Albany Molecular Research, Inc. (AMRI) has entered into a natural products-based drug discovery collaboration with Achaogen, Inc.

Under the terms of the agreement, AMRI will use its high throughput screening capability to test samples from its natural product libraries for activity against targets of interest to Achaogen. AMRI will provide a full-range of natural product-based discovery services, including fermentation, fractionation and structure elucidation. In addition, at Achaogen's option, AMRI may also provide follow-up services such as fermentation optimization and scale-up, biocatalysis and semi-synthetic chemistry.

The collaboration will support Achaogen's work with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), an agency of the US Department of Defense. The agreement includes an upfront payment and opportunities for AMRI to receive milestone payments based on the achievement of specific development goals. Moreover, AMRI would receive royalty payments on net sales of any commercial products that result from the collaboration. More specific financial terms were not disclosed.

"We are pleased to be working with Achaogen on this critically important research project," said Bruce J. Sargent, Ph.D., vice president for Discovery R&D at AMRI. "Achaogen's research targets could hold the promise for development of new treatments for antibiotic resistance."

With almost 300,000 crude and partially purified fractions, AMRI has one of the world's largest, unique and most diverse natural products-based collections derived from microbial cultures, plants and marine organisms. Equally important, the samples are supported by investments and capabilities with the latest technologies in high speed purification and structure elucidation, making identification of biologically active hits from these libraries fast, efficient and reliable.

Founded in 1991, AMRI provides scientific services, products and technologies that improve quality of life while delivering excellence, value and maximum return. AMRI's core business consists of a fee-for-service contract services platform encompassing drug discovery, development and manufacturing; and a separate, standalone R&D division comprising proprietary technologies, internal drug discovery and bundled capabilities designed for more collaborative relationships.