Aptamer Group Secures Contract with a Global Pharma Company for Vaccine Development

Aptamer Group has signed a contract with a global pharmaceutical company to use Optimers (the company’s optimized aptamers) to support innovative vaccine development for neurodegenerative disease. The partnership was announced in a July 14, 2021 press release.

Under the terms of the agreement, Aptamer Group will receive an initial upfront payment and will then receive recurring licensing fees for over 10 years upon the implementation of the assay into the vaccine manufacturing processes. Aptamer Group will be required to isolate Optimer reagents and incorporate these into an analytical assay so that the vaccine candidate, currently being evaluated in clinical trials, can achieve regulatory compliance.

Optimer reagents are nucleic acid-based affinity reagents that can specifically bind to a target molecule and act as an antibody alternative. It is expected that the Optimer reagents will help to overcome cross-reactivity issues and allow specific detection and quantification of the active vaccine component within the vaccine additives.

“I am delighted to have established this long-term partnership to further develop the potential of the Optimer platform in biomanufacturing processes that will potentially generate recurring revenues for over 10 years for Aptamer Group. We will be working closely with our partner to support the development and implementation of the Optimer assay to provide effective solutions for vaccine production,” said Arron Tolley, CEO of Aptamer Group, in the press release. “The increased interest in pursuing Optimer technology as a critical part of clinical programs offers a strong endorsement of the technology. Optimer reagents are ideal affinity ligands for the detection and quantitation of biological products within complex mixtures, as they are highly specific and offer advantages in cost-effectiveness and consistency for use at scale.”

Source: Aptamer Group