About Us
Aptagen, LLC is a global leader in aptamer development with over 25 years of experience generating high affinity and specifically-binding aptamers for small molecules, proteins, cells, and tissues. We produce state-of-the-art target-recognition elements for diagnostics, therapeutics, and bio-industrial applications.
Aptagen has grown from a one-man operation with the ingenuity and support of interns, graduate students, and post-docs to a tight-knit developing business with a world-class team of scientists, servicing clients ranging globally from research academics at top-tier institutions to BigPharma companies. Aptagen was named as a finalist for the “Top Emerging Business of the Year” of 2011 by Central Penn Business Journal. Aptamers are an emerging technology that is poised to become the next evolution in diagnostics and drug discovery. Aptagen continues to play a leading role in developing aptamer technology that will assist in the treatment and diagnosis of various diseases. Today, Aptagen is a leader in the field of aptamers and has a strong reputation for “Taking on Challenging Projects, and Delivering Positive Results.”Aptagen was formed in 2004, and operations began two years later in 2006. Aptagen is located in Jacobus, PA, a suburb of York, beautifully surrounded by hiking and horseback riding trails near Lake Williams and Lake Redman. We are conveniently situated off of Interstate 83. The facility is a forty-minute drive from Johns Hopkins University and Hershey Medical Center.
G. Thomas Caltagirone, Ph.D. | President & CEO
(717) 278-2436 ext. 500
Dr. Caltagirone, who has over 25 years of research and business experience in start-ups, is the President & CEO of Aptagen, LLC. A native of York, PA, he began his studies at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia with a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry followed by a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Drexel University. He completed his thesis on “Proton-Sensitive Ribozyme Switches with Molecular Memory” at Yale University. His training and technical skills are primarily in the area of Molecular Biology with several patents and publications under his name.
Michelle L. Young | Administrative Assistant
(717) 278-2436 ext. 301
Michelle is originally from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She earned her Associates Degree from Consolidated School of Business. Before coming to Aptagen, she was a judicial secretary. She has over 10 years’ experience in an office setting.
Weihua Pan, MS | Principal Scientist
Weihua began basic studies at Nankai University in China, and continued advanced training at Nankai, Harbin Medical University (China) and IPK (Germany). In US, he has focused on R&D of Aptamer and Anti-Sense strategies for more than 25 years.
Albert M. Liao, BS | Lab Director
ext. 508
Albert Liao earned his bachelor’s degree from Johns Hopkins University in the field of Biomedical Engineering. He then participated in the internship program and graduated to assume the Lab Director position. In his time at Aptagen, Albert contributed to many aspects of the lab, including Aptamer R&D and Oligonucleotide Synthesis.
James S. Vandergrift, BS Directory of Chemistry
ext. 400
James Vandegrift is the Director of Chemistry at Aptagen. James graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Ursinus College. His research currently focuses on the synthesis, modification, and purification of aptamers.
Kaili Ji, Ph.D. | Research Scientist
Kaili Ji earned her Ph.D. degree from National University of Singapore in the field of Analytical Biochemistry focusing on aptamer discovery. She also has a Master degree in Statistics from Georgia State University. Her current research focus in Aptagen is selecting and optimizing aptamer through SELEX and next generation sequence analysis.
(DNA Helix Trophy) = Graduated & Fulfilled all requirements of the Aptagen Internship Program
Aptagen Interns
Jessica Rodriguez
Penn State University
Pharmacology & Toxicology
09/12- Present
Katherine L. Brooks
University of Delaware
Biotech & Applied Biology
09/12- Present
Maranda S. Gibb
York College of PA
Biology
09/12- Present
Wesley C. Reindel University of S.C.
Biomedical Engineering
09/12- Present
Thu Thuy Ha
University of S.C.
Biology
09/12- Present
Trung 'Jay' Le
University of Virginia
M.E. Chemical Engineering 06/20 - Present
Rebecca L. Rose
York College of PA
Chemistry
06/20 - Present
James S. Vandegrift
Ursinas College
B.S. Chemistry
06/20 - Present
Deanna M. Dahir
Penn State University
M.S. of Biotechnology
06/20 - Present
Jorge L. Garcia
University of Pittsburgh
Neuroscience 01/20 - 05/20
Meredith D. Davis
Dickinson College
Biochem & Molecular Bio
09/19 - 03/20
Brianna L. Ankney
University of Pittsburgh
Biology & Chemistry
09/19 - 03/20
Daniel T. Dreyfus
University of Delaware
B.A. Biological Sciences
06/20 - 10/20
Jacob R. Shaw
Towson University
Molecular Biology
09/18 - 5/19
Andrew Yuhas
University of the Sciences
Biology
09/18 - 12/18
Lauren A. Smith
George Mason University
Bioengineering
09/18 - 2/19
Mangyin 'Matthew'
MoPenn State University
Biomedical Engineering
06/18 - 12/18
Mangyin 'Matthew'
MoPenn State University
Biomedical Engineering
06/18 - 12/18
Jay Patel
Penn State University
Chemical Engineering
01/18 - 07/18
Aaron J. Embry
Millersville University
BAS. Biology
06/17 - 02/18
Anna M. Waite
Rutgers University
Masters of Science
05/17 - 12/17
James S. Lyons
Jr University of Maryland
Ph.D. Candidate
Molecular Medicine
06/16 - 12/16
Adam D. Poff
Gettysburg College
Biochem & Molecular Bio
05/16 - 03/17
Erika Gedvilaite
Penn State University
MS, Biotechnology
05/16 - 12/16
Melanie Hardy
University of Maryland
Biochemistry/Math
03/15 - 09/15
J. Cory Benson
Arcadia University
Biology
09/14 - 05/15
Brittany Copenhaver
York College of PA
Biology
05/14 - 01/15
Jenny Liu
John Hopkins University
M.S.E. in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
01/14 - 08/14
Robert Nwokonko
Kutztown University
Biology/Pre-medical
07/13 - 04/14
Andrew Sutton BS
York College
Biology
04/13 - 11/13
Sara Wing
York College
Biology and Chemistry
09/12 - 02/13
Tsai-Chin (Donna) Wu, Ph.D.
