neuronal acetylcholine receptors abundantly expressed in the central nervous system, characterized by fast desensitization and high calcium permeability (PubMed:31560909, PubMed:33735609, PubMed:38382524, PubMed:8145738). Also forms heteropentamers with CHRNB2, mainly expressed in basal forebrain cholinergic neurons. Involved in the modulation of calcium- dependent signaling pathways and influences the release of neurotransmitters, including dopamine, glutamate and GABA (PubMed:33239400). Also expressed in non-neuronal cells such as immune cells like lymphocytes, monocytes and macrophages (PubMed:12508119, PubMed:16968406, PubMed:25259522). In T cells, activation induces metabotropic signaling that results in an increase of intracellular Ca2+ concentrations, independent of ionotropic receptor functions (PubMed:17709503). In macrophages, required for acetylcholine-mediated inhibition of TNF and other inflammatory cytokine release (PubMed:12508119). Once activated by acetylcholine, nicotine or other agonists, selectively inhibits production of pro-inflammatory cytokines while leaving anti-inflammatory cytokines undisturbed (PubMed:12508119, PubMed:25259522). Stimulates the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway, controlling inflammation by inhibiting NFKB nuclear translocation and activating the JAK2-STAT3 pathway, independently of ion channel activity (PubMed:16968406, PubMed:25259522). Also expressed in the urothelium where it modulates reflex bladder activity by increasing intracellular calcium through internal stores and decreasing basal ATP release (By similarity). {ECO:0000250|UniProtKB:Q05941, ECO:0000269|PubMed:12508119, ECO:0000269|PubMed:15609996, ECO:0000269|PubMed:16968406, ECO:0000269|PubMed:17709503, ECO:0000269|PubMed:25259522, ECO:0000269|PubMed:31560909, ECO:0000269|PubMed:33239400, ECO:0000269|PubMed:33735609, ECO:0000269|PubMed:38382524, ECO:0000269|PubMed:8145738, ECO:0000305|PubMed:18723036}.
Each band is a group of drugs. It runs from the kind of drug on the left to the furthest stage that drug has reached in any disease on the right. Thicker bands mean more drugs.
Approved bands are highlighted. Withdrawn means the drug was pulled from the market or from development. A combined phase counts as the later one (Phase 1/2 is shown as Phase 2). Hover a band for the drug names. Source: Open Targets Platform, fetched live.
Each row is a cancer, strongest overall evidence first. The two dots show how strong the inherited (germline) and tumour-mutation (somatic) evidence is; the line between them is the gap.
Scores run from 0 (no evidence) to 1 (strongest). A missing dot at 0 means Open Targets holds no evidence of that kind. Source: Open Targets Platform, fetched live.
Tractability
- Small molecule
- Advanced Clinical, Structure with Ligand, High-Quality Ligand, Druggable Family
- Antibody
- UniProt loc high conf, GO CC high conf, UniProt loc med conf, UniProt SigP or TMHMM
- PROTAC
- Small Molecule Binder
- Other modalities
- Advanced Clinical
gnomAD loss of function constraint: o/e 0.3540000021457672 (upper bound 0.5309900045394897). Low values mean loss of function is poorly tolerated, a safety flag for inhibition.
Who runs trials of these drugs
No named investigators on registry trials of CHRNA7's approved or late-stage drugs in the last three years.
Registry trials of BNC-210, encenicline, TC-6987, AZD0328, ASM-024, GTS-21, bradanicline, SSR180711, ABT-126, facinicline, AQW051, JNJ-39393406 updated in the last three years, counted by the country group of their listed sites. A trial with sites in several groups counts in each; 2 of 3 have all sites in one country.
Site counts are not patients per country, and trials registered only outside ClinicalTrials.gov are not covered. Where sites are is a fact about the record, not a judgement of its quality. Europe is the EU and EEA, the UK and Switzerland. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, fetched live.
12 trials of drugs against CHRNA7 were stopped early; 1 give no reason
Terminated, withdrawn and suspended interventional trials of BNC-210, encenicline, TC-6987, AZD0328, ASM-024, GTS-21, bradanicline, SSR180711, ABT-126, facinicline, AQW051, JNJ-39393406, newest update first, live from ClinicalTrials.gov. Each reason is quoted exactly as the registry gives it; we do not sort reasons into safety, efficacy or business. Dates are the last registry update. Showing the 12 most recent of 12.
- withdrawn · 2022-10-14 · King's College London · AZD0328“Delays due to COVID”
- terminated · 2021-08-02 · AbbVie (prior sponsor, Abbott) · ABT-126“Data obtained from the M11-427 study is not critical to the continued evaluation of ABT-126.”
- terminated · 2021-08-02 · AbbVie (prior sponsor, Abbott) · ABT-126“Data obtained from the M11-428 study is not critical to the continued evaluation of ABT-126.”
