# MCSP TORFP NO. NIH-NINDS-20-03: KATRITCH (USC) - BASE EC (PAIN)

> **NIH NIH N01** · ALBANY MOLECULAR RESEARCH, INC. · 2020 · $563,025

## Abstract

The National Institute on Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and the NIH Blueprint
Neurotherapeutics Network (BPN) http://neuroscienceblueprint.nih.gov/bpdrugs/index.htm have a need
for the Medicinal Chemistry Support Program (MCSP) to provide a full-service facility and staff who would
support a medicinal chemistry discovery program beginning at the Exploratory Chemistry phase to
develop structure activity relationship (SAR) analysis and design, synthesis, in vitro absorption,
distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicology (ADMET), computational chemistry/Computer Aided
Drug Discovery (CADD) and compound logistics of storage and shipping to support the Contributor
Mouradian/Disney (Rutgers/Scripps) to develop a novel therapeutic effective in Parkinson’s. This will be
achieved by advancing the SAR/SPR of their small molecule heterocyclic starting compound utilizing their
assays and in vitro ADMET to identify novel, selective inhibitors of the target enzyme that are directed at
Parkinson’s. Our drug discovery approach will be to synthesize novel ligands based on the heterocyclic
scaffold that are potent inhibitors. Candidate molecules will undergo profiling to assess criteria
specifically related to the physicochemical properties of compounds in a therapeutic setting, including
enzyme selectivity and tests to determine potential interactions with key metabolic enzyme systems. The
goal is to advance the project to go/no go decisions and to progress to each of the Option phases in
succession (start of Hit-to-Lead and start of Lead Optimization). The data generated from this contract
will be used by NINDS, contributors or sponsored investigators in support of Investigational New Drug
(IND) application directed preclinical activities. The results of the efforts of this contract will be the basis to
advance preclinical candidate compounds for further development i.e., advanced PK and toxicological
evaluation in preparation of IND filings.
The ultimate goal of the NIH programs served by this contract and of individual projects is to bring new
drugs to market. To this end, the NIH has been granted a Determination of Exceptional Circumstances
(DEC) to incorporate the Department of Health and Human Services Acquisition Regulation (HHSAR)
clauses at 352.227-11, Patent-Rights-Exceptional Circumstances and 352.227-14, Rights in Data –
Exceptional Circumstances, as part of any contract resulting from this solicitation. The HHSAR Clauses
will enable the Contributors to retain control of the intellectual property for compounds created through
the Medicinal Chemistry Support Program for Therapeutic Development (MCSP).

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10285409
- **Project number:** 271201800001I-0-759502000003-1
- **Recipient organization:** ALBANY MOLECULAR RESEARCH, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** KEITH BARNES
- **Activity code:** N01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $563,025
- **Award type:** —
- **Project period:** 2020-06-01 → 2021-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10285409

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10285409, MCSP TORFP NO. NIH-NINDS-20-03: KATRITCH (USC) - BASE EC (PAIN) (271201800001I-0-759502000003-1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10285409. Licensed CC0.

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