Aptamer and Timser deliver first cervical cancer blood test
Optimer binders will be developed for use in a cervical cancer blood test
22 May 2024
Aptamer Group, the developer of novel Optimer® binders to promote innovation in the life sciences industry, has signed an agreement with Timser Group, a pharmaceutical company focused on women’s health. Under the terms of the agreement, Aptamer will develop Optimer binders to Timser’s patented cervical cancer biomarker panel – a three-protein signature that can be used to detect cervical cancer and precancerous lesions. The Optimers will power the world’s first blood test for cervical cancer, preventing invasive smear tests and delivering earlier, more sensitive diagnostics.
Pairs of Optimer binders will be developed to each of the three biomarker proteins that form the unique cervical cancer signature. Timser will receive a licence for the use of the Optimers in its specific test combination, which is patented in 21 countries, including the USA.
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer type in women worldwide. Present screening methods rely on invasive and relatively low sensitivity Papanicolaou (PAP) smear tests. The Optimer enabled Timser’s diagnostic will allow earlier detection at the precancerous lesion stage, which is associated with increased survival. Use of a blood-based test over traditional PAP smears will offer the potential for increased detection rates by improving uptake due to the less invasive testing method.
As Timser expands its diagnostic tests into diverse markets, including low-income countries, the Optimer binders offer advantages to support continued supply and quality. With superior shelf-life and enhanced temperature stability compared to antibodies, Optimer binders facilitate global test distribution without compromising quality or performance. Previous attempts by Timser to develop antibodies to support the test have failed due to issues with antibody batch variability and supply chains. Unlike antibodies, Optimer binders are chemically manufactured, giving consistent quality, with the potential to use multiple manufacturers both locally and globally to prevent supply chain issues.
