Biotech group expands rapidly into multi billion pound market
A BIOTECH company that specialises in supplying an alternative to antibodies to help combat disease is growing quickly, as it fulfils its “expanding” pipeline of products.
The Aptamer group, comprising of Aptamer Solutions and Aptamer Diagnostics, started testing last year and is working in a number of different areas. It said the aptamer market is expected to be worth £2bn by 2015.
The company, the brainchild of Dr Arron Tolley, is based at York Science Park. It is currently working on creating new simple, rapid tests for doctors to diagnose conditions. For example, using an electrical signal rather than sending off blood for testing. The group said it also has an acquisition it is working on and the launch of new technology is on the horizon.
Dr Tolley set up Aptamer Solutions to capitalise on what he saw as a need to supply aptamers as alternatives to antibodies into the UK market.
Antibodies are protein molecules produced by the immune system to fight off disease and infections, but they are also widely manufactured for use in medical research, testing and diagnosis.
Business development manager, Melanie Ellyard, said: “There’s an immense interest in the aptamer market and we are expanding rapidly. We are talking to the big players already.
“Aptamers offer a superior alternative and can often be used where antibodies fail. They are faster and more efficient to produce and, unlike antibodies, they don’t rely on the use of animals in their manufacture.”
Since it started trading last year, the group has won several Technology Strategy Board government funded grants. These include a collaborative grant with Sharp worth £2.5m. The company is also in conversation with commercial organisations about the use of aptamers as viable alternatives to antibodies.
Aptamer was launched in 2008 and was previously based within the Applied Innovation Campus at the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) on the outskirts of York before moving to its current spot.
Aptamer’s chief executive officer, Dr Arron Tolley, said: “We are tremendously excited about the opportunities York Science Park (YSP) offers us, the site was developed to provide specialist grow-on space for companies from life sciences, as a rapidly expanding business we feel the innovative and flexible environment at the science park offers the perfect setting for our future growth.”
The firm has recently employed two PhD students and has unveiled its supervisory board including two non-executive board directors – local businessman and entrepreneur Steve Hull and cancer specialist Professor Paul Townsend.
Last year, Dr David Bunka joined York-based Aptamer Solutions as chief technical officer. Dr Bunka is one of only a handful of experts worldwide in the area of aptamer development.
