Avacta teams up with Norway company to develop Affimers

Wetherby-based Avacta said D’Liver is a contract research organisation with world leading expertise in drug/liver interactions.​​​

The two firms will develop Avacta’s latest product called Affimers, a high-tech alternative to antibodies.

The group, which makes devices to speed up and reduce the cost of drug development​, said​ ​D’Liver’s expertise in the area provides drug developers with insights into key properties to get new pharmaceuticals to market faster and with better safety profiles.

In a trading update, Avacta reported strong growth in the Affimer sales pipeline and an order intake of £100,000 to date.

Avacta’s chief executive Dr Alastair Smith said: “I am pleased with the overall progress of the group and delighted with the excellent development made with Affimers.

“The group has seen a great deal of interest in the Affimer technology emphasised by the recently signed commercial agreements with two world leading partners in their respective fields, Agrisera and D’Liver.

“These partnerships are an important validation of the technology as well as long term revenue opportunities.

“I am pleased to say that the pipeline of further opportunities at the strategic level is strong.”