Biotech group sign agreement to support Covid-19 detection solution

Aptamer Group has signed a material transfer agreement (MTA) with Integumen, which will see the York-based biotechnology company develop and manufacture aptamers to detect SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater.

This has the potential to play a key role in the real-time identification of localised Covid-19 hotspots in wastewater, which would allow authorities to be alerted by Integumen’s real-time alert system to prevent the spread of the disease.

The agreement formalises Integumen’s access to Aptamer’s raw materials for coating aptamers on silicon wafer surfaces at nano-scale, it will also see it provide the Aptamer Group with access to its UK Sand Hutton manufacturing facilities.

It is the first phase in what could be a longer-term supply agreement, if the results of initial testing in two months time and then further validation at University of Aberdeen are successful.

Dr Arron Tolley, CEO of Aptamer Group. said: “We are delighted to be working with the Integumen team to transfer developments over the past few weeks by our team in delivering Aptamers that capture the SARS-CoV-2 virus into a real-time wastewater detection solution. The World Health Authority provides guidance on the prevention of COVID19 via wastewater2and we are excited to be able to play a role in the prevention of the spread of the disease.”

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