AMRI has entered into a preferred provider agreement with BioPontis Alliance LLC to support BioPontis’ efforts to bridge the gap between early stage research and newly-discovered technologies developed in academia and other research entities. AMRI will provide its services in small molecule discovery, development, and manufacturing for BioPontis’ research programs. The agreement also supports proof-of-concept data.

The goal of the alliance is to identify promising early stage product opportunities and use a preferred network of CROs and leading research companies to apply their expertise to develop these opportunities and to attract pharmaceutical company licensing partners.

BioPontis Alliance is an asset-based investment capital fund combined with a R&D company “created with established economic and scientific alliances with leading research universities and other institutions that collectively comprise the BioPontis University Alliance,” according to a BioPontis statement.

AMRI chairman, president and chief executive officer Thomas E. D’Ambra, Ph.D. said, “We are pleased to announce this agreement with BioPontis Alliance and to be a part of an innovative and creative business model. Building on the recently announced collaborations with the National Institutes of Health and others, the relationship with BioPontis Alliance is another example of AMRI’s leading ability to contribute significant value in the discovery and development of the medicines of the future. We look forward to working with BioPontis Alliance and helping them successfully create value for their partners in academia and pharma, and ultimately for patients.”

“We selected AMRI as our anchor CRO for small molecule discovery and CMC services due to their extensive track record over 20 years in supporting the pharmaceutical industry,” said Richard A. Basile, chief executive officer and principal, BioPontis Alliance. “It is important we bring together the best partners to support the success of our new business model. For many reasons, and after significant due diligence, AMRI was the obvious partner of choice. We look forward to working with AMRI and all of our partners in helping to advance some of the new medicines for the future.”