Defence Therapeutics Inc. announced that the U.S. FDA has cleared "Study May Proceed" its Investigational New Drug (IND) application for a Phase I clinical trial of ACCUM-002TM Dimer CDCA-SV40 commonly named "AccuTOX®?", as an injectable anticancer molecule, for the treatment of solid cancer tumors. The approval granted to AccuTOX®?, the company's first first-in-class therapy, marks another key advancement for Defence in the immune-oncology field. The successful filing and safety review by the U.S. FDA of protocol entitled "Phase 1 trial of ACCum-002TM administered intratumorally as monotherapy and in combination with Opdualag (fixed IV doses), in patients with unresectable, stage IIIB to IV melanoma refractory to or relapse from standard therapy" marks a significant milestone for the company's strategy featuring diverse pipelines.

Alongside its cancer vaccine-related therapies, AccuTOX®? will become Defence's asset in the anti-cancer therapeutics field. Defence remains committed to its mission of addressing unmet clinical needs and in pursuing its goals to become a global leader in the development of innovation anti-cancer therapies.

AccuTOX®? is a derivative of the initial Accum®? backbone molecule.

It was initially designed to various cellular processes including endosomal membranes to impair intracellular transport mechanisms, triggering genotoxic effects, blocking DNA repair mechanisms, and eliciting immunogenic cell death to stimulate the immune system. The use of AccuTOX®? in preclinical animal models with T-cell lymphoma, melanoma or breast cancer, under Dr. Moutih Rafei supervision, Defence's CSO, resulted in impaired tumor growth with 70% of treated animals showing complete responses.

The primary objective of this upcoming Phase I clinical trial, is to identify the safest dosing range in order to co-administer AccuTOX®? with Opdulag®?, a BMS product containing both anti-LAG3 and anti-PD-1. Several other secondary parameters including therapeutic efficacy will be monitored in treated patients in preparation for a Phase II clinical trial on a basket of tumors. More details about the beginning of the Phase I will be announced in the near future.

According to Data Bridge Market Research, 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.