30th May 2025 09:44
(Alliance News) - Aptamer Group PLC on Friday hailed a "six-figure" deal with Unilever PLC to develop deodorant products.
The York, England-based biotechnology firm provides Optimer binders for use in therapeutics, diagnostics, bioprocessing and research. Aptamer said it has signed a second Optimer discovery contract with London-based consumer goods firm Unilever.
Under the deal, Aptamer will develop a novel panel of Optimer binders targeting an additional biological pathway association with body odour formation. This will potentially provide Unilever with a second strategy to prevent the formation of body malodour.
The agreement is structured on a fee-for-service basis, with Aptamer receiving an "undisclosed six-figure sum" for the development work.
Following Friday morning's announcement, Aptamer shares rose 12% to 0.38 pence each in London.
Aptamer's binders are essentially synthetic antibodies, attaching to targets in the body. The binders developed by Aptamer in its first contract with Unilever have passed the lab-testing phase, with performance trials expected later in 2025.
"The first project is now moving toward on-person trials, and this deal positions us well to create multiple, licensable assets with a global powerhouse in the consumer health market," commented Aptamer Chief Executive Arron Tolley.
"This second programme reflects the confidence Unilever has in the Optimer platform and the significant value we can unlock by expanding our offering into novel, large-scale applications like personal care."
By Holly Munks, Alliance News reporter
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