Aptuscan Ltd was acquired by Avacta Group in December 2011 for its unique affinity reagents platform.The platform is based on a small human protein that can be engineered to bind with high specificity and affinity to a wide range of protein targets creating a potentially large menu of affinity reagents called “Affimers”.
Affimers have none of the disadvantages of antibodies, the largest class of affinity reagents presently; high cost, long development times; limited range of affinities; frailty, particularly when attached to surfaces; cross-reactivity.
Avacta is developing Affimers for applications in diagnostics, drug and biomarker discovery and biotech research and development. These will be commercialized through the Group’s two operating businesses Avacta Analytical and Avacta Animal Health.
Affimers have the potential to act as therapeutic agents but drug development is not a focus for Avacta Group so the company will pursue potential licensing partners for therapeutic applications of the Affimers.
The core technology was developed by Dr Paul Ko Ferrigno and his research team at the MRC Cancer Cell Unit in Cambridge and at the University of Leeds. Affimers are protected by patents which Avacta has acquired.
