Aptamer Sciences
Aptamer Sciences is a South Korean KOSDAQ-listed biotech developing aptamer-based diagnostics (AptoDetect-Lung IVD) and oncology therapeutics (ApDC platform) including AST-201 for liver cancer and AST-203 for solid tumors, serving global pharma partners, Korean hospitals, and South Asia via Appidi Healthcare.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersGyeongju, South Korea
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Aptamer Sciences does
Aptamer Sciences, Inc. (KOSDAQ: 291650), founded in 2011 as a POSTECH spin-off and headquartered in Pangyo, South Korea, develops aptamer-based platforms for oncology therapeutics and in vitro diagnostics. The company's proprietary technology uses modified-nucleic-acid SELEX to generate single-stranded DNA/RNA aptamers that selectively bind target proteins, achieving 80%+ selection success rates and up to 100x binding affinity improvement over first-generation aptamers. Core product franchises include the AptoDetect-Lung diagnostic kit (the world's first aptamer-based IVD, approved in Korea in 2017 and CE-marked in 2018), the ApDC (Aptamer-Drug Conjugate) therapeutic platform with proprietary branched linker-payload technology enabling 1-3 drug molecules per aptamer, the AptoMIA multi-biomarker diagnostic platform (7-biomarker Luminex-based panel with proprietary risk-scoring algorithm), and a BBB shuttle platform using TfR aptamers for CNS drug delivery.
The therapeutic pipeline is anchored by AST-201 (GPC3-targeted ApDC for hepatocellular carcinoma, Phase 1 with unusually rapid three-month Cohort 3 progression and MSD/Merck Phase 2 combination trial with Keytruda signed April 2026), AST-203 (TROP2-targeted MMAE-conjugated ApDC, 8x higher tumor penetration than Trodelvy in preclinical models), AST-202 (linker-based ApDC), an ApRC radiopharmaceutical platform, and an insulin receptor aptamer for diabetes (USPTO-granted). Revenue is generated through four streams: diagnostic kit sales (AptoDetect-Lung at ~KRW 200,000/test, currently non-insurance with reimbursement pending), technology out-licensing and royalty arrangements (Appidi Healthcare exclusive supply-plus-royalty for India/South Asia), CRO bioanalysis services (ISS-acquired GLP/GCLP LC-MS/MS capabilities), and prospective pharma licensing of pipeline assets.
Aptamer Sciences firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Aptamer Sciences
- Legal name
- Aptamer Sciences, Inc.
- Website
- https://aptsci.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Aptamer Sciences is a South Korean KOSDAQ-listed biotech developing aptamer-based diagnostics (AptoDetect-Lung IVD) and oncology therapeutics (ApDC platform) including AST-201 for liver cancer and AST-203 for solid tumors, serving global pharma partners, Korean hospitals, and South Asia via Appidi Healthcare.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Aptamer Sciences industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Aptamer-based biotechnology
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance Manufacturing (325413), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Medical Laboratories (621511), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)
- akta.pro primary industry
- RNA Therapeutics Platforms & Design (sequence design, target ID/validation, AI/bioinformatics) (HLAAADAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Oncology Diagnostics (tumor profiling, MRD, liquid biopsy) (HLAAALAE), Liquid Biopsy Biomarkers (ctDNA/ctRNA/CTCs/exosomes) (HLAAAMAH), AI/ML-Enabled Biologic Discovery Platforms (computational design, in silico screening) (HLAAAIAE), Molecular Diagnostics (PCR/NAAT/NGS-based IVD) (HLAHAAAD)
Keywords
Where Aptamer Sciences is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Gyeongju
- HQ country
- South Korea
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
Aptamer Sciences business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Diagnostic Kit Sales (AptoDetect-Lung): Sales of lung cancer early detection diagnostic kit (AptoDetect-Lung) to hospitals and medical institutions in Korea and international markets through partnership agreements.
- Technology Licensing/Out-licensing: License-out deals for ApDC platform pipeline assets (AST-201, AST-202, AST-203, BBB shuttle) to global pharmaceutical companies. Target upfront payments of 480 billion KRW for AST-201 and 200 billion KRW for AST-202.
- CRO Services: Revenue from biotech analysis services including GLP/GCLP compliant LC-MS/MS analysis, ADA evaluation, and high-difficulty biomolecular analysis. Acquired ISS (International Scientific Standards) in 2024 for CRO expansion.
- Aptamer Material Supply & Royalties: Supply of proprietary aptamer materials to partners for diagnostic kit manufacturing, plus ongoing royalty payments based on sales revenue generated by partners (e.g., Appidi Healthcare partnership for India/South Asia).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | AptoDetect-Lung lung cancer diagnostic test |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | AptoDetect-Lung uses only 5µL of blood per test |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Aptamer Sciences product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Aptamer Sciences develops and commercializes aptamer-based technology platforms spanning two business segments. The diagnostics segment is anchored by AptoDetect-Lung, an in vitro diagnostic kit measuring seven protein biomarkers via Luminex detection for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer detection. The therapeutics segment is built on the ApDC (Aptamer-Drug Conjugate) platform, using modified-nucleic-acid aptamers with proprietary branched linker technology to deliver cytotoxic drugs, radionuclides, and siRNA payloads, with pipeline candidates AST-201 (GPC3-targeted, Phase 1 for liver cancer) and AST-203 (TROP2-targeted, preclinical for pancreatic cancer). The company also operates a GLP/GCLP-compliant CRO bioanalysis business and offers FDA regulatory consulting services.
