Hi everyone,

I am trying to look at the effect of signal transduction via a particular receptor on behavior when it is microinjected into the brain. The problem is that selective antagonists for this receptor are limited and the ones that are commercially available are not efficacious, not water-soluble, or do not bind to the rat homolog of this receptor. Moreover, commercially available antagonists do not have any literature backing up in vivo use. I have located a novel compound that has high efficacy at the receptor, is efficacious in mouse/rat models (with a study that examined in vivo use), and is water-soluble, but the problem is that it is under development by a Japanese pharmaceutical company (Nippon Chemiphar). I have contacted the scientist from this company who co-authored the study who directed me toward the scientist currently in charge of the project. However, I got a response that essentially restated what I already know about the compound: that it is under development and not intended for sale or transfer under intellectual property. However, I have seen many studies (including the one in which I first became aware of this compound) in which researchers independent of the pharmaceutical company were able to obtain some of the compound and use it in their research. These studies usually involve a co-author at the pharmaceutical company or acknowledge the company for providing the compound in the acknowledgments section.

My question is the following: how can I obtain permission from the pharmaceutical company to obtain a small quantity of this compound for use in my study? I do not work for a pharmaceutical company and do not plan on profiting from the publication of my data. Is the researcher in charge of the development project the individual who I should be in contact with regarding this inquiry or should I be contacting the company's lawyers? Is there something analogous to a nondisclosure agreement that I can sign to obtain permission to obtain this compound? I've also contacted Sigma-Aldrich about a potential custom synthesis of this compound, but I have a very limited budget and a custom synthesis would undoubtedly be costly.

Thanks,

Richik