Albany Molecular Research To Acquire ComGenex

Albany Molecular Research Inc. (Albany, NY, www.albmolecular.com), a provider of chemistry services to the pharmaceutical and biotechnologies industries, has signed a stock purchase agreement to acquire ComGenex (Budapest, Hungary, www.comgenex.com), also a provider of contract chemistry services to the life sciences industry.

ComGenex and its subsidiaries have 119 employees, including 88 scientific and technical staff. It generated contract revenues of $8.5 million in 2005.

“The acquisition of ComGenex further expands AMRI’s [Albany Molecular Research Inc.] global chemistry services platform,” said Thomas E. D’Ambra, chairman, president and CEO, AMRI, in announcing the transaction. “Very importantly, this combination creates an immediate presence in Europe in a EU member state with a significantly lower cost structure than Western European countries, while maintaining access to a comparable talent pool not only in Hungary, but all of Europe and neighboring regions.”

AMRI’s acquisition of ComGenex continues its plan to establish lower-cost international operations. Last year, AMRI started operations at its Singapore Research Center and Hyderabad Research Center in India.

Allegra injunction denied

Separately, AMRI’s request for a preliminary injunction in ongoing patent infringement litigation over “Allegra” (fexofenadine) has been denied.

Last September, AMR Technology Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of AMRI, and Aventis Pharmaceutical Inc., the US pharmaceutical business of

Sanofi-Aventis SA (

Paris, France,

www.sanofi-aventis.com

), filed a motion for a preliminary injunction in the US District Court for the District of New Jersey to enjoin

Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc.

(Woodcliff Lake, NJ,

www.barrlabs.com

)

,Teva Phrmaceutical Industries Ltd.

(Petach Tikva, Israel,

www.tevapharm.com

),

Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd

. (Gurgaon, India,

www.ranbaxy.com

), and

Amino Chemicals Ltd.

(Marsa, Malta

)

from the commercial production and distribution of generic fexofenadine products. AMRI says it is considering an appeal. A trial date for the patent suit has not yet been set, says AMRI.