Aurigene Discovery Technologies Ltd, a fully-integrated, global biotech company focused on small molecule and peptide drug discovery and development has announced its timely achievement of a second milestone fulfilling criteria of Lead Nomination in a drug discovery collaboration with Forest Laboratories.

The company will receive payments associated with the milestone, according to CSN Murthy, CEO, Aurigene Discovery Technologies Limited.

Both Aurigene and Forest entered into the strategic drug discovery collaboration in 2007 to develop novel therapeutics for metabolic disorders. The first milestone of Hit Identification was achieved in March 2007. The collaboration will extend to the generation of a drug candidate ready for IND-enabling studies by leveraging Aurigene's proven capability in drug discovery in these therapeutic areas.

Under the terms of the agreement, Aurigene would undertake and fund discovery and optimization of lead compounds, with close participation by Forest's scientists. Apart from funding, Forest would also do the subsequent drug development and commercialization activities. In addition, Forest has full ownership of the compounds developed under the collaboration with unencumbered worldwide rights.

Aurigene Discovery Technologies Limited is a Bangalore-based discovery services company, focused on collaborative drug discovery with pharmaceutical and biotech companies on a risk-sharing basis. Its integrated discovery capabilities range from target to pre-clinical lead optimization, including in vitro and in vivo biology and medicinal chemistry expertise. Aurigene also has structural biology and fragment-based drug design capabilities, with in-house crystallization (XRD) and Bio NMR (600 MHz) facilities. The company is engaged in a number of discovery collaborations and provides discovery chemistry and biology services to companies in the US and Europe.

Forest Laboratories is a US-based pharmaceutical company dedicated to identifying; developing and delivering products that make a positive difference in the human lives.