15 May 2025

Aptamer Group plc

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

Optimer licensing agreements and repeat contracts

Licensing with global enzyme provider for two Optimer reagents in research and diagnostics

Repeat development contracts worth up to £231,000 signal continued commercial traction

Aptamer Group plc (AIM: APTA), the leading developer of next-generation synthetic binders delivering innovation to the life science industry, is pleased to announce two new fee-for-service development contracts with existing customers, with a combined value of up to £231,000, demonstrating continued confidence in the Optimer platform. The Group has also agreed licensing heads of terms with a global provider of speciality enzymes for developed enzyme-modulating Optimers.

The first of the two new development contracts, valued at up to £105,000, focuses on creating additional enzyme-modulating Optimers to broaden the customer's reagent offering. This is the second project with this customer. The second development contract is with a top 20 global pharmaceutical company. Valued at up to £126,000, this new fee-for-service development project will involve the development of Optimer reagents targeting a small molecule for use in the customer's internal research programmes. This marks a second project with the pharmaceutical customer, following a previously successful Optimer development and represents further repeat business. Aptamer will retain IP rights on the binders, with potential for future downstream licensing revenue.

The licensing terms with the global enzyme provider cover Optimer binders developed under two separate fee-for-service contracts. The binders for the first contract were successfully delivered in January 2025 and demonstrated excellent performance both at Aptamer and in the customer's in-house tests, leading to the additional fee-for-service work. The agreed licensing terms for this contract include undisclosed milestone payments and a 10% royalty on sales of all Optimer-containing products. Initial revenues from this non-exclusive arrangement are expected within the financial year ended June 2026, representing one additional licensing opportunity to the ten opportunities outlined in the interim results in March 2025. Licensing terms on the second contract will earn 10% royalties and have additional undisclosed financial terms on the commercialisation of successfully developed Optimers. The provider operates within the global PCR market, which was valued at $9.9 billion in 2024 with a compound annual growth rate of 8.6%¹.

Dr Arron Tolley, Chief Executive Officer of Aptamer Group, said: "These new agreements reflect the commercial momentum we are building behind our platform. We are pleased to report the additional licensing opportunity, which has been identified and agreed upon since the interim results and has demonstrated the dedication of our commercial team. We are committed to negotiating the best terms available for the Group and have now delivered three double-digit licensing agreements this year.  

"The latest development contract with downstream royalties agreed adds an additional asset and royalty streams to Aptamer's growing portfolio. The opportunity with the top 20 pharma partner represents growing interest in our small molecule targeting platform and contributes to both near-term revenues and potentially long-term value creation through royalty streams.  Importantly, these are repeat engagements with respected global players, validating our platform's utility and reinforcing the Group's strategic focus on long-term sustainable growth."

1.    Fortune Business Insights. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Market. (2025) Report ID: FBI102528

- Ends -

For further information, please contact: 

About Aptamer Group

Aptamer Group is a leading developer of next-generation synthetic binders delivering innovation to the life sciences industry. The Group develops Optimer® binders, advanced molecules that work like antibodies by attaching to specific targets in the body. These binders are used in medicine, diagnostic tests, and research tools, offering benefits like high stability, reliable performance, and lower costs compared to traditional antibodies.

Aptamer operates a fee-for-service business in the $210 billion market for antibody alternatives, working with all top 10 global pharmaceutical companies. It is also building valuable Optimer® assets with partners, aiming for future licensing revenue.

Founded in 2008, the Group listed on the London Stock Exchange AIM market in December 2021 and is headquartered in York, UK.

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