Defence Therapeutics Inc., a publicly traded biotechnology company focused on precision intracellular drug delivery, has announced an expansion of its long-standing collaboration with Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) to accelerate the development of its radiopharmaceutical pipeline.

The collaboration, which centers on an Accum-enhanced radio-immunoconjugate programme, is reaching a critical inflection point. Both teams are currently generating key data intended to support lead candidate selection and advance preparations for first-in-human clinical studies.

Building on the progress of the lead programme, Defence and CNL have agreed to broaden their partnership to include multiple additional radioisotope programmes using Defence’s proprietary Accum platform. This expansion is expected to significantly strengthen Defence’s radiopharmaceutical portfolio and enable rapid advancement of new candidates as scientific data and strategic priorities evolve.

Radiopharmaceutical therapies require precise intracellular and nuclear targeting to maximize therapeutic impact, as radioactive payloads must reach the cell nucleus to induce effective DNA damage. Defence’s Accum platform is designed to actively transport therapeutic payloads into cells and nuclei, enhancing potency while potentially reducing off-target toxicity.

“This collaboration with CNL has become a cornerstone of our radiopharmaceutical strategy,” said Sébastien Plouffe, Chief Executive Officer of Defence Therapeutics. He noted that radiopharmaceuticals have emerged as one of the company’s top development priorities alongside its antibody-drug conjugate programme, adding that CNL’s nuclear science expertise is helping accelerate Defence’s path toward clinical development.

Dr. Monica Regalbuto, Vice-President of Science and Technology at CNL, said the organization has worked closely with Defence on its flagship programme and is pleased to support the advancement of its radiopharmaceutical pipeline toward the clinic.

The expanded collaboration further reinforces Defence Therapeutics’ position in precision drug delivery and targeted radiotherapy development, aligning with its broader strategy to transform advanced biologics into safer and more effective cancer treatments.