Stockport Exploration

What Stockport Exploration does

Stockport Exploration is a Canadian public company (CVE:SPT) headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, whose operating business is conducted through its subsidiary Sona Nanotech Ltd., acquired on September 18, 2017. Following the acquisition, the public entity is effectively a holding company for a clinical-stage nanomedicine operation focused on cancer therapy and diagnostic nanoparticles, with 11–50 employees and operations based in Halifax.

The operating subsidiary develops a patented, CTAB-free gold nanorod platform. CTAB (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) is a toxic surfactant conventionally used in gold nanorod synthesis; Sona's proprietary process removes it, enabling biocompatible, in-body medical applications. The core product set comprises Sona Gold Nanorods (GNRs) and Sona Gold Nanospheres for research and diagnostic use, alongside the flagship Targeted Hyperthermia Therapy (THT), which delivers controlled, localized heat directly into solid tumors to trigger apoptotic cancer cell death, reveal tumor antigens, and activate the immune system. A 2024 peer-reviewed study in Frontiers in Immunology demonstrated immunogenic cell death in 'cold' tumor models, and a 2025 first-in-human trial of THT in 10 immunotherapy-resistant melanoma patients produced an 80% overall response rate and 60% complete responses with a favorable safety profile, prompting a new clinical strategy (IGNITE-THT and PRIME-THT combination therapy studies) announced May 5, 2026.

The business model is two-tier. Research products are sold via a direct e-commerce storefront under a quote-based, pay-as-you-go pricing model targeting universities, research laboratories, and academic medical centers, plus distribution through partners such as Operon. The therapeutic pipeline represents the larger long-term value driver, with intended revenue from clinical development, regulatory approvals, and future licensing/royalty arrangements with biopharma partners. The customer base includes academic institutions (China Agricultural University, Clemson University, Cape Breton University), diagnostic/biotech partners (Olm Diagnostics, Bond Digital Health, Anteo Technologies), and a core immuno-oncology research collaboration with the Giacomantonio Immuno-Oncology Research Group. Historically the company has reported $0 revenue across 2013–2017, and the only disclosed funding round is a $1,155,543 raise in October 2013, indicating the company is still pre-commercial relative to its clinical ambition.

Name

Stockport Exploration

Legal name

Sona Nanotech Ltd.

Website

http://www.stockportexploration.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Stockport Exploration is a Canadian public holding company (CVE:SPT) whose operating subsidiary, Sona Nanotech, develops patented CTAB-free gold nanorod technology for cancer therapy (Targeted Hyperthermia Therapy) and diagnostic nanoparticle products sold to research and academic customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biotechnology

NAICS

Research and Development in Nanotechnology (541713), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Drug Discovery (Target ID/Validation & Hit Discovery) (HLAIALAA)

Keywords

• Gold nanoparticle products
• Cancer therapy development
• Biocompatible nanorods
• Medical diagnostics
• Nanotechnology research

Headquarters

HQ city

Halifax

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Gold Nanoparticle Product Sales: Direct sales of gold nanorods and gold nanospheres through the company's e-commerce storefront for research and discovery applications across medical diagnostics and materials science.
2. Therapy Development and Licensing: Development of Targeted Hyperthermia Therapy for cancer treatment. Future revenue potential through clinical development, regulatory approvals, and licensing of therapy to pharmaceutical partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Stockport Exploration (operating through its subsidiary Sona Nanotech) develops and commercializes patented CTAB-free gold nanorod technology. Its portfolio includes manufactured Sona Gold Nanorods and Gold Nanospheres sold for medical diagnostics, drug delivery research, and advanced materials science applications, alongside Targeted Hyperthermia Therapy (THT), a clinical-stage cancer treatment that uses localized heat to destroy solid tumors and activate anti-tumor immune responses.

