Yorkshire biotech fast-tracks disease detection

A biotechnology company has unveiled a new service set to speed up medical research and open new revenue streams in a growing global market.

Aptamer Group, headquartered in York, has launched its biomarker discovery platform, targeting the US$62.4 billion worldwide market. 

Biomarkers are molecular signals that indicate disease presence or progression, and they play a vital role in drug development, diagnosis, treatment monitoring and safety testing.

Bosses say the firm’s new service uses its proprietary Optimer® technology alongside advanced proteomic analysis to rapidly identify validated biomarkers while simultaneously generating high-affinity binding molecules. 

They add that this dual capability means results that typically take years can now be delivered within months, with Aptamer’s approach providing immediate, drug-development-ready biomarkers for commercial applications and enabling faster development of targeted therapies and diagnostic tests.

Dr Arron Tolley, chief executive of Aptamer Group, which recently announced a “milestone” contract extension with a top five global pharma company, said: “This new service builds on our core strength in applying Optimer® libraries to bind precisely to disease-relevant targets.

“Following our successful identification and validation of the biomarker for our fibrotic liver delivery system, we have seen strong interest from pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies seeking novel drug targets to strengthen their intellectual property positions.

“Our approach enables the discovery of functional biomarkers in a fraction of the time required by traditional methods, which often take years of screening. 

“With two additional biomarker discovery projects already progressing in the lab, we are excited to support our partners in accelerating the development of new treatments and diagnostics, while expanding the commercial impact of our Optimer® platform.”

The platform, offered on a fee-for-service basis, has already been tested internally to identify the biomarker targeted by the firm’s fibrotic liver delivery system, demonstrating both speed and accuracy while creating an additional revenue stream with minimal upfront investment. 

Aptamer expects the launch to contribute to revenues in the current financial year as it seeks to meet demand from pharmaceutical, biotech and diagnostic companies.

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