On Tuesday, Aptamer (LSE:APTA), a company specializing in custom antibody alternatives, announced the extension of its contract with Unilever to advance the development of its Optimer asset for deodorant applications. This renewed agreement marks a new phase in the partnership, focusing on initiating in-vivo efficacy testing for Optimer binders as active ingredients in deodorant products.
The collaboration, which began in 2022, is designed to explore the potential of Optimer binders in creating innovative deodorant solutions. Aptamer reported that the extension follows successful results from lab-based tests of these binders. The next steps involve progressing to planned in-vivo studies to assess the effectiveness of the Optimer binders in real-world scenarios before the end of 2024.
According to Aptamer, the binders have shown consistent and effective enzyme inhibition through extensive testing conducted at both Aptamer's and Unilever’s facilities. This progress highlights the potential for incorporating Optimer binders into deodorant products. The company has also refined these binders to enhance their performance and manufacturability for Unilever’s production needs.
Unilever will now advance the development of the Optimer binders through its internal testing processes and aims to start the in-vivo efficacy studies within the year. A positive outcome from these trials would pave the way for further developments in the ongoing partnership.
Following the announcement, Aptamer’s share price saw a 4.78% increase, reaching 0.24p as of 1300 BST.