Rua exports 1st sample medicinal cannabis flower to Germany

PO Box 1387, Gisborne 4040, Aotearoa New Zealand | 0800 RUABIO | www.ruabio.com



FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
NZX Limited
Wellington

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Rua Bioscience exports first sample medicinal cannabis flower to Germany

Rua Bioscience has successfully exported a sample of medicinal cannabis flower grown in
Ruatorea to Germany.

The sample of dried flower is similar to the product Rua aims to export in commercial quantities
by the end of this year, as part of its sales agreement with German distributor, Nimbus Health.
Though weighing just 70 grams, it has enabled the company to test its packaging and export
processes.

Dr. Jessika Nowak, Rua’s Chief Research Officer, says this is the first time cannabis flower has
been exported in any quantity from New Zealand to Germany and it has provided valuable early
learning opportunities for all involved.

“This sample export was specifically designed as a practice run. Despite the sample’s size, we had
to navigate the same complex web of export licencing arrangements, customs regulations,
temperature controlled logistics and shipping timelines, that we will when we’re in a position to
export commercially,” says Dr Nowak.

Once received by Nimbus Health, data from the temperature logger in the package was assessed
to determine that the packaging performed as expected to keep the plant material at the
required temperatures throughout shipping. The plant material was then sent on to a commercial
laboratory in Germany for analytical testing.

“We were very pleased to receive this sample at our facility near Frankfurt and look forward to
seeing commercial quantities for German patients when it is ready,” said Nimbus Health CEO,
Linus Weber.

Mr Weber said Nimbus has been expanding its range of medicinal cannabis to meet the growing
demand from German patients for product. The Rua Bioscience product is expected to be
considered a premium option available across the German market.

“Importing medicinal cannabis products from New Zealand will give doctors a whole new level of
therapeutic options in treating seriously ill patients,” concludes Mr Weber.

Rua Bioscience CEO, Rob Mitchell, says this is a small, but important step for Rua in learning and
understanding the export process, end to end.

MARKET ANNOUNCEMENT

PO Box 1387, Gisborne 4040, Aotearoa New Zealand | 0800 RUABIO | www.ruabio.com
“Rua has a clear export strategy, and our first focus is on the German market. This sample export
of dried medicinal cannabis flower to Germany gives us growing confidence that we are on the
right track to export our commercial flower to Germany by the end of this year, “says Mr Mitchell.

ENDS


About Rua’s Export Strategy

Consumption of medicinal cannabis is currently legal in over 40 countries and 33 states in the
USA, with the global sector estimated by some industry analysts to be worth over US$62.6bn by
2024.

The German market, Rua’s first strategic focus, is Europe’s most mature medicinal cannabis
market and currently the largest single market for GMP (pharmaceutical) grade cannabis in the
world. According to latest reports, more than 120,000 people are using legal medicinal cannabis
products in Germany. According to reports from the BfArM (The German Federal Institute for
Drugs and Medical Devices), imports of medical cannabis flower into Germany hit record highs in
Q4,2020, closing the year with a 37% year on year growth. Germany imported 3,264 kilograms of
medical cannabis flower in that quarter, the largest amount of any quarter to date, bringing the
yearly total for 2020 to 9249kgs.

Nimbus Health is an independent pharmaceutical wholesaler that specialises in the importation
and distribution of medicinal cannabis products into Germany. The company provides
pharmacies across Germany with pharmaceutical-grade medicinal cannabis products for patient
prescriptions.

Rua Bioscience was the first New Zealand company to announce a binding export agreement
with a reputable distributor in Germany and is Nimbus Health’s exclusive New Zealand supplier.
The arrangement provides certainty for the company’s production goals and signalled
international confidence in Rua’s ability to produce pharmaceutical-grade cannabis medicines.

About Rua Bioscience

Rua Bioscience is a New Zealand pharmaceutical company aiming to be a leading producer of
cannabinoid derived medicines for both export and local markets. Rua has been an early mover
in the sector and was the first private company in New Zealand to receive a licence to cultivate
cannabis for research purposes. Founded in 2017 in Ruatorea as a subsidiary of charitable
company Hikurangi Enterprises Limited, Rua is underpinned by its mission to heal the people and
heal the land. It is committed to New Zealand’s Te Tairāwhiti (East Coast) region and its
connection with its local community. The company has completed facilities for cultivation and
manufacturing. www.ruabio.com

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For more information, please visit www.ruabio.com, or contact:
Kerry Donovan
Communications Manager
Rua Bioscience
M 021 128 7689
kerry.donovan@ruabio.com