NorthStrive Defense Tech Acquires Multi-Domain Drone Payload Technology Option for Defense and Commercial Applications

NorthStrive Defense Tech LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of PMGC Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ELAB), announced it has acquired rights to a novel drone technology through an exclusive option agreement with a corporation.

Exclusive option for drone patent rights

Under the option agreement, NorthStrive Defense Tech receives an exclusive option, within the aerospace and defense technologies field, to obtain an exclusive license for certain patent rights related to U.S. Patent No. 12,291,334. The patent covers a next-generation drone system designed to transport payloads across air and water environments.

The option also includes a non-exclusive license, within the same field, for know-how connected to the patent rights. Upon exercise of the option, NorthStrive Defense Tech and the counterparty are expected to negotiate a definitive license agreement.

Multi-domain payload capabilities

The company describes the technology as enabling a new class of drone systems that can operate across multiple environments. It is designed to allow an aerial vehicle to transport a cable-suspended payload through water while maintaining flight above the surface.

The approach uses buoyancy to reduce energy consumption and improve payload efficiency compared with traditional air-only drone systems.

Key capabilities include:

• Multi-domain operation across air and water.
• Improved payload efficiency through buoyancy-assisted transport.
• Access to complex environments, including coastal, riverine, and flood-prone regions.
• Flexible payload deployment, including sensors, equipment, and logistical supplies.

The system uses trajectory optimization and a dynamic control model to plan parcel movement through varied underwater terrain, including avoidance of natural and man-made obstacles.

Potential defense applications

The company said it believes the technology addresses a defense capability gap in which existing systems are limited to single-domain operation and cannot efficiently transport payloads across both air and water.

Potential applications include:

• Littoral and riverine logistics.
• Autonomous resupply in remote environments.
• Sensor deployment.

Next steps under the option agreement

The option agreement provides that during the option period, the company will develop a plan to develop and commercialize products and/or services connected to the patents in the field, and obtain financing to pursue that plan.

If the option is exercised, the company intends to negotiate and execute a definitive licensing agreement to secure full commercialization rights and advance the technology through development, partnership, and deployment pathways.

Neither the company nor NorthStrive Defense Tech can guarantee that the parties will successfully negotiate a definitive license agreement or that the technology will be developed or commercialized.

Company background

NorthStrive Defense Tech LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of PMGC Holdings Inc., focused on identifying, acquiring, and commercializing advanced defense technologies, with an emphasis on drone and autonomous systems.

PMGC Holdings Inc. is a diversified holding company that manages and grows its portfolio through strategic acquisitions, investments, and development across various industries.

Forward-looking statements

The press release includes forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The company cautions that such statements are subject to uncertainties, risks, and changes in circumstances that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. It notes that risks are described in PMGC’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the “Risk Factors” section of its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed March 30, 2026, and other subsequent SEC documents.