Product overview
Aptamer Sciences develops and commercializes aptamer-based products across two business segments: (1) Diagnostics — anchored by the AptoDetect™-Lung lung cancer early detection kit, which uses the proprietary AptoMIA platform to measure 7 blood protein biomarkers via Luminex technology and a proprietary algorithm for lung cancer risk scoring; (2) New Drug Development — anchored by the ApDC® (Aptamer-Drug Conjugate) platform, which uses modified-nucleic-acid aptamers with proprietary branched linker technology to deliver cytotoxic drugs, radionuclides, siRNA, and immunomodulators. Key pipeline candidates include AST-201 (GPC3-targeted ApDC for liver cancer, Phase 1), AST-203 (Trop2-targeted MMAE-conjugated ApDC for solid tumors), BBB Shuttle aptamer platform for brain drug delivery, and an insulin receptor allosteric agonist aptamer (AST-101) for diabetes. The company also operates a GLP/GCLP-compliant CRO providing LC-MS/MS bioanalysis and FDA consulting services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ApDC: Aptamer-Drug Conjugate platform technology for targeted drug delivery in cancer treatment
- AptoMIA
- AptoDetect-Lung
- BiFAp
- ApRC
- BBB Shuttle
Products and services
- AptoDetect-Lung In vitro diagnostic medical device for early detection of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), measuring 7 protein biomarkers (EGFR1, MMP7, CA6, KIT, CRP, C9, SERPINA3) from 5µL of blood using Luminex-based detection and a proprietary algorithm to generate lung cancer risk scores. Sold to hospitals and medical institutions in Korea and select international markets.
- CRO Analysis Services GLP/GCLP-compliant bioanalysis services including LC-MS/MS drug analysis, anti-drug antibody (ADA) evaluation, and high-resolution mass spectrometry for metabolite identification. Specialized in high-difficulty biomolecule analysis (peptides, oligonucleotides, ApDC, antibodies) for biotech and pharmaceutical clients requiring IND/NDA support.
- FDA Analysis Consulting Regulatory consulting service covering FDA-compliant study design, data generation, documentation, and report quality standards for biotech and pharmaceutical clients preparing for US regulatory submissions.
Quantifiable outcome
- AptoDetect-Lung: Sensitivity 75%, Specificity 92% for NSCLC (Stage I-IV)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Aptamer Sciences
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Aptamer Sciences technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
AI capability2 records
Feature5 records
Aptamer Sciences partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Merck (MSD)coreClinical Trial Collaboration and Supply Agreement (CTCSA) for AST-201 + Keytruda (pembrolizumab) combination therapy evaluation. Aptamer Sciences will conduct Phase 2 trial; MSD supplies Keytruda and provides scientific collaboration. Represents transition from monotherapy to combination immunotherapy development.
- Curigin (큐리진)coreJoint development of aptamer-based bispecific siRNA therapeutic platform. Combines Aptamer Sciences' tissue-specific aptamers with Curigin's dual-targeting siRNA technology for precision gene silencing. Expandable to cancer, inflammatory diseases, fibrosis, and neurodegenerative disorders.
- Appidi Healthcare (압피디 헬스케어)coreCommercialization partnership for AptoDetect-Lung lung cancer diagnostic kit in India and South Asia (Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka). Appidi handles local manufacturing, clinical trials, regulatory approval, and distribution. Aptamer Sciences supplies aptamer materials and earns royalties on sales.
- Selki (셀키)supportingMOU for biotech analysis innovation combining Aptamer Sciences' FDA regulatory expertise and GLP/GCLP analysis services with Selki's AI-based multiomics analysis capabilities and Agentic LLM platform. Aims to elevate ADC and biopharmaceutical analysis quality to FDA standards.
- Yonsei University College of Medicine (연세대학교 의료원)supportingRadiopharmaceutical research collaboration for aptamer-based radionuclide delivery platform. Published in Pharmaceutics journal (top 10%); demonstrated successful 68Ga labeling and PET imaging with EGFRvIII-targeted aptamer in glioblastoma models.
- International Scientific Standards (ISS)coreAcquired ISS (now Aptamer Sciences CRO Center) to expand into GLP/GCLP bioanalysis services for biopharmaceuticals. ISS has 160+ validated analytical methods and completed 110+ clinical analysis projects over 4 years with major Korean pharma companies.
- NeuraMedi (뉴라메디)supportingJoint research on BBB shuttle aptamer-based Parkinson's disease treatment combining Aptamer Sciences' TfR aptamer with NeuraMedi's anti-TLR2 antibody (Tomaralimab) for enhanced brain delivery of therapeutic antibodies.
