LONDON (ShareCast) - (Sharecast News) - Aptamer Group announced on Monday that it has received additional commissioned work from Unilever to support the ongoing development of its proprietary Optimer binders for use in deodorant products.
The AIM-traded firm said the new paid work package, part of an existing collaboration between the two companies, would fund expanded testing and development of Aptamer's synthetic binders, which are designed to inhibit C-S Lyase, the key enzyme in skin bacteria responsible for body odour.

It said the technology had demonstrated strong performance in laboratory settings, with recent tests showing 72-hour stability in skin samples that matched or exceeded leading commercial deodorants.

Aptamer said the collaboration, which started in 2022, had now moved into a more advanced phase.

The additional funding from Unilever would support comprehensive stability testing under varied conditions, with the goal of progressing to on-person trials in the near term.

"We are thrilled with the continued momentum in our Unilever collaboration, which highlights the real-world potential of our Optimer platform," said Dr Arron Tolley, chief executive of Aptamer Group.

"This latest paid extension for expanded stability testing is a critical advancement toward on-person trials and validates the superior performance we have achieved so far.

"Partnering with a powerhouse like Unilever not only accelerates our technology's path to market but also opens doors to broader applications in personal care and beyond."

Unilever controls more than 30% of the global deodorant market, significantly ahead of its nearest competitor at around 10%.

With the sector forecast to grow at a compound annual rate of 4.5% over the next five years, Aptamer said it saw substantial commercial potential for its Optimer technology in the personal care space.

At 1225 BST, shares in Aptamer Group were down 1.05% at 0.38p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.

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