AMRI, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Enter Research Pact

AMRI and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics, Inc. (CFFT) entered a four-year research collaboration aimed at identifying novel treatments that address the core defect in cystic fibrosis. Under the collaboration, CFFT will commit as much as $23.7 million, if specific clinical development milestones are met.

Under the agreement, AMRI will screen its natural-product based libraries to find compounds that improve the function of the defective protein in CF, known as the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). AMRI will also conduct a drug discovery program that includes chemistry and in vitro biology on promising compounds that result from the screening program. AMRI has the option to provide chemical development and GMP manufacturing services to CFFT on any compounds identified under the agreement that progress into preclinical or clinical testing.

“With this collaboration, we are proving once again that we will explore every promising avenue to find new therapies for people with CF,” said Robert J. Beall, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. “We are excited about the potential of AMRI’s cutting-edge natural products capabilities to complement our existing small molecule drug discovery strategy.”

“AMRI is committed to working with CFFT to discover and develop new therapeutics and advance the care and treatment of persons stricken with this fatal illness,” said AMRI chairman, president and chief executive officer Thomas E. D’Ambra, Ph.D. “With our diverse natural product collections, integrated with follow-on technologies in high throughput screening, medicinal chemistry lead optimization and fermentation scale up, AMRI is uniquely and ideally suited to help the Foundation identify and develop potential new medicines.”