PharmAla Awarded Research Grant by Ontario Centre for Innovation

OCI will support Pharmala’s In-Silico Modeling Partnership with University of Windsor

TORONTO, June 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PharmAla Biotech Holdings Inc. (“PharmAla”)(CSE: MDMA)(OTC:PMBHF), a biotechnology company focused on the research, development, and manufacturing of novel MDXX class molecules (including MDMA), is excited to announce that it has been granted a research grant by the Ontario Centre for Innovation in conjunction with the University of Windsor.

“In-Silico Modeling is a crucial element of drug discovery, allowing for faster and more accurate prediction of which molecules will ‘hit’ our very specific targets, and thus be successful when sent to our pre-clinical partners at UAMS,” said Dr. Harpreet Kaur, PharmAla’s Vice President of Research. “While we have already been working closely with the team at the University of Windsor, it’s gratifying to see that the Ontario Centre of Innovation believes in our work strongly enough to match our investment 1:1.”

In Silico modeling (sometimes called AI Drug Discovery) defines the use of pharmacological information in creating computational models or simulations that can be used to make predictions, suggest hypotheses, and ultimately provide discoveries or advances in medicine and therapeutics. Despite its success in Phase 2 and 3 Trials, Racemic MDMA hydrochloride has significant side effects and improvements are a key to provide safer treatment options for patients.

Recognizing the potential approval of racemic MDMA by 2024 by the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), developing a drug that can reduce the toxicology profile is essential. PharmAla believes that this can be done through the aid of in-silico modelling. And as such, it is actively pursuing drug discovery and development that aids in identifying novel analogues of MDMA with a better safety profile. The project value is $50,000.

“Part of the reason we have gained trust with regulators over our short 2 years of work is because we lead with data. To do that, our research team encompasses a diverse group of scientists: Preclinical researchers completing animal model research, In-Silico Drug Discovery, and very soon, Clinical Research,” said Nick Kadysh, CEO, PharmAla Biotech. “The OCI grant will allow us to bolster the funnel of our drug pipeline and develop valuable IP with non-dilutive funding. We thank OCI for their confidence in the merits of our research.”

The PharmAla team, led by Sales Director David Purcell, will be hosting a booth at Psychedelic Science 2023 Conference in Denver for the week of June 19-23.

For more info, please see www.PharmAla.ca.

About PharmAla

PharmAla Biotech Holdings Inc. (CSE: MDMA) is a biotechnology company focused on the research, development, and manufacturing of MDXX class molecules, including MDMA. PharmAla was founded with a dual focus: alleviating the global backlog of generic, clinical-grade MDMA to enable clinical trials, and to develop novel drugs in the same class. PharmAla is the first publicly-traded company to manufacture clinical-grade MDMA. PharmAla’s research and development unit has completed proof-of-concept research into ALA-002, PharmAla’s lead drug candidate. PharmAla is a “regulatory first” organization, formed under the principle that true success in the psychedelics industry will only be achieved through excellent relationships with regulators.

For more information, please contact:
Nicholas Kadysh
Chief Executive Officer
PharmAla Biotech Holdings Inc.
Email: press@PharmAla.ca
Phone: 1-855-444-6362
Website: www.PharmAla.ca

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Cautionary Statement

This press release contains ‘forward-looking information’ within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words “could”, “intend”, “expect”, “believe”, “will”, “projected”, “estimated” and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on PharmAla’s current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions that have been made by PharmAla at the date of the information and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is made as of the date hereof, and PharmAla is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements are described under the caption “Risk Factors” in PharmAla’s management’s discussion and analysis which is available on PharmAla’s profile at www.sedar.com.

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