Tetra Bio-Pharma and Altus Formulation Sign Joint Venture Agreement for Cannabinoid Drug Product Development

OTTAWA, April 29, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tetra Bio-Pharma Inc. ("Tetra" or "TBP"), (TSX VENTURE: TBP) (OTCQB: TBPMF), and Altus Formulation Inc. ("Altus") today announced the signing of a Joint Venture Agreement under which the two companies will work together to develop a series of cannabinoid-receptor targeted therapeutics addressing multiple areas of high unmet need.

The Joint-Venture will synergize the capabilities of the two companies:

• Products:  The companies have identified product candidates in the fields of pain, oncology and ophthalmology, addressing a total market size of over $10BN. (Source: MedTracktm)
   
• New Routes of Administration: Altus' SmartCelletm insoluble drug delivery platform enables intravenous, topical, intra-nasal and oral delivery. Smartcelle'stm proven ability to enhance the solubility of cannabinoids permits increased oral absorption and enables low volume parenteral and transmucosal delivery.  Intellitabtm and Flexitabtm technologies will deliver Safer to Usetm products to patients.
   
• New Intellectual Property:  Altus' distinct drug delivery technologies provide Tetra with significant strategic advantages over the competition and will enable Tetra to significantly improve some of the current products under development. In addition to SmartCelletm these include Intellitabtm abuse deterrent technology platform and, Flexitabtm breakable sustained release tablet technology for enhanced dosing flexibility.  All platforms are protected by patents enforced globally. 
  
  
• Commercial Development, Manufacturing and Supply.  Combining Altus and Tetra capabilities ensures these essential parts of the value chain are addressed early and efficiently.

Dr. Guy Chamberland, CEO and CSO of Tetra stated, "We are extremely excited about finalizing this agreement which will enable us to improve existing products and will allow us to exploit a  number of different delivery mechanisms including Intra-Nasal, Intravenous and Oral Sustained Release Tablets.   Furthermore, Altus' technology will play a key role in strengthening Tetra's Intellectual Property for its product portfolio.  This newly created joint-venture will also serve to benefit our patients, their care providers and help us in our quest to replace the use of opioids."

Damon Smith President and CEO of Altus Formulations Inc. added, "We believe that by targeting cannabinoid receptors we open up a range of therapeutic pathways unaddressed by today's medications. Whether alone or in combination, we believe such medications can provide great value to patients, not least to those suffering the blight of undertreated pain.  By combining our capabilities and focusing our resources to generate the right drug for the right patient, the Tetra/Altus joint venture overcomes many of the hurdles that have dogged cannabinoid medicine commercialization in the past. We greatly look forward to working with the Tetra team and to bringing these products to the market.

About Altus Formulation Inc.
Altus Formulation is a Quebec based drug formulation and development company using its proprietary and patent protected drug delivery technologies to generate novel, differentiated and cost-effective new products for its partners and their patients. With a focus on Safer to Usetm formulations, Altus' technologies include Intellitabtm abuse deterrent technology, Flexitabtm breakable extended release tablets and SmartCelletm technologies for delivery of low solubility large and small molecules.

For more information, please visit www.altusformulation.com

About Tetra Bio-Pharma Inc.
Tetra Bio-Pharma (TSX-V: TBP) (OTCQB: TBPMF) is a biopharmaceutical leader in cannabinoid-based drug discovery and development with a Health Canada approved, and FDA reviewed, clinical program aimed at bringing novel prescription drugs and treatments to patients and their healthcare providers. The Company has several subsidiaries engaged in the development of an advanced and growing pipeline of Bio Pharmaceuticals, Natural Health and Veterinary Health Products containing cannabis and other medicinal plant-based elements. With patients at the core of what we do, Tetra Bio-Pharma is focused on providing rigorous scientific validation and safety data required for inclusion into the existing bio pharma industry by regulators, physicians and insurance companies.

For more information visit: www.tetrabiopharma.com
Source: Tetra Bio-Pharma

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-looking statements
Some statements in this release may contain forward-looking information. All statements, other than of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements regarding potential acquisitions and financings) are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words "may", "will", "should", "continue", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "believe", "intend", "plan" or "project" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict, that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, without limitation, the inability of the Company to obtain sufficient financing to execute the Company's business plan; competition; regulation and anticipated and unanticipated costs and delays, the success of the Company's research and development strategies, the success of this joint venture,  the ability to obtain orphan drug status, the applicability of the discoveries made therein, the successful and timely completion and uncertainties related to the regulatory process, the timing of clinical trials, the timing and outcomes of regulatory or intellectual property decisions and other risks disclosed in the Company's public disclosure record on file with the relevant securities regulatory authorities. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results or events not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake an obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise unless required by applicable securities legislation. 

Tetra Contact:
Robert Bechard
Executive Vice-President Corporate Development and Licensing                                 
514-817-2514
[email protected]       

Investor Contact: 
MaisonBrison
Pierre Boucher CPA, CMA
Partner, Executive Vice President
514-731-0000 Ext :237

Media Contact : 
energi PR 
Carol Levine, APR, FCPRS 
CEO 514-288-8500 ext. 226 
[email protected]