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Aptagen Accepts New Contracts!
Aptagen has had a substantial increase in requests for information and has recently entered into multiple new contracts with customers.
The delivery of these projects will help further our science and allow us to develop new and more refined processes for future contracts.
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Aptagen Secures Federal QTDP
Tax Credit
Aptagen has obtained Federal grant funding as part of the "Qualified Therapeutic Discovery Projects" (QTDP) Tax Credit that President Obama signed into effect on March 23, 2010. This credit is designed to reimburse research and development expenses and is part of an overall $1 billion dollar plan to improve nationwide health care.
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Job Opportunities
Aptagen is actively seeking candidates to increase the scope of our operations and add experience to our team as we continue to improve our staff and laboratory. Please direct all questions/resumes to: mailbox@aptagen.com
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Aptagen employees and interns keep themselves busy outside the lab by joining the local dodgeball competition at the York JCC.
Games are played Thursday nights, everyone is invited to come watch the Aptagen team.
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About Aptagen
Aptagen, LLC, a biotechnology company, develops molecular bullets called aptamers and aptabodies used in research, medicine, and industry. These molecules are an alternative to the conventional antibody without its limitations and can be used in a variety of applications from diagnostic and biomarker detection to therapeutic discovery and drug targeting to
nanobiotechnology.
Aptagen was formed in 2004. Operations began in 2006. The company is located in Jacobus, PA, a suburb of York, beautifully surrounded by Lake Redman and conveniently situated off of route 83. The facility is a forty minute drive from Johns Hopkins University and Hershey Medical Center.
Learn more about our unique process by viewing the online video.
(video/animation).
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Media Contact:
Andrew P. Sprich
CFO, Business Development
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(717) 278-2436
ext: 505
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Greetings!
Aptagen has been very busy in the last few months expanding our lab and staff. We hope you are as excited about our continued growth as we are.
In recent news, Aptagen has added new lab space equipment while we continue to expand our operations. We are very active at the moment contacting investors and seeking additional financing to accommodate a growing demand for our services.
We look forward to the future as our company continues to expand and our services become more refined and better able to serve your needs. Contact us for how you can become a part of our company growth and benefit from our upcoming projects!
Thank you for your continued interest in Aptagen.
For archive newsletters please visit www.aptagen.com |
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Aptamer Science News
High-Risk/High-Reward Cancer Research Using Aptamers Obtains Funding
Dr. Matthew Levy, assistant professor at Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, has been awarded $700,000 to fund research for self-guiding cancer drugs. Dr. Levy's efforts will center on aptamers and will focus on creating a new type of targeted therapeutic agent to treat cancer. Additionally, Dr. Levy will devise new methods to develop aptamer-prodrugs that can home in directly on tumor cells. If successful, these methods will allow the production of aptamer-prodrugs that could target almost any type of cell and cancer.
New Nanoparticle Aptamer Research Could Improve Cancer Detection
Scientists in Gainsville, FL have developed a new nanoparticle called a micelle that is made up of a cluster of aptamers. This will allow for more targeted treatment by using water-soluble structures to "sneak" the drugs into the diseased cells. "When you are talking about diagnosis, these aptamers in micelles will have a much higher signal than individual aptamers, so we may be able to detect very small amounts of the substance we're testing for," said team leader Weihong Tan, a member of the UF Genetics Institute, the UF Shands Cancer Center and the Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute.
First Live Targeting of Tumors with Aptamer Technology
In Durham, NC researchers at Duke University Medical Center have used a large pool of RNA strands and applied them to a rodent with a metastatic liver tumor, the same kind that often results from colon cancer. The team found a tumor-targeting RNA aptamer that specifically bound to RNA helicase p68 and preferentially bound to cancer deposits in living animals. This aptamer approach could be used to discover the molecular signatures of many other diseases.
Aptamers Used in China to
Improve Drug Detection
Chinese researchers have developed an aptamer cross-linked hydrogel that changes to colorless when exposed to small amounts of cocaine. According to the researchers, as little as 20 nanograms of cocaine can be visually detected using this method in under ten minutes, the low cost and simplicity of the method holds great promise for many applications - from airport security to rapid diagnostic systems in disaster areas.
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Investors' Circle
Aptamers for Diagnostics and Therapeutics Expected To Increase Growth In Global Markets
The global market for aptamers is poised for significant new market entrants in the near future.
In 2009 this market was valued at $10 million.
By 2014, this market is estimated to grow to a total value of $1.9 Billion - representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly 68%.
Therapeutic markets were valued at $10 million in 2009 and is expected to increase at a 55% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to a total value of $1.2 billion in 2014.
Diagnostic markets were worth $26 million in 2010 and is expected to increase in value to $659 million in 2014, this is an estimated compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 124%.
Reference: BCC Research, 35 Walnut Street Wellesley, Massachusetts 02481 US
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Welcome to the Aptagen Team!
As our company continues to expand, we would like to welcome some new additions to the Team.
Monzy Thomas, Ph.D.
Dr. Thomas comes to us from the FDA with extensive molecular biology and cell culture experience and over 22 publications.
Archie Christian, M.S.
Archie, a York local, joined Aptagen in June and has been utilizing his cell culture experience to setup the cell culture lab and begin new projects. Archie earned his M.S. in Biotechnology from John Hopkins University.
Internship Program
The Internship Program remains a strong asset for both the company and the students from local colleges and universities. This 9-month program gives students the unique opportunity to work in a fully functioning laboratory using modern techniques and procedures not available elsewhere in the area. VIDEO
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Aptagen Expands and
Acquires New Equipment
New Lab Space
Aptagen has added 600+ sqft of new lab space/office space. This new addition includes a microscope/darkroom, increased lab-bench space and new office space. This space will help accommodate new employees and equipment as Aptagen continues expanding. The company is working on an even larger expansion to be added in the next 6-9 months.
Biological Hoods
Aptagen has added a 4' biological Safety Cabinet for cell culturing and cell-based aptamer development. A 6' hood has also been acquired and is in the process of being setup.
Cell Culture Incubator
Aptagen has acquired a CO2 incubator, and more are on their way as we increase operations for cell-based aptamer development.
Sub-Zero Freezers Aptagen has purchased three laboratory freezers capable of -40 to -80 degree temperatures for long-term storage of precious samples. |
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