Aptamer Group Secures Second Licensing Deal with Alphazyme for Optimer® Technology

Aptamer Group signs its second enzyme modulation licence with Alphazyme, securing royalties and manufacturing revenue from a validated hot-start PCR Optimer technology.

23 December 2025by Joshua Thompson5 min read38 views

This article covers information on Aptamer Group PLC.

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Aptamer’s second Alphazyme licence: hot-start PCR, royalties and real-world validation

Aptamer Group has signed a non-exclusive OEM licensing agreement with Alphazyme, a Maravai LifeSciences company, for an enzyme-modulating Optimer used in hot-start PCR and next-generation sequencing (NGS). This is Aptamer’s second enzyme modulation licensing deal and it comes with multiple revenue streams: royalties on product sales, milestone payments, and manufacturing income from supplying the Optimer itself.

Why it matters: it’s commercial proof that Optimers can solve meaningful problems in molecular biology, with a tier-one partner opting to build the tech into their own products. That combination of technical validation and recurring revenue potential is exactly what shareholders want to see.

What Aptamer announced in plain English

Under the agreement, Alphazyme has worldwide, non-exclusive rights to use an Aptamer Optimer as a molecular “on/off” switch for hot-start PCR and NGS workflows. Aptamer will manufacture the Optimer for Alphazyme, providing quality assurance and supply chain security, which adds a second income line alongside royalties and milestones.

Importantly, the Optimer replaces a typical two-antibody system with a single synthetic binder. That simplifies formulations, can cut cost, and – if lab data translate to customer settings – should boost performance. Alphazyme’s internal tests showed temperature-sensitive control over both exonuclease and polymerase activities, i.e., the enzyme stays quiet when it should and wakes up when the heat is on.

Key commercial terms at a glance

Item	Details
Parties	Aptamer Group (AIM: APTA) and Alphazyme (Maravai LifeSciences, NASDAQ: MRVI)
Scope	Hot-start PCR and next-generation sequencing (NGS) applications
Rights	Worldwide; non-exclusive OEM licence
Revenue	Royalties on product sales, milestone payments, plus manufacturing/supply revenue
Manufacture	Aptamer to supply the Optimer to Alphazyme
Financial terms	Not disclosed
Announcement date	23 December 2025

Why hot-start PCR and NGS are attractive beachheads

Hot-start PCR is a mainstay technique that prevents the DNA-copying enzyme from firing prematurely at low temperatures. By keeping the enzyme inactive until the reaction is heated, you avoid false amplification and get cleaner, more reliable results. That matters in everything from genetic testing to diagnostic assays and NGS library prep.

Embedding an Optimer as the control element offers a neat twist: one synthetic binder that handles what is often done with two antibodies. For OEMs, that can translate into simpler manufacturing, better batch consistency, and a clearer cost profile. For Aptamer, it’s a route into high-volume workflows where incremental performance improvements command attention.

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From development to licence: a quick and clean progression

This deal has moved at pace. The companies initiated development in June 2024 and Aptamer delivered the final Optimer in December 2024. Alphazyme’s internal testing validated the temperature-sensitive control of the enzyme’s exonuclease and polymerase functions, which has now converted into a licensing agreement.

On top of that, a second Optimer development programme for enzyme modulation with Alphazyme has also completed its development phase. Candidate molecules have been delivered and are showing positive results in Alphazyme’s hands. That gives Aptamer a credible near-term pipeline for additional licensing in the same customer account.

Timeline highlights

Date	Milestone
June 2024	Hot-start PCR Optimer development agreement signed
December 2024	Final Optimer delivered to Alphazyme
2025	Licence signed; second programme delivers candidates with positive internal test results

Revenue model: multiple shots on goal

This structure gives Aptamer three bites of the cherry:

Royalties – recurring, tied to Alphazyme’s product sales that incorporate the Optimer.
Milestones – upfront or progress-based payments as Alphazyme hits defined development or commercial triggers.
Manufacturing – Aptamer supplies the Optimer, adding a steady revenue stream with potential for attractive margins if volumes scale.

We don’t have specific rates, thresholds or revenue guidance – not disclosed. The commercial impact will depend on Alphazyme’s adoption within its enzyme portfolio and the pace at which those products win end-customer demand across PCR and NGS workflows.

Validation of the Optimer platform in enzyme modulation

This is Aptamer’s second licensing deal in enzyme modulation, a distinct proof point for the Optimer platform beyond classic target-binding uses. The ability to modulate both exonuclease and polymerase activities, and to replace a two-antibody system with one Optimer, is the technical headline. That’s commercially attractive because it couples performance with manufacturability – a rare pairing.

The CEO highlights this as a springboard for “further licensing opportunities” once the second project completes technical validation. Given Aptamer’s fee-for-service model in a large antibody-alternatives market (US$210 billion, per the company), repeatable OEM licences could build a higher-quality revenue mix over time.

The caveats: what we don’t know yet

Financial terms are not disclosed – we don’t know royalty rates, milestone sizes, or expected volumes.
Non-exclusive licence – great for market reach, but competing solutions could limit share or pricing leverage.
Timing – no clear timeline for Alphazyme’s product launches or when royalties might meaningfully flow.
Execution risk – performance validated in Alphazyme’s lab is a strong start, but widespread customer adoption is the real test.
Second programme – positive internal results, but not yet a signed licence.

What to watch next for Aptamer shareholders

Conversion of the second Alphazyme programme into a licence with similar or improved economics.
Alphazyme product launch updates that specify where and when the Optimer-enabled enzymes hit the market.
Early royalty recognition in trading updates – even small contributions would confirm the model is working.
Additional OEM wins in PCR, NGS, or adjacent enzyme systems using the “one Optimer replaces two antibodies” proposition.
Manufacturing scale-up and quality metrics as Aptamer becomes a named supplier into third-party product lines.

My take: a tidy step forward with recurring upside

This is a solid, low-drama milestone. It shows Aptamer can move from paid development to a signed licence with a credible global enzyme provider, validating both the technology and the commercial model. The manufacturing component is a helpful kicker, and the non-exclusive nature leaves room for further OEMs.

The main frustration is the lack of disclosed financials, but that’s common with OEM deals at this stage. The bigger signal is momentum: a second enzyme modulation licence, rapid development cycles, and a live pipeline with the same partner. Net positive for sentiment and, if Alphazyme’s sell-through performs, potentially meaningful for revenue quality over time.

Bottom line

Aptamer’s Alphazyme licence strengthens the Optimer story in enzyme modulation: performance validated, commercialised through an OEM, and monetised via royalties, milestones and manufacturing. Keep an eye on the second programme and the first royalty prints. If those land, it’s a strong case for broader adoption across molecular biology workflows.