- Asymchem (카이라이잉/凯莱英)supportingCDMO partnership for AST-201 clinical trial material manufacturing and supply. Chinese CDMO for GMP production of aptamer-drug conjugate clinical supplies.
- Pinobio (피노바이오)supportingJoint research on ApDC-based targeted anticancer drug development for glioblastoma and pancreatic cancer. Combines Aptamer Sciences' targeting aptamers with Pinobio's linker-drug conjugation and efficacy evaluation capabilities.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Aptamer Sciences competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Daiichi Sankyo: Japanese pharma behind Enhertu (HER2 ADC) and Datroway (TROP2 ADC) - the dominant ADC player. Directly relevant as ApDC competes with ADC technology and the same TROP2 target (AST-203 vs Trodelvy/Datroway).
- Gilead Sciences: Owns Trodelvy (TROP2 ADC via Immunomedics acquisition), the direct competitor for AST-203. Comparable as a large pharma with both ADC platform and oncology diagnostics (via Foundation Medicine).
- AstraZeneca: Co-developer of Enhertu and Datroway with Daiichi Sankyo. Also active in radioconjugates and lung cancer diagnostics. Relevant incumbent for ApDC out-licensing competitive landscape.
- Guardant Health: US liquid biopsy leader (Guardant360, Shield) for oncology diagnostics using blood-based biomarker analysis. Comparable in the multi-biomarker blood test approach used in AptoMIA technology, though at much greater scale.
Direct peers
- NOXXON Pharma: European clinical-stage biotech developing Spiegelmer aptamer-based therapeutics for cancer. Closest direct peer as a pure-play aptamer therapeutic company, though focused on different targets.
- Oncimmune Holdings: UK-based company behind EarlyCDT-Lung blood-based lung cancer diagnostic, directly comparable to AptoDetect-Lung. The cost comparison (AptoDetect at ~$150 vs EarlyCDT at ~$450) frames the competitive positioning.
- Telix Pharmaceuticals: Radiopharmaceutical company developing diagnostic and therapeutic radioligand therapies (Illuccix, PSMA imaging). Directly comparable to Aptamer Sciences' ApRC platform for aptamer-based radioconjugates in cancer.
- Denali Therapeutics: US biotech specializing in BBB-penetrant therapeutics for neurodegeneration using transferrin receptor (TfR) engineering. Highly comparable to Aptamer Sciences' BBB Shuttle TfR aptamer platform for CNS drug delivery.
Regional players
- LigaChem Biosciences: Korean ADC developer (KOSDAQ-listed) with similar therapeutic focus on antibody-drug conjugates. Comparable as a domestic Korean peer pursuing next-generation targeted cancer therapies, though using antibodies rather than aptamers.
Emerging players
- Curigin: Korean siRNA therapeutics company and Aptamer Sciences' joint development partner for aptamer-siRNA conjugates. Partial overlap given the collaboration; represents emerging competition in the targeted RNA therapeutics space.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Aptamer Sciences social profiles
Digital presenceAptamer Sciences compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Aptamer Sciences financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Aptamer Sciences leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Aptamer Sciences subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Aptamer Sciences funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Aptamer Sciences M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Aptamer Sciences
What does Aptamer Sciences do?
Aptamer Sciences develops and commercializes aptamer-based technology platforms spanning two business segments. The diagnostics segment is anchored by AptoDetect-Lung, an in vitro diagnostic kit measuring seven protein biomarkers via Luminex detection for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer detection. The therapeutics segment is built on the ApDC (Aptamer-Drug Conjugate) platform, using modified-nucleic-acid aptamers with proprietary branched linker technology to deliver cytotoxic drugs, radionuclides, and siRNA payloads, with pipeline candidates AST-201 (GPC3-targeted, Phase 1 for liver cancer) and AST-203 (TROP2-targeted, preclinical for pancreatic cancer). The company also operates a GLP/GCLP-compliant CRO bioanalysis business and offers FDA regulatory consulting services.
Is Aptamer Sciences a public or private company?
Aptamer Sciences is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Aptamer Sciences founded?
Aptamer Sciences was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Aptamer Sciences based?
Aptamer Sciences is headquartered in Gyeongju, South Korea, in the Asia region.
How does Aptamer Sciences make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Diagnostic Kit Sales (AptoDetect-Lung) is the primary driver. The others are technology Licensing/Out-licensing, CRO Services and aptamer Material Supply & Royalties.
Who are Aptamer Sciences's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Daiichi Sankyo, Gilead Sciences, AstraZeneca and Guardant Health. Direct peers are NOXXON Pharma, Oncimmune Holdings, Telix Pharmaceuticals and Denali Therapeutics. LigaChem Biosciences is listed as a regional player. Curigin is listed as an emerging player.
Does Aptamer Sciences have an API?
No public API is recorded for Aptamer Sciences.
What industry is Aptamer Sciences in?
Aptamer Sciences's product category is Aptamer-based biotechnology. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAADAG, RNA Therapeutics Platforms & Design (sequence design, target ID/validation, AI/bioinformatics), with a secondary code of HLAAALAE, Oncology Diagnostics (tumor profiling, MRD, liquid biopsy). Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 2834.