Belfast-based Contract Research Organisation (CRO) Fusion Antibodies (AIM: FAB) announced on Tuesday that it has entered into a collaboration agreement with the National Cancer Institute (NCI), utilising its OptiMAL technology for discovering novel antibodies against cancer targets.

The partnership spans up to two years, with Fusion granting NCI access to OptiMAL for validating the technology in NCI's laboratories. Successful results will be jointly published and NCI will retain identified antibodies.

NCI, a key cancer research and training agency under the US National Institutes of Health, aims to leverage Fusion's expertise in pre-clinical antibody discovery for potential therapeutic applications.

Fusion Antibodies specialises in antibody engineering for therapeutic drug and diagnostic uses. The company provides a range of services, including antibody design, production, purification, sequencing and humanisation. With a mission to facilitate timely and cost-effective product development, Fusion Antibodies has a global client base, including top pharmaceutical companies.

The company's growth strategy involves leveraging technological advances and scientific innovations to expedite drug development processes. The collaboration aligns with Fusion's commitment to advancing healthcare solutions in a dynamic market, with the global monoclonal antibody therapeutics market projected to exceed USD445bn by 2028.