University of Illinois
Bioengineering/Nanotechnoloy
08/12 - 03/13
Matthew J. Murray, BS
Dickinson College
Physics
07/12 - 03/13
Raphael Williams, BS
Clarion University
Molecular Biology
06/13 - 11/13
Houng Nguyen
Penn State
Biology
06/12 - 12/12
Jennifer Minteer, BS
Harrisburg University
Biotechnology
06/12 - 11/12
Amiee M. Green, BS
Kutztown University
Biology
05/12 - 10/12
Kelsey Weren
Gettysburg College
Biology
01/12 - 05/12
Matthew Gladfelter
York College
Mechanical Engineering
01/12 - 02/13
Albert M. Liao, BS
Johns Hopkins University
Biomedical Engineering
01/12 - 10/12
Caitlin Nealin, M.S.
Georgetown University
Biotechnology
10/11 - 04/12
Chelsea N. Thompson
Millersville University
Biology
05/11 - 12/11
Kyle Kentch, B.S.
University of Rochester
Biomedical Engineering
03/11 - 12/11
Kevin P. Jackson, BS
Liberty University
Biology with Pre-Med
11/10 - 09/11
Amy R. Smith, BS
Temple University
Biology/Biochemistry
11/10 - 03/11
Norman Rogers, BS
Salisbury University
Biology
10/10 - 03/11
Christopher Dower, BS
Millersville University
Biological Sciences
10/10 - 08/11
Dane Kikola
Millersville University
Biology
09/10 - 08/11
Anne Nixon, BS
Penn State University
Biology
080/10 - 06/11
Katherine E. Eisner
Loyola University
Biology
06/10 - 09/10
Kristen Sheaffer
Millersville University
Biology
05/10 - 01/11
Aaron Montani
Millersville University
Biology
05/10 - 01/11
Dionisi Daoularis
Drexel University
Biomedical Engineering
05/10 - 09/10
Sakkaphan Sawatphanit
Bucknell University
Biochemistry
12/09 - 08/10
C. Nicole Groves, BS
Towson University
Biology
07/09 - 06/10
Marija Debeljak
Millersville University
Biology
06/09 - 04/10
Jason Huska
Millersville University
Molecular Biology
05/09 - 20/10
Karen Kofroth
Millersville University
Molecular Biology
04/09 - 08/09
Ron Ho
York College
Biology/Pre-medical
02/09 - 06/09
Jamie S. Harper
York College
Biology
01/09 - 10/09
Nadine Chase, BS
Penn State York
Science
12/08 - 07/10
Derek J. Jendras
York College
Biology
07/08 - 05/09
Andy L. Ngo, BS
York College
Biology
07/08 - 06/09
Bethany N. nEILL
Franklin & Marshall College
Biology
05/08 - 11/08
Mitchell B. Crawford
Millersville University
Molecular Biology
05/08 - 01/09
Elliot Eckard
Penn State York
Science
01/07 - 07/10
Raisa Janella N. Cheng
York College
Biology
05/08 - 11/08
Shelly L. Wesner, BS
York College
Biology
02/08 - 06/08
Jose L. Pelliccia, BS
Millersville University
Biology, Molecular/Biotech
01/07 - 08/08
Vladimir Torres
Millersville University
Molecular
Biology
01/07 - 01/08
Sameer Shah
Millersville University
Biology, Molecular/Biotech Option
01/07 - 12/07
Alexis Norris
Millersville University
Molecular Biolog
y01/06 - 01/07
Aptagen’s Executive Summary
Aptagen is a biotechnology company offering aptamer products and services as reagents, diagnostic and biomarker discovery tools, as well as for use in drug discovery, targeted delivery for therapeutics, and bioindustrial applications.
