Aptamer – “pleased to report that the sustained focus of our commercial team continues to bear fruit”. Er, does it?…

‘Affinity binders for life sciences innovation’ group Aptamer (APTA) has issued a “Commercial Trading Update”-titled announcement (er, as opposed to a non-commercial trading update?) which includes stating “following the fundraise in August… pleased to report that the sustained focus of our commercial team continues to bear fruit”. How materially so, with the shares currently up over 4.5% to 0.23p in response?

Aptamer – fundraise “for working capital purposes”. Er, why “pleased to announce” such a massive discount then?…

Previously on life sciences affinity binders developer Aptamer Group (APTA), last month with the shares up to 0.75p I suggested a continuing attempted ramptastic ahead of attempted bailout fundraising despite its half-year ended 31st December 2023 results having included the group’s forecast including “the cash runway extends well into the next financial year”. Now, 24 days into that “next financial year”… “Fundraise to Raise £2.83 million”…

Aptamer – “Partnership with Microsaic Systems”. Er, how are those balance sheets?

Life sciences affinity binders developer Aptamer Group (APTA) has announced a “Partnership with Microsaic Systems”, and what of the shares currently more than 7% higher at 0.75p in response?

Aptamer – new contracts announcement today follows a partnership announcement just yesterday, attempted ramptastic?

‘Affinity binders for enabling life sciences innovation’ group Aptamer (APTA) has issued a “New contracts with top ten pharma partners”-titled announcement. Also following a “Partnership” announcement just yesterday, attempted ramptastic?

Aptamer – argues “confidence in the board's new strategy continues to rise”. Er, what about that the share price continues to fall then?

Previously on ‘affinity binders for enabling life sciences innovation’ group Aptamer (APTA), in December with its share up to 1.225p I cautioned “material agreement with genetic medicines company”, but what’s its cash down to now?. There followed an AGM Statement including that “the group has continued to build and convert the commercial pipeline”. So what of today a “Half Year Trading Update” including headings “Pipeline Opportunities Now Converting into Signed Deals” and “Strong Technical Progress Developing Binders for Gene Therapy and Immunohistochemistry Markets”… and the shares, in response, further down at currently 0.775p?

Aptamer – “material agreement with genetic medicines company”, but what’s its cash down to now?

Aptamer Group (APTA) has announced that it has “entered into a material agreement with a biotechnology company developing genetic medicines… builds on the work we have been doing in drug delivery since being refunded”. So what of a current up to 1.225p share price in response?

Aptamer – full-year results, has bad news again travelled slowly?

Writing on group describing itself as a “developer of novel Optimer binders to enable innovation in the life sciences industry” Aptamer (APTA), earlier this week with the shares down to 1.225p I concluded that I continued to avoid with also results for its year ended 30th June 2023 still needing to be delivered despite last year the results announced in mid-October. With it announcing the results now, has bad news again travelled slowly?

Aptamer – argues ‘inspiring’ progress made, has it been?…

Describing itself as a “developer of novel Optimer binders to enable innovation in the life sciences industry”, Aptamer Group (APTA) has issued a “trading update” announcement including that “with revised strategy set out by the new management team gaining traction with a focus on building and converting the pipeline, we are completely focused on converting those opportunities and on achieving market expectations for the full year”. So what of a share price in response currently more than 9% lower at 1.225p?

Aptamer – “pleased to announce” contract wins and General Meeting resolutions passed, so why a further share price slump?

‘Novel’ affinity binders development group Aptamer (APTA) has announced that it is “pleased” to be able to extend its partnership with a top five pharma partner and that “following shareholder approval at the general meeting today, the company has successfully raised £3.6 million (before costs) by way of a placing and subscription. The company intends to use the net proceeds of the fundraise for working capital purposes, with the aim of reaching an EBITDA and cash break even position within two years”. Good news then?

