Aptamer Group Launches Radiopharmaceutical Program with Enhanced Stability Profile
核心洞察
Aptamer Group (搜索) has launched a targeted radiopharmaceutical program in collaboration with Radiopharmium Ltd (搜索), addressing the $7.5 billion radiopharmaceutical market.
The company's Optimer (搜索)-based radioligands demonstrated only 8% degradation at 24 hours without protective additives, compared to 34-83% degradation seen with leading peptide comparators.
Three strategic therapeutic targets have been identified for development, with in vivo data targeted for delivery by end of 2026.
Aptamer Group (搜索) plc has launched a new targeted radiopharmaceutical program in collaboration with Radiopharmium Ltd (搜索), a UK-based specialist consultancy, targeting one of oncology's fastest-growing sectors valued at approximately $7.5 billion in 2025.
The partnership addresses a persistent challenge in radiopharmaceutical development: the degradation of targeting molecules once they carry radioactive payloads, which shortens shelf life, increases waste, and complicates distribution. Current industry standards rely on protective additives such as ascorbic acid to mitigate this degradation.
Superior Stability Performance
Aptamer has developed fully integrated radioligand conjugates incorporating proprietary chemistry, linkers, and chelation systems, evaluating their stability under clinically relevant conditions using Ga-68 (搜索) (Gallium-68) and Lu-177 (Lutetium-177), radioactive isotopes widely used in cancer imaging and targeted therapy.
In comparative testing at 24 hours, Lu-177 Optimer (搜索)-based radioligands demonstrated only 8% degradation in the absence of protective additives, compared with 34-83% degradation seen with leading peptide comparators under the same conditions. The company believes these results may support extended shelf life, reduced waste, and simplified logistics, offering a potentially differentiated profile relative to existing approaches.
Development Strategy and Timeline
Three strategic therapeutic targets representing high-value clinical conditions have been identified for Optimer (搜索) radioconjugate development. The program will progress through in vitro validation before advancing to in vivo studies assessing targeting and therapeutic performance.
Combined with the existing partnered program with a top 3 global pharmaceutical company, the pipeline is expected to comprise four radiotherapy assets. In vivo data is targeted for delivery by end of 2026.
Expert Leadership
The program will be led by Dr. Louis Allott, CEO of Radiopharmium Ltd (搜索) and a member of Aptamer's Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Allott is a recognized expert in radiopharmaceutical development, with experience spanning laboratory discovery through to clinical translation. He will take a fractional role as Director of Radioligand Development for Aptamer, overseeing radiochemical conjugation and biological evaluation in established preclinical models.
"I am delighted to be working with Aptamer, a recognized leader in the field of aptamer technology with a strong track record of success," said Dr. Allott. "The combination of Aptamer's innovative Optimer (搜索) platform and Radiopharmium's expertise in radiopharmaceutical development makes this collaboration well-positioned to demonstrate the potential of aptamer-based targeting in next-generation radiopharmaceuticals."
Dr. Arron Tolley, Chief Executive Officer of Aptamer Group (搜索), commented: "We are excited to launch this program in a high-growth field where the limitations of existing targeting technologies create a compelling opportunity for our Optimer (搜索) platform. A key challenge in radiopharmaceuticals is maintaining the stability of the targeting molecule once it is carrying a radioactive payload. Our data indicates that Optimer-based radioligands may offer improved stability compared to existing approaches, which could translate into practical advantages in manufacturing, distribution, and clinical use, subject to further validation."