Aptamer Group LON:APTA has unveiled a new biomarker discovery service as part of efforts to broaden its revenue streams, targeting a market estimated to be worth $62.4bn globally.
The AIM-quoted company, which develops synthetic binders known as Optimer molecules for use in research, diagnostics and therapeutics, said the service would operate on a fee-for-service basis and is expected to be revenue enhancing within the current financial year.
Biomarkers — molecular indicators of physiological conditions, including the presence or progression of disease — underpin much of modern drug discovery and diagnostics. Their identification is critical to the development of targeted therapies, early-stage diagnostics, patient monitoring tools and safety testing. In therapeutic areas with high unmet medical need, a lack of suitable biomarkers has historically constrained drug development.
A step-change for biomarker discovery methods
Aptamer said its service would represent a step-change from traditional biomarker discovery methods, which can be slow and resource-intensive. By combining its Optimer technology with advanced proteomics, the company claims to offer rapid, unbiased identification of disease-specific biomarkers, distinguishing between healthy and diseased cell states at the molecular level.
A key differentiator, according to the company, is the ability to generate not only validated biomarkers but also binding molecules that can be integrated immediately into commercial research, diagnostic or therapeutic programmes. Aptamer argued this dual output significantly reduces development timelines for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, particularly those seeking to accelerate work on targeted therapies or earlier disease detection.
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Aptamer’s fee-for-service model
The service, delivered under Aptamer’s existing fee-for-service framework, allows pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients to access novel biomarker insights without substantial upfront capital commitments. It also reflects management’s wider strategy of diversifying revenues away from longer-term, licensing-dependent models.
Arron Tolley, chief executive of Aptamer Group, said the service was an extension of the company’s expertise in deploying Optimer libraries to target disease-relevant molecules. “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,” he said.
He added that Aptamer’s approach reduced discovery timelines from years to months. “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.”
Market positioning for Aptamer
The launch comes amid growing demand for precision medicine, which relies on biomarkers to guide the development of highly targeted treatments. Aptamer said early industry interest had already been shown, citing its own internal work on a fibrotic liver biomarker as proof of concept for the new service.
The company operates within a $210bn market for alternatives to antibodies and has collaborations with all of the world’s top 10 pharmaceutical companies. Optimer binders, which mimic the role of antibodies by binding to specific biological targets, are marketed as being more stable and cost-effective than traditional antibody-based products.
Aptamer’s dual-track model — combining a fee-for-service business with the development of proprietary Optimer assets for potential licensing — underpins its long-term strategy. Management believes the new biomarker discovery service strengthens both elements by creating near-term revenue and reinforcing the relevance of its technology in drug discovery, diagnostics and research.
The company said it expected the service to be commercially relevant immediately, with minimal upfront investment required, and that it provided an opportunity to build deeper partnerships with pharmaceutical and biotech clients.
