VM:CC - Voyageur Pharmaceuticals Ltd and Rain Cage Carbon Inc Announce Breakthrough in Imaging Technology with Vanadium Fullerene Molecule

(TheNewswire)

Calgary, Canada - TheNewswire - December 21, 2023 - Voyageur Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (TSX.V:VM) (USA:VYYRF) (" Voyageur " or the " Corporation "), aprovider of innovative medical imaging solutions, is excited toannounce that its carbon capture and drug development partner, Rain Cage CarbonInc. (“Rain Cage”), has successfullycompleted Stage 1 testing of a new molecule, metallofullerene, for themedical imaging industry. This significant milestone has majorimplications for the radiology market:

1. Metallofullerene has been proven to be a superior MRIcontrast agent compared to those currently in the market.

2. Metallofullerene, based on its molecular structure, hasthe potential to be safer than current drugs in the market.

3. The high relaxivity and the multifaceted benefits ofmetallofullerenes highlight their potential to substantially enhanceMRI diagnostics.

4. Voyageur and RainCage now have a platform to create adiversified pipeline of new carbon-based drugs for diagnostic imaging,that among others, includes a combination of iodine with fullerene andtheranostic radiology drugs.

5. The drugs will be 100% carbon neutral and will bedeveloped for the global market.

Voyageur is the only pharmaceutical company to haveaccess to fullerene and vanadium at no sourcing cost because of itsdrug development agreement with Rain Cage.  The agreement providesfor Voyageur and Rain Cage to share future revenue from drug sales.Voyageur has rights for carbon imaging drug development and sales forNorth America. Cost of carbon and other minerals created by the RainCage technology are a by-product of carbon capture from fossil fuelemissions.

Voyageur is in talks currently with potential drugdevelopment research firms to launch the drug development program.However, their clinical adoption is contingent upon continuedresearch, clinical validation to confirm their safety and efficacy andregulatory approvals.

The development of metallofullerene-based MRI contrastagents is a significant breakthrough that has the potential to be agame changer and disruptive to the medical imaging market. Gadoliniumfullerene drugs can offer up to 50 times greater relaxivity thanconventional gadolinium-based MRI contrast agents like Omniscan® andMagnevist®. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19445504/ . The unique structural advantages of metallofullerenes allowfor lower dosing, enhanced image quality, and potentially fewer sideeffects.

Rain Cage's pioneering use of Vanadium in the creationof metallofullerenes at a commercial scale paves the way for furtherinnovations with other metals to boost radiological applications.Future testing by Voyageur on Vanadium for relaxivity and safety willcommence upon financing, with the R&D program and pre-clinicalresearch starting in 2024.

Rain Cage has successfully created a novel Vanadiumfullerene molecule, designed to enhance diagnostic imaging, and havecompleted Stage 1 testing for commercial synthesis stability. Blair Aiken , Chairman of RainCage Carbon , stated – “ Not only is Vanadium an expensive anddifficult material to procure but has been shown to have particularlybeneficial properties in MRI and X-Ray applications. Our carboncapture system can extract that material from vanadium-rich emissionssources from oil producers and has been successfully integrated intoour advanced carbon material. The result is a development that canpotentially convert fossil fuel emissions into life-savingapplications. Our data results are most encouraging - when tested, theresponse from the carbon molecules amplified the trace Vanadium in thesamples to register as if the entire sample was pureVanadium” .

Extensive research has been documented at the NationalInstitute of Health’s National Library of Medicine https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=fullerene+contrast . This underscores the superior performance of these novelagents, providing a clear indication of their potential torevolutionize contrast-enhanced MRI by improving sensitivity andreducing toxicity. While the real-world application of these findingsis still being explored, the promise they hold for future drugdevelopment and enhanced diagnostic capabilities is clear.

Key advantages of metallofullerenes in MRIinclude:

• Superior contrast and image quality, enabling clearerdifferentiation of tissues and identification of conditions liketumors.

• Extended blood retention time for prolonged diagnosticwindows.

• Lower toxicity, reducing the risk of side effects, asignificant benefit for patients with renal impairment.

• The capability for targeted imaging to improvediagnostic accuracy for specific types of cancers or braindisorders.

• Chemical stability, minimizing the release ofpotentially harmful free gadolinium ions.

• Versatility for multimodal imaging, allowing for a morecomprehensive diagnostic approach.

Brent Willis, CEO of Voyageur states “this is a monumental day for Voyageur,we can now proceed with one of the most exciting R&D projects inthe pharmaceutical industry. The company now has potential to createnew drugs using low-cost carbon capture, creating valuable molecules,utilising low-cost fossil fuel. By becoming 100% carbon neutralutilising Rain Cage technology and creating revenue from carboncapture, fullerene production and carbon credit generation, Voyageuris poised to change the landscape in this market. This new technologyaligns with Voyageurs plan to vertically integrate the radiology drugmarket with its Earth to Bottle strategy and become a highlycompetitive pharmaceutical company”.

