Founded in 1991, Albany Molecular Research, Inc. provides scientific services, products and technologies focused on improving the quality of life. AMRI works on drug discovery and development projects and conducts manufacturing of active ingredients and pharmaceutical intermediates for many of the world’s leading healthcare companies. As an additional value added service to its customers, the company is also investing in R&D in order to expand its contract services and to identify novel early stage drug candidates with the goal to outlicense to a strategic partner. With locations in the United States., Europe, and Asia, AMRI provides customers with a wide range of services, technologies and cost models.

AMRI (NASDAQ:AMRI) announced it received a federal contract award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) to provide chemistry and other drug discovery technologies in support of NINDS’ Medicinal Chemistry for Neurotherapeutics Program (MCNP), part of the NIH Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network. AMRI has been collaborating with NINDS since 2005 on novel treatments for spinal muscular atrophy, a degenerative neuromuscular disease.
The five-year contract provides AMRI with funding of up to $43 million, based on the number of approved projects and availability of funds. The initial funding of up to $10 million applies to the first phase of the project, expected to begin this month, with the objective of delivering at least one Phase I clinical trial candidate.
Under the MCNP, AMRI will begin providing medicinal chemistry services to neuroscientists throughout the United States with the goal of efficiently developing pre-clinical drug candidates that are suitable for advanced development and ultimately clinical trials in humans. AMRI will utilize its integrated drug discovery capabilities involving exploratory chemistry, hit-to-lead chemistry, and lead optimization. Specific services to be provided include compound design, synthesis, and management together with in vitro metabolic testing.
More about AMRI at www.albmolecular.com
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