Mr. Sebastien Plouffe reports

DEFENCE THERAPEUTICS ENHANCES IN-HOUSE ADC DEVELOPMENT PLATFORM WITH EXPANDED ANALYTICAL AND CELLULAR TESTING CAPABILITIES

Defence Therapeutics Inc. has expanded internal capabilities to execute critical stages of its ACCUM-enabled antibody drug conjugates (ADC) development pipeline. The company has strengthened its purification, analytical characterization, conjugation development and quality control (QC) capabilities, while enhancing cellular testing and potency evaluation workflows within a more structured stage-gated framework to better support the advancement of its ADC partnership programs.

"By strengthening our internal QC, analytical and conjugation capabilities, Defence is positioning itself to become a leading authority in the development and controlled manufacture of ACCUM-enabled ADCs," said Mark Lambermon, PhD, head of quality and operations at Defence Therapeutics. "Our focus is to establish robust, reproducible and quality-driven processes that support the consistent generation of high-quality ACCUM-ADC candidates for our partnership programs."

To support the development of high-quality ACCUM-enabled ADC candidates, the company has acquired an FPLC system to improve purification workflows and the consistency of conjugated materials, while also advancing the evaluation of multiple conjugation methods, including site specific strategies. These efforts are guided by a structured framework designed to identify the most suitable conjugation approach for each partner ADC based on format, chemistry compatibility, drug-to-antibody ratio (DAR) profile and developability characteristics such as stability and aggregation.

In parallel, Defence Therapeutics is enhancing its analytical characterization and QC infrastructure through standardized analytical checkpoints, documentation practices and reproducibility-focused processes designed to support reliable decision-making and partner-ready execution.

The company has also expanded its cellular testing capabilities with the addition of an Incucyte live-cell imaging platform designed to generate kinetic potency and mechanism-relevant cellular data designed to better assess the internalization, intracellular delivery and cellular potency of ACCUM-enabled ADC candidates. These capabilities are being integrated within a more structured stage-gated governance framework with clearly defined success criteria to support efficient lead candidate selection and downstream validation activities.

"As we continue to grow our ADC partnership activities, it is important that our internal capabilities evolve alongside the needs of our partners," said Amie Phinney, PhD, Defence Therapeutics' strategy and business adviser. "These expanded capabilities strengthen our ability to tailor ACCUM integration and support partner programs with greater confidence and precision."

"By bringing key development and analytical capabilities in-house, we are strengthening our ability to rapidly evaluate and advance ACCUM-enabled ADC candidates," said Sebastien Plouffe, chief executive officer of Defence Therapeutics. "These expanded capabilities position us to accelerate our ADC partnership programs and support the development of more effective ADC therapies for patients."

About Defence Therapeutics Inc.

Defence Therapeutics is a publicly traded biotechnology company committed to making cancer treatment more effective and safer. Using its Accum precision drug delivery platform, Defence is working to enhance the potency of ADCs and other complex biologics at lower doses, with the goal of reducing side effects and improving access to advanced therapies. By pursing cutting edge science, and collaborating with pharma and biotech partners, Defence strives to bring transformative therapies to patients who need them most.

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