Aptamer: “pleased to announce” proposed fundraise and board changes – a big 'up your’s' to investors from the not-long-ago 117p per share IPO!

Previously writing on ‘novel’ affinity binders development group Aptamer (APTA) last week, I concluded ‘the shares have currently responded… to 4.5p, a £3.1 million market cap and still 20% higher on the day. However, with the noted financial desperation and cash burn, I suggest the group is not in a strong negotiating position and is in a very challenged financing market. As such, still currently avoid/sell’. Today it states that it “is pleased to announce that it has conditionally raised £3.6 million (before expenses), including approximately £0.3 million from existing directors, proposed directors and PDMRs, by way of a placing and subscription… for working capital purposes”. Good news then? Er…

Aptamer (#APTA) – terminates formal sale process, confirms not in any such discussions

Aptamer (#APTA) – conditionally raised £3.6m at 1p per share and board change

Aptamer Group – considering wider options as “need working capital funding”. It means as it’s cash crunch ahoy desperation!

With shares in ‘novel’ affinity binders development group Aptamer (APTA) soaring this morning, what of an intra-day “Response to Speculation, Strategic Review, Update” announcement from it?

Aptamer – “after a difficult 12 months… pleased to be able to report four new contacts”. Er, isn’t its position still extremely ‘difficult’?!

Optimer binders development group Aptamer (APTA) states that “after a difficult 12 months, the company is pleased to be able to report four new contacts signed in the last three weeks… an important early contribution towards reaching the company's revenue targets for the year ending 30 June 2024”. However, revenue is, of course, vanity and how important are these contracts?

Aptamer – “further funding will be required in the short term in order to continue as a going concern”. Hopefully my prior warnings were heeded!

Previously on self-described “novel Optimer binders to enable innovation in the life sciences industry” group Aptamer (APTA), last month, with the shares around 20p, I wrote a formal reminder of the caution that should be applied to (ramptastic) RNS Reach announcements. Today a “Trading Update”… and the shares currently heading towards 4p!

Aptamer – a formal reminder of the caution that should be applied to (ramptastic) RNS Reach announcements

I’ve frequently reminded of the caution that should be applied to RNS Reach announcements… and today a formal reminder of this c/o of Aptamer Group (APTA).

Aptamer – CEO “has left… with immediate effect” state the group’s other AIM IPO Roll-Call of Shame directors. And how’s the funding “exploring” going?

Stating that it develops novel binders to enable new approaches in therapeutics, diagnostics and research applications, Aptamer Group (APTA) has also today announced that “Dr. Arron Tolley has left his position as Chief Executive Officer and Board Director, with immediate effect. He will leave his employment with the group after a period of garden leave… A search for a full-time CEO will begin immediately”. So what’s the circumstances here?

Aptamer – having argued in January “good visibility on its commercial pipeline”... now a calamitous “trading update”! ANOTHER covid-era AIM IPO Roll-Call of Shame

Writing on ‘novel optimer binders to enable innovation in the life sciences industry’ group Aptamer (APTA) in January with the shares down to 47.5p, as it argued “good visibility on its commercial pipeline going into the second half” I questioned that and concluded for the business and macro conditions, avoid / sell. Today a trading update… and the shares currently further down to 13p!

Aptamer (#APTA) – warns pipeline taking longer than expected to convert, having to explore funding options

Aptamer – “good visibility on its commercial pipeline going into the second half”. Really?

‘Novel Optimer binders to enable innovation in the life sciences industry’ group Aptamer (APTA) has issued a “Half Year Trading Update” emphasising that “2022 has seen significant progress for Aptamer with the investment in new facilities to create more capacity and an expanded team, especially in sales and marketing” and that it “has good visibility on its commercial pipeline going into the second half, including a further £1.0m of current signed orders, as well as contracts in negotiation and strong expressions of interest across all three business units… remains focused on delivering market expectations for the full year”. So what of a current share price response down almost 7% to 47.5p?