Aptamer Group, based in the Bio Centre at York Science Park, provides custom development services for Optimer™ affinity reagents to the life science sector for research, diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
Optimers are optimized aptamer reagents, optimized for performance in the end-use assay and cost-effective manufacturability. Based on oligonucleotide molecules, Optimers can bind specifically to a target molecule to act as an antibody alternative. The advantage of using aptamer technology over antibody technology is myriad, including speed of development, high affinity and selectivity, with complete security of supply.
Using high-throughput, automated, in vitro selection methods, Optimers can be developed to a wide target range from small molecules and proteins to cells and tissues. In this way, Optimer technology enables novel solutions for researchers, including the ability to research new targets and develop new, improved assays.
Founded in 2008, the business expanded to premises within the Bio Centre in York Science Park in 2014. Operating in such close proximity to the University of York has increased ties with the institution to offer graduates commercial experience during their training and improve collaborations with academics across several fields.
Aptamer Group engages with the University in several ways, including establishing research collaborations that have helped validate aptamer technology and allow researchers to use novel reagents to advance their projects, PhD student internships, graduate recruitment, and equipment access.
Dr Arron Tolley, CEO of Aptamer Group said ‘I am really excited with the opportunities being enabled by working with the University of York. From working closely with their scientists, we have gained information about useful targets to pursue through our development pipeline that can fill gaps in the current reagent market and offer new solutions to help drive translatable research. We have also recruited several staff members from the pipeline of talented graduating undergraduate and PhD scientists. We really value these benefits that working in collaboration do bring and looked forward to continuing these relationships’.
I am really excited with the opportunities being enabled by working with the University of York. From working closely with their scientists, we have gained information about useful targets to pursue through our development pipeline that can fill gaps in the current reagent market and offer new solutions to help drive translatable research. We have also recruited several staff members from the pipeline of talented graduating undergraduate and PhD scientists. We really value these benefits that working in collaboration do bring and looked forward to continuing these relationships. Dr Arron Tolley, CEO of Aptamer Group