What is Fullerene?

Carbon fullerene, also known simply as fullerene, is amolecule composed entirely of carbon atoms, arranged in the form of ahollow sphere, ellipsoid, tube, or other geometric shapes. The mostcommon and well-known type of fullerene is the buckyball, whichresembles a soccer ball with a pattern of hexagons and pentagons.Fullerene is a critical strategic mineral and has applications inmultiple industries. Fullerenes currently sell for $320,000 a kg andRain Cage is the first company to manufacture at scale and cost thatallows fullerene to begin to be utilized by industry.

In simpler terms, imagine tiny building blocks calledatoms. Carbon fullerene is a special type of molecule made up of onlycarbon atoms, which are like the Lego pieces of the molecular world.Fullerene comes in various shapes like spheres, ellipsoids, or tubes.Picture a tiny, hollow ball or tube made entirely of carbonatoms.

Fullerene has a unique structure, and its discoveryopened new possibilities in the world of materials and nanotechnology.It has exceptional properties, such as high strength and conductivity.These properties make it useful in various fields, includingelectronics, medicine, and materials science.

About Rain Cage Carbon Inc.

Rain Cage Carbon https://raincagecarbon.com/ is a private Canadian company dedicated to decarbonizing industries bycapturing CO2 and other emissions and transforming them into engineered carbons. Through its proprietarytechnologies, it offers companies a groundbreaking solution to combatcarbon pollution and add value to other products worldwide. Rain CageCarbon’s unique approach not only helps mitigate emissions but alsoharnesses contaminating emissions by converting them into a recyclabletechnology with countless applications.

AboutVoyageur Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Voyageur, a Canadian public company trading under thesymbol VM on the TSX Venture Exchange, is in development of barium,iodine and carbon Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) andhigh-performance, cost-effective imaging contrast agents. With astrategic focus on vertically integrating the barium, iodine andcarbon contrast imaging market, Voyageur aims to become a key playerby producing its own barium, iodine, and fullereneminerals.

Voyageur's business plan is set to generate cash flowby partnering with established third-party GMP pharmaceuticalmanufacturers in Canada, ensuring the validation of its products byregulatory agencies worldwide. As the Corporation solidifies itspresence in the market, it will transition into a high-margin domesticmanufacturer of radiology drugs, further expanding its revenuestreams.

Voyageur is committed to sustainability andenvironmental stewardship. The Corporation envisions a future wherecarbon neutrality is the norm, and to achieve this, it plans to buildstate-of-the-art carbon-neutral infrastructure. By investing in carbonneutral energy sources and sustainable manufacturing practices, itaims to become 100% carbon neutral across all its manufacturingactivities. Voyageur's commitment to the environment sets it apart asa pioneer in the industry.

At the core of the Corporation's operations, Voyageurowns a 100% interest in a barium sulphate (barite) projects, theFrances Creek property. Additionally, Voyageur holds interests in ahigh-grade iodine, lithium, and bromine brine project situated inUtah, USA, further bolstering its position in the industry. Voyageuralso owns a 100% interest in two battery mineral projects which focuson copper/zinc development.

Voyageur's ambitious vision is to become the firstvertically integrated, carbon-neutral company in the imaging contrastmedia drug market. By controlling all primary input costs, from thesourcing of raw materials to final production, it plans to ensureunmatched quality and cost efficiency. Voyageurembodies the motto of " From the Earth to the Bottle ,"highlighting its commitment to responsible sourcing and manufacturingpractices.

For Further Information:

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange norits Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in thepolicies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for theadequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding “Forward-Looking”Information

This news release may contain certainforward-looking information and statements, including withoutlimitation, statements pertaining to the perceived benefits toVoyageur from the Stage 1 testing of metallofullerene, Voyageur'stiming and expectations with respect to developing pharmaceuticaldrugs using metallofullerene and vanadium, Voyageur's perceived costsand other benefits from its partnership with Rain Cage, Voyageur'santicipated plans and benefits from its relationship with Rain Cage,Voyageur's expectation that it will be able to secure the financingnecessary to pursue its objectives, and other statements herein, whichexpressly or impliedly speak to Voyageur's expectations for itsbusiness and operations. All statements included herein, other thanstatements of historical fact, are forward-looking information andsuch information involves various risks and uncertainties, including,without limitation, global market factors and supply chain issues,risks relating to the regulation and approval of Voyageur's products,and general risks relating to Voyageur's business. There can be noassurance that such information will prove to be accurate, and actualresults and future events could differ materially from thoseanticipated in such information. A description of assumptions used todevelop such forward-looking information and a description of riskfactors that may cause actual results to differ materially fromforward-looking information can be found in the Company's disclosuredocuments on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca. Voyageur does notundertake to update any forward-looking information except inaccordance with applicable securities laws.

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