REG - Aptamer Group PLC - Technical Update

AptamerAnnouncement

05/12/2024 07:00

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RNS Number : 8776O  Aptamer Group PLC  05 December 2024

 

5 December 2024

 

Aptamer Group plc

 

("Aptamer", the "Company" or the "Group")

 

Technical Update

 

Strong technical progress across key projects with global blue-chip partners

 

Aptamer Group plc (AIM: APTA), the developer of novel Optimer(®) binders
to enable innovation in the life sciences industry, today provides a technical
update on the Group's multiple strategic programmes. This includes the ongoing
partnership with Unilever, the development of an Alzheimer's disease
diagnostic test with Neuro-Bio, and the collaboration with AstraZeneca.

 

These positive advances reflect the growing commercial and therapeutic
potential of Optimer technology across diverse applications, which will offer
high potential returns in the mid to long term, in addition to the Group's
day-to-day fee for service work.

Deodorant product development with Unilever

In partnership with Unilever, Aptamer is advancing the development of Optimer
binders as active ingredients for deodorant formulations. Recent in-house
testing by Aptamer has demonstrated that the Optimer binders remain stable in
samples from human skin for over 72 hours, a crucial factor in ensuring
efficacy in real-world use. These findings build on earlier studies showing
the ability of Optimers to inhibit odour-causing bacterial enzymes,
reinforcing their suitability for inclusion in fast-moving consumer goods
(FMCG) and moving the project closer to commercial viability.

The current market value for deodorants is more than $21 billion per annum
and growing at 4.5% (CAGR for the next 5 years). Unilever is the leader in the
deodorant market, with over 30% market share - compared to its nearest
competitor, which has a 10% market share.

Alzheimer's disease test with Neuro-Bio

Aptamer and Neuro-Bio have reached a key milestone in developing an
Alzheimer's disease diagnostic test. Optimer binders targeting Alzheimer's
biomarkers have been successfully integrated into a biosensor test and shown
positive results in the analysis of clinical samples. Tests using spinal fluid
and saliva samples from Alzheimer's patients and healthy controls demonstrated
robust biomarker detection and a statistically significant differentiation
between Alzheimer's patients and healthy controls.

These results demonstrate the diagnostic potential of Optimers and support
their integration into point-of-care testing for clinical applications.
Additionally, efforts are underway to adapt this technology for at-home
diagnostic use via lateral flow tests, expanding its market potential and
accessibility.  The diagnostic market value for Alzheimer's disease was worth
over $4.5 billion in 2023.

Targeted RNA therapies to fibrotic liver

As part of the collaboration with AstraZeneca, Aptamer has achieved
significant milestones in progressing the fibrotic liver delivery vehicle for
use in targeted siRNA delivery. The Group has successfully generated an
Optimer-siRNA conjugate using AstraZeneca's siRNA payload. Testing of this
Optimer-siRNA conjugate confirmed that the Optimer delivery vehicle
effectively and selectively delivers the siRNA to target fibrotic liver cells,
achieving the desired therapeutic effect of target gene silencing.
Importantly, gene silencing was observed exclusively in fibrotic liver cells,
with no impact on healthy liver cells, demonstrating the absence of off-target
effects and reducing the potential for unwanted side effects in downstream
therapeutic applications.

The fibrotic liver delivery vehicle was tested in combination with a
therapeutic siRNA engineered to reverse fibrosis. The results revealed that
treatment of fibrotic liver cell models with an Optimer-siRNA conjugate
significantly reduced fibrosis markers, suggesting a potential to mitigate or
even reverse liver fibrosis. This marks the third siRNA payload successfully
used with the fibrotic liver Optimer delivery vehicle, underscoring its
versatility to accommodate multiple siRNA therapies and enhancing its
therapeutic and commercial value.

These findings highlight the transformative potential of our Optimer platform
in developing targeted delivery vehicles to address the challenges of RNA
therapy delivery. The siRNA market was valued at over $13 billion in 2023, and
Optimer technology could represent a paradigm shift in the targeted delivery
of siRNA molecules

Dr Arron Tolley, Chief Executive Officer of Aptamer Group, commented: "All of
the programmes, from fast-moving consumer goods to therapeutics, continue to
show excellent results with increased validation and progression towards
commercial products that will deliver a value inflection point for Aptamer
Group.

 

The Group's ongoing programmes with some of the largest global pharmaceutical
companies across different areas demonstrate our leading aptamer technology
and provide a solid commercial footing for future growth."

 

Investor webinar

 

The technical update on these projects will be presented in the upcoming
investor webinar with Dr Arron Tolley, Chief Executive Officer, and Dr David
Bunka, Chief Scientific Officer, on Thursday, 12 December 2024, at 6.00 pm
(GMT), along with a Q&A session following the presentation. Questions can
be pre-submitted as part of the registration process.

 

Investors can register for the event by using the following link:

www.turnerpope.com/register (http://www.turnerpope.com/register)

 

- Ends -

 

For further information, please contact:

 

 Aptamer Group plc                                               +44 (0) 1904 217 404 

 Arron Tolley, Chief Executive Officer
 SPARK Advisory Partners Limited - Nominated Adviser             +44 (0) 20 3368 3550 

 Andrew Emmott / Adam Dawes 
 Turner Pope Investments (TPI) Limited - Broker                  +44 (0) 20 3657 0050 

 James Pope / Andrew Thacker 
 Northstar Communications Limited - Investor Relations           +44 (0) 113 730 3896

 Sarah Hollins

 

About Aptamer Group plc

 

Aptamer Group develops custom affinity binders through its proprietary
Optimer(®) platform to enable new approaches in therapeutics, diagnostics,
and research applications. The Company strives to deliver transformational
solutions that meet the needs of life science researchers and developers.

 

Optimer binders are oligonucleotide affinity ligands that can function as an
antibody alternative. The global affinity ligand market is currently worth
over $170 billion.

 

Aptamer has successfully delivered projects for a range of global pharma
companies, diagnostic development companies, and research institutes, covering
multiple application areas with the objective of establishing royalty-bearing
licenses.

 

To register for news alerts by email go to
https://aptamergroup.com/investors/investor-news-email-alerts/
(https://aptamergroup.com/investors/investor-news-email-alerts/) .

 

 

 

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