Product overview

Sona Nanotech operates as a unified product-and-therapy company built around its patented CTAB-free gold nanorod technology. The core portfolio centers on three interconnected offerings: Sona Gold Nanorods (GNRs) as the foundational nanoparticle technology, Targeted Hyperthermia Therapy (THT) as the primary therapeutic application using those nanorods for cancer treatment, and Diagnostics leveraging the same nanoparticle technology for rapid medical diagnostics. A secondary nanoparticle product, Sona Gold Nanospheres, extends the commercial product line for research and diagnostic applications. The company also researches the 'THT Vaccine Effect,' exploring immune activation benefits from tumor destruction. All offerings share the same proprietary, uniquely biocompatible gold nanotechnology platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sona Gold Nanorods (GNR): Patented, CTAB-free gold nanorod product for medical applications
• Sona Gold Nanospheres
• Targeted Hyperthermia Therapy (THT)
• THT Vaccine Effect

Products and services

• Sona Gold Nanorods (GNRs) Patented CTAB-free gold nanorods that are uniquely biocompatible, designed for in-body medical applications including cancer therapy via Targeted Hyperthermia Therapy. Sold as research products to universities, research labs, biotech companies, and diagnostics developers for medical diagnostics, drug delivery research, and advanced materials science applications.
• Sona Gold Nanospheres Perfectly spherical gold nanoparticles suspended in pure water, free of preservatives or suspension agents, sold for medical diagnostics and advanced materials science applications. Targeted at researchers in medical diagnostics, drug delivery, and materials science.
• Targeted Hyperthermia Therapy (THT) Sona's primary cancer therapy that delivers controlled, localized heat directly into solid tumors using proprietary CTAB-free gold nanorods, triggering apoptotic cancer cell death, revealing tumor antigens, and activating the immune system. In clinical development for treatment-resistant melanoma with combination therapy studies in preparation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% overall response rate in immunotherapy-resistant melanoma patients (8/10 patients)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• China Agricultural UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research collaboration for gold nanoparticle technology applications in agricultural and biological research.
• Clemson UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity research partnership for nanoparticle technology development and applications.
• Cape Breton UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research collaboration with Cape Breton University on nanotechnology research.
• OperonminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStrategic partnership for distribution of research products in the biotechnology/life sciences market.
• The Giacomantonio Immuno-Oncology Research GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey research collaboration focused on immuno-oncology applications of gold nanorod technology. Named research group on company website as a core therapy development partner.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• CD Bioparticles: Supplier of a broad range of nanoparticles (including gold nanorods) for research, drug delivery, and diagnostic applications. Comparable product offering in the gold nanoparticle research product category.
• nanoComposix (Fortis Life Sciences): Commercial manufacturer of precisely engineered gold and silver nanoparticles for research and diagnostics. Overlaps with Sona's research-product line in gold nanorods and nanospheres for research customers.
• Aura Biosciences: Clinical-stage oncology biotech developing virus-like particle conjugates (AU-011) for ocular cancers and additional solid tumors. Comparable in stage, capital profile, and public listing, with overlapping targeted-tumor-treatment paradigm.

Direct peers

• CytImmune Sciences: Developed CYT-6091 (Aurimune), a gold nanoparticle-based tumor-targeted cancer therapy using TNF-alpha. Closest historical peer to Sona with directly comparable gold nanoparticle oncology platform.
• Nanobiotix: Clinical-stage French biotech developing NBTXR3, a hafnium oxide nanoparticle radioenhancer for solid tumors. Comparable nanoparticle oncology platform with broad IO-combination strategy and large pharma partnerships (e.g., LianBio).
• MagForce AG: Commercial-stage company offering NanoTherm hyperthermia therapy using iron oxide nanoparticles for brain and prostate cancer. Closest commercial-stage precedent for nanoparticle-based tumor hyperthermia, validating the underlying modality Sona is pursuing.
• Nanospectra Biosciences: Clinical-stage biotech developing AuroShell gold nanoshell-based photothermal therapy for prostate cancer. Most directly comparable to Sona: uses gold nanoparticles for localized tumor ablation via near-infrared light, comparable mechanism, similar stage.

Broad incumbents

• BBI Solutions: Established manufacturer of gold nanoparticles and lateral flow diagnostic components serving the global diagnostics industry. Competes in the same gold nanoparticle research and diagnostic product category with broader portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/sonananotech
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCCK3VsReQEBrSY_gi5jWtFA
• LinkedInca.linkedin.com/company/sona-nanotech-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Stockport Exploration