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CSE: DTC  FSE: DTC  USOTC: DTCFF  PRESS RELEASE

DEFENCE’S SUCCESFULL ACCUTOX^TM PRE-CLINICAL EFFICACY STUDY COMPLETE READY FOR PHASE I IND FILING

Vancouver, BC, Canada, May 2^nd, 2023 - Defence Therapeutics Inc. (“Defence” or the “Company”), a Canadian biopharmaceutical company specialized in the development of immune-oncology vaccines and drug delivery technologies is please to announce the successful completion of all required pre-clinical efficacy studies regarding its AccuTOX^TM program.          

AccuTOX^TM is one of Defence’s most advanced research and development program. AccuTOX^TM shown to be very efficient at impeding tumor growth in many animal models including T-cell lymphoma, breast cancer and melanoma. Most of the studies were focused on: i) the use of single immune-checkpoint combination (eg. AccuTOX^TM with anti-PD-1, anti-CTLA4 or anti-CD47), and ii) the dosing regimen consisted of three injections per week over two cycles. As per the press release of March 28, 2023, Defence, in collaboration with the clinical team at City of Hope, proposed to conducted one final preclinical study investigating two objectives: i) minimizing AccuTOX^TM dosing to twice a week over a period of three weeks (for a total of 6 injections), and ii) combining AccuTOX^TM with both anti-PD-1 and anti-LAG3, which is equivalent to the use of Opdualag (a BMS premixed combination of nivolumab and relatlimab) currently administered to cancer patients at City of Hope.  

"The Defence’s team is excited of the milestones reached for the Accum^TM-related products, which includes the AccuTOX^TM program, that have been achieved. AccuTOX^TM is suitable for any solid tumor, and it can synergise with a variety of immune-checkpoint inhibitors making it a future treatment of choice in immune-oncology", says Mr. Sebastien Plouffe, CEO and president of Defence.

The latest pre-clinical study completed combining AccuTOX^TM with anti-PD-1 and anti-LAG3 is conclusive as it shows that it is indeed possible to lower patients visit to treatment centers, and yet continue to achieve excellent anti-tumoral effects. In addition, the results obtained with this combination therapy strongly indicate that AccuTOX^TM may easily adapt with future immune-checkpoint blockers, or any antibodies currently being tested in advanced clinical trials.            

With the wider clinical use of Opdualag and the observed beneficial effects on the median progression-free survival of patients with advanced melanoma, Defence is convinced that a combination therapy with AccuTOX^TM will amplify the therapeutic outcomes on cancer patients’ survival. As such, Defence and City of Hope intend to complete their IND filing as planned. Furthermore, Defence’s Accum^TM-related technology and programs continue to advance and be developed, additional news is anticipated in the near future. 

Data Bridge Market Research analyses that the solid tumors market was valued at USD 209.61 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 901.27 billion by 2029, registering a CAGR of 20.0% during the forecast period of 2022 to 2029.

https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-solid-tumors-market   

About Defence:

Defence Therapeutics is a publicly-traded biotechnology company working on engineering the next generation vaccines and ADC products using its proprietary platform. The core of Defence Therapeutics platform is the ACCUM^TM technology, which enables precision delivery of vaccine antigens or ADCs in their intact form to target cells. As a result, increased efficacy and potency can be reached against catastrophic illness such as cancer and infectious diseases.

For further information:

Sebastien Plouffe, President, CEO and Director

P: (514) 947-2272

Splouffe@defencetherapeutics.com

www.defencetherapeutics.com

Cautionary Statement Regarding “Forward-Looking” Information

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include regulatory actions, market prices, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

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