MATERIAL RECEIVED IN AUSTRALIA, PRE-CLINICAL TRIAL WORK
COMMENCING
Supply agreement part of Aphria's global
expansion strategy. Medical cannabis to be used in first of its
kind global clinical trial targeting pain management in advanced
cancer pain patients
LEAMINGTON, ON, Oct. 24, 2017 /CNW/ - Aphria Inc.
("Aphria" or the "Company") (TSX: APH or USOTCQB:
APHQF), announced today that it completed its first shipment of
cannabis oil to Australian medical life science company, Medlab
Clinical Limited (ASX:MDC). The shipment is part of the
previously announced agreement between Aphria and Medlab, in which
Aphria will produce and supply high-yield cannabis extracts for
Medlab to be used in its forthcoming human trial to test management
of intractable pain in oncology patients – the first trial of its
kind globally. The product formulation and permits have been
approved by Health Canada and the Australian Therapeutic Goods
Administration ("TGA").
"The first shipment of medical cannabis to Medlab is part of our
global expansion strategy to take the Aphria story to other
regulated countries like Australia
and create additional revenue streams," says Vic Neufeld, Chief Executive Officer of Aphria.
"As Aphria's first international partner, Medlab shares our vision
to advance the use of medical cannabis as an alternative treatment
for patients in need. We are proud to be a part of this important
research, and we look forward to continuing to provide
high-quality, safe and pure medical cannabis products to support
Medlab's clinical research and help patients effectively manage
their pain."
Sean Hall, CEO of Medlab said
"This is an important step for Australian medical science as we
prepare to begin our first clinical trial for advance cancer pain
patients to help them manage their pain with a cannabis based
medicine. We're grateful for the support of health authorities in
Australia and Canada for this trial which will provide
scientific backing for the use of CBD and THC while giving the
medical community confidence in its efficacy and safety."
As part of the supply agreement, Aphria will grow and prepare
the high-yield cannabis for Medlab in Canada and Medlab will complete the
manufacturing at a licensed Schedule 8 (S8) TGA approved facility,
located in Melbourne, Australia.
At this facility, the cannabis product will be combined with
Medlab's patented medicine delivery system, NanoCelle™,
which enables sub-micron sized particles to be taken by mouth
spray, allowing a swifter and more direct absorption of medicine
into the bloodstream. The end result will be the production of a
precise, potent cannabis medicine for the human trial.
NanaBis™, Medlab's cannabis-based medicine, combines
the two most active ingredients in cannabis, cannabidiol (CBD) and
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and has received all approvals ready
for the trial to commence at Kolling Institute of Medical Research,
Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney. The trial will be supervised by
Professor Stephen Clarke OAM, a medical oncologist, palliative
medicine specialist and Professor of Medicine at the University of Sydney. Medlab's trial will be
classified as a Phase 1 cross-over IIa trial, combining SAD (single
ascending dose) and MAD (multiple ascending dose) studies.
Separately, Medlab has also received approvals for commencent of a
trial for a second cannabis-based medicine, NanaBidial™ which is a
CBD only product intended to treat chemotherapy-induced nausea and
vomiting and seizures.
Medlab expects to manufacture 3,500 units of NanaBis™
sufficiently covering the trial cohort.
About Aphria
Aphria Inc., one of Canada's
lowest cost producers, produces, supplies and sells medical
cannabis. Located in Leamington,
Ontario, the greenhouse capital of Canada. Aphria is truly powered by sunlight,
allowing for the most natural growing conditions available. Aphria
is committed to providing pharma-grade medical cannabis, superior
patient care while balancing patient economics and returns to
shareholders.
About Medlab Clinical - www.medlab.co
Medlab Clinical is an Australian based medical life science
company, developing therapeutic pathways for diagnosed chronic
diseases. It is advanced in developing therapies for pain
management, depression and obesity as well as earning revenue from
sale of nutritional products globally. In pain management Medlab is
developing cannabis-based medicines. The Medlab developed
nano-particle medicine delivery system, Nanocelle™, is
being applied to its medicines, nutritional products and off-patent
drugs like statins. Medlab has a growing patent portfolio.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: Certain
information in this news release constitutes forward-looking
statements under applicable securities laws. Any statements that
are contained in this news release that are not statements of
historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements.
Forward looking statements are often identified by terms such as
"may", "should", "anticipate", "expect", "potential", "believe",
"intend" or the negative of these terms and similar expressions.
Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are
not limited to, statements with respect to internal expectations,
estimated margins, expectations with respect to actual volumes
under the agreement, expectations for future growing capacity and
costs, the completion of any capital project or expansions, and
expectations with respect to future production costs.
Forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown
risks, including, without limitation, risks associated with general
economic conditions; adverse industry events; marketing costs; loss
of markets; future legislative and regulatory developments
involving medical marijuana; inability to access sufficient capital
from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access
sufficient capital on favourable terms; the medical marijuana
industry in Canada or Australia generally, income tax and regulatory
matters; the ability of Aphria to implement its business
strategies; competition; crop failure; currency and interest rate
fluctuations and other risks.
Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive.
Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements as there can be no assurance that the
plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will
occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by
management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect
and actual results may differ materially from those
anticipated.
Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are
expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
SOURCE Aphria Inc.