- withdrawn · 2019-03-25 · University of Florida · GTS-21“Study was not started and participants were not enrolled”
- terminated · 2018-05-02 · AbbVie · ABT-126“Study endpoint in preceding base study M10-855 not met.”
- withdrawn · 2017-05-30 · VA Office of Research and Development · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Withdrawn”
- terminated · 2016-06-16 · University of Colorado, Denver · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“difficult to find participants and no funding”
- terminated · 2016-04-19 · Novartis Pharmaceuticals · AQW051No reason given
- withdrawn · 2015-10-15 · FORUM Pharmaceuticals Inc · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Forum has decided not to proceed with this study at this time.”
- terminated · 2015-02-10 · Asmacure Ltée · ASM-024“Lack of efficacy”
- terminated · 2012-11-08 · Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Belgium · JNJ-39393406“Efficacy signals were insufficiently strong to justify recruitment of additional patients.”
- terminated · 2010-08-06 · AstraZeneca · AZD0328“Since AZD0328 is unlikely to meet the current Target Product Profile, Astrazeneca decided to stop further development of AZD0328”
Paediatric incentives and obligations for CHRNA7's drugs
For BNC-210, encenicline, TC-6987, AZD0328, ASM-024, GTS-21, bradanicline, SSR180711, ABT-126, facinicline, AQW051, JNJ-39393406: what EMA and FDA publish about paediatric plans, orphan status and pediatric approvals, and how many registered studies take children. Each line is a yes, no or not published fact from the record linked under it; none of it is a forecast.
- FDA pediatric target list: no · CHRNA7 is not on the listRule: Target is on FDA's Pediatric Molecular Target List (relevant targets). Source: FDA Pediatric Molecular Target List (Listed as February 2026 on the FDA Pediatric Oncology page; the file served is 9.7.22_the_relevant_molecular_target_list.xlsx, whose Summary of Changes sheet is headed 'SEPTEMBER 2022 UPDATE' (footnote date 2022-09-01)), 2026-11-11
- EU paediatric investigation plan: yes · EMEA-001468-PIP01-13 ((E)-4-[(5-Phenyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)oxy]-1-azoniatricyclo[3.3.1.13,7] decane 3,4-dicarboxy-3-hydroxybutanoate hydrate (ABT-126), Treatment of schizophrenia): P: decision agreeing on a investigation plan, with or without partial waiver(s) and or deferral(s), 2 Apr 2014Rule: An EMA PIP decision (agreement, modification or waiver) lists the drug as its active substance, exact name. Source: EMA EMEA-001468-PIP01-13, 2026-11-11
- EU orphan designation: no · No EU orphan designation names bnc-210, encenicline, tc-6987, azd0328, asm-024, gts-21, bradanicline, ssr180711, abt-126, facinicline, aqw051, jnj-39393406Rule: An EU orphan designation lists the drug as its active substance (exact name) or belongs to a medicine that does; withdrawn and expired designations are listed with their status. Source: EMA data download (dated snapshot), 2026-11-11
- Authorised in the EU: no · EMA lists no centrally authorised medicine of bnc-210, encenicline, tc-6987, azd0328, asm-024, gts-21, bradanicline, ssr180711, abt-126, facinicline, aqw051, jnj-39393406Rule: An EMA medicine record lists the drug as its active substance or INN, exact name; national-only authorisations are not in this file. Source: EMA data download (dated snapshot), 2026-11-11
- FDA orphan designation: not published · FDA's orphan designation database turns away automated requests, so this app does not read it; search it by hand at the linkRule: Would be: an FDA orphan designation names the drug. Source: FDA orphan designations search
- FDA pediatric oncology approval: no · FDA's table lists no pediatric approval of bnc-210, encenicline, tc-6987, azd0328, asm-024, gts-21, bradanicline, ssr180711, abt-126, facinicline, aqw051, jnj-39393406Rule: FDA's Pediatric Oncology Drug Approvals table names the drug. Source: FDA Pediatric Oncology Drug Approvals (content current as of 2026-03-03), 2026-11-12
- Registered studies open to children: yes · 1 interventional studies of bnc-210, encenicline, tc-6987, azd0328, asm-024, gts-21, bradanicline, ssr180711, abt-126, facinicline, aqw051, jnj-39393406 include patients under 18; 0 are recruiting, not yet recruiting or activeRule: The registry's age group includes Child (birth to 17 years), which also counts studies that set no minimum age. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov search, 2026-11-12
Rare pediatric disease voucher. FDA, content current as of 29 Apr 2026: “As of February 3, 2026, enactment of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, the rare pediatric disease PRV program will sunset after September 30, 2029. FDA may not award any PRVs under this program after September 30, 2029.” Voucher sale prices are not shown here; they appear only as company-reported news. FDA: Rare Pediatric Disease Designation and Priority Review Voucher Programs
All 16 drugs and clinical candidates as a table
Each drug, stage and indication links to its Open Targets record, where the trials and approvals behind it are listed. Salt forms (for example a mesylate) are listed as Open Targets records them, as separate entries.