Aptamer Group PLC on December 19 said it signed a new development contract with a rare disease biopharmaceutical company.

The York, England-based biotechnology firm providing Optimer binders for use in therapeutics, diagnostics, bioprocessing and research said the agreement is worth up to £155,000.

The deal focuses on developing two Optimer binders as critical reagents for therapeutic monitoring.

‘Upon successful development, Aptamer could receive a significant undisclosed IP transfer fee for the use of the Optimers in clinical trial monitoring,’ the company highlights.

Chief Executive Officer Arron Tolley said: ‘This agreement further demonstrates our strategic model of leveraging fee-for-service revenue for the development of Optimer binders and potential licensing revenues. With a healthy pipeline and increasing traction among both new and repeat customers, we are demonstrating our commercial strategy.’

In November, Aptamer said it secured new contracts worth up to £471,000, including two from top 20 and one from a top 5 global pharmaceutical companies.

In October, it reported its pretax loss narrowed to £3.1 million in the financial year ended June 30, from £8.3 million a year prior. Revenue fell to £860,000 from £1.8 million.

Cost of sales reduced to £610,000 from £1.4 million, while administrative expenses decreased to £3.2 million from £5.0 million.

At the time, Aptamer said it has identified up to around £600,000 in additional annual savings.

‘The group expects to continue growing the fee-for-service development work, which is important in its objective of being self-sustaining. This work also acts as a horizon-scanning method with which the group can determine future potential high-value Optimer assets,’ the company said back in October.

Aptamer shares were down 3.3% at 0.35 pence each on Friday afternoon in London.

Copyright 2025 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.