Aptagen develops and manufactures aptamers (ligands of RNA, DNA, and peptide oligonucleotides that bind to a variety of target antigens). Aptamers are sometimes referred to as “chemical antibodies or DNA antibodies.” Aptazymes are aptamers with enzymatic activity. A subclass of aptazymes called molecular switches is analogous to molecular beacons for fluorescent detection of analytes in test samples. Examples include allosteric ribozymes, also known as riboswitches.
Aptagen’s business plan is a dual approach to replacing the current technology being utilized. The retail arm of Aptagen provides customers with an industry first “Apta-Index™” that offers a low-cost service for synthesizing known aptamers (synthetic antibodies) for research and development purposes. The R&D arm of Aptagen has a primary objective to provide a customized service for drug development and therapeutic applications through long-term, large dollar contracts.
The problem: Current technology is outdated. Antibodies were discovered in the 1890’s and have been the primary biotechnology research vehicle for the last one hundred and ten years. The antibody method involves multiple trial and error experiments that result in extremely high development cost and is only 20% successful on average. Aptamers (synthetic antibodies) were developed in the 1990’s and have been increasingly gaining in popularity and availability over the last ten years. The lower manufacturing costs and the near-endless applicability is solidifying aptamers (synthetic antibodies) as the next evolution of drug discovery and diagnostics.
The Solution: An aptamer catalog of products had not existed anywhere. There are many sources for commercially available antibodies, but until recently, there was not an aptamer (oligo antibody) equivalent. Aptagen has committed to change this situation by offering aptamers (synthetic antibodies) as an alternative to the conventional antibody. In the past, Aptagen had only offered custom services through long-term projects to develop highly customized aptamers (synthetic antibodies); however, recently Aptagen has revolutionized the industry by creating a resource of known (already developed) aptamers in an easy to use catalog called the Apta-Index™.
Because aptamers (synthetic antibodies) are an in-vivo (directly tested in the animal model) approach, they avoid the majority of the bench testing, saving several years and approximately 35% of the R&D cost. The unique chemistry of aptamers, unlike other forms of drugs currently used, permits the natural selection of drug candidates in whole animal models, bypassing the test tube entirely. By using an animal model with the disease state of interest, Aptagen need not possess specific knowledge of the pathology or disease condition in question. As an added benefit, because this approach reduces the false starts, there are actually fewer animals needed for drug evaluation.
GeneLink synthesizes oligonucleotides.
TriLink manufactures synthetic oligonucleotide based aptamers, modified DNA and RNA oligonucleotides, mRNA and long RNA, modified nucleoside triphosphates, and other small molecules. Since 1996 TriLink has offered cutting edge services to researchers in the fields of gene therapy, nucleoside chemotherapy, oligonucleotide therapy and diagnostics. In 2015 TriLink commissioned a cGMP manufacturing facility to meet growing customer needs. TriLink scientists and technicians have decades of collective experience in synthesizing nucleic acid products for research, diagnostics and therapeutic applications.
For more than 20 years IBA Solutions has been in the business of producing high quality RNA and DNA oligonucleotides according to customer specifications. IBA offers more than 200 fluorescent dyes (including innovative click chemistry) and more than 50 chemical modifications, including 5´, 3´or internal modifications. To order please visit the New IBA Oligo Shop at www.oligo-specialist.com.
AptaIT is a bioinformatics company that is dedicated to develop advanced and user-friendly software solutions for sequence driven biomedical research. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) currently transforms the procedures of modern drug discovery. AptaIT has developed intelligent solutions based on it’s software COMPAS with an emphasis to discovery platforms of novel biologics by in vitro selection strategies or analysing the natural immune response (TCR/BCR).
Tissue For Research provides human tissues, organs, blood & other biofluids. With thousands of high quality FFPE & frozen samples in inventory, we cover most diagnoses, including cancers, inflammatory, degenerative and infectious diseases, as well as normal control specimens. We will also prospectively collect fresh or preserved tissues & blood according to your protocol to meet your exact specimen and data needs. With PhD level support, experienced collection sites and individual attention to each project, we are a trusted human biosample source for many of the world’s leading pharma, biotech, diagnostic and medical device companies, as well as prestigious academic institutes and hospitals.
Oligo Factory was founded by individuals who possessed expertise in oligo synthesis technology as well as oligo service business. The company was founded in 2006 to fill a niche in the oligo synthesis market, primarily serving customers needing medium-scale quantities (25 milligrams to hundreds of grams) of DNA or RNA. The Massachusetts based Oligo Factory team is made up of skilled chromatographers, synthesis chemists and instrumentation engineers. While we are certainly a technology company, we realize we operate a service business, so our passion is to be highly responsive in fulfilling all customer requirements: product quality, speed of delivery, and consulting to determine specific needs.
Contract development of rapid diagnostic tests is at the core of all that we do at DCN. Our cross-functional team of scientists and engineers can develop and integrate all aspects of the assay system, including cassettes, sample handling devices, and reader systems. We will assist you in the development of your entire rapid diagnostic test from concept to commercialization.