Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-14(A) AND 15D-14(A) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE
SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Stephen A. Hill, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this Amendment No. 1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A of Targacept, Inc.; and
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report.
| Date: June 9, 2014 |
/s/ Stephen A. Hill |
| Stephen A. Hill |
| President and Chief Executive Officer |
| (Principal Executive Officer) |
