Rua partners to supply medicinal MDMA in New Zealand

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

MARKET UPDATE


FOR PUBLIC RELEASE


NZX Limited
Wellington

9 October 2026


Rua Bioscience and PharmAla Biotech partner to supply medicinal MDMA in New Zealand
Tairawhiti, New Zealand and Toronto, Canada – Rua Bioscience Limited (NZX: RUA) and
PharmAla Biotech Holdings Inc. (CSE: MDMA) (OTCQB: MDXXF) announce that Rua and
PharmAla Biotech Inc., a subsidiary of PharmAla, have signed a distribution and licence
agreement. Under the agreement, Rua will import, distribute and sell PharmAla’s
pharmaceutical-g rade LaNeo™ MDMA in New Zealand.

MDMA is a psychoactive compound best known for its recreational use as “ecstasy”. In a
medical setting, pharmaceutical-grade MDMA is administered in a highly controlled
environment and is being used as an adjunct to psychotherapy for conditions including post-
traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The agreement follows Medsafe’s approval, on 4 September 2026, of two psychiatrists to
prescribe pharmaceutical-grade MDMA for PTSD. This represents an important development in
New Zealand’s emerging psychedelic-assisted therapy sector and allows these authorised
psychiatrists to prescribe MDMA in accordance with their Medsafe approval. Rua will work to
supply LaNeo™ MDMA to authorised prescribers in New Zealand. The first shipment will be
supplied on a consignment basis, enabling Rua to enter the market with minimal upfront
capital.
A natural extension of Rua’s business
Rua has built its business on the safe, compliant supply of controlled medicines. Its licensing,
quality systems, regulatory expertise and prescriber relationships in medical cannabis apply
directly to this new category. The agreement adds a second regulated medicine to Rua’s
portfolio and opens a new revenue opportunity without significant additional investment,
consistent with Rua’s capital-light strategy.
A GMP partner with an established supply record
PharmAla is one of the first companies in the world to manufacture GMP-grade MDMA. It
supplies clinical trials and authorised prescribers internationally, including in Australia, where
authorised psychiatrists have prescribed MDMA since 2023.

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


The rise of psychedelic medicine
Psychedelic medicine is moving from the margins into mainstream clinical practice. In 2023,
Australia became the first country to allow authorised psychiatrists to prescribe MDMA and
psilocybin. New Zealand followed with its first approval to prescribe psilocybin for treatment-
resistant depression in 2025, and now MDMA for PTSD. For people whose conditions have not
responded to conventional treatment, these medicines offer a carefully controlled new option,
delivered under strict clinical supervision.
Rua has a long-standing interest in this field. It supports Tū Wairua, an Indigenous-led clinical
study at Rangiwaho Marae in Te Tairāwhiti that explores the potential of psilocybin-containing
fungi to help people overcome methamphetamine addiction. That work reflects Rua’s belief
that well-researched, culturally grounded and properly regulated medicines can bring
meaningful benefit to whanau and communities.
Paul Naske, Chief Executive Officer of Rua Bioscience, said: “Medicinal cannabis taught us that
safe, regulated access to new medicines starts with small, careful steps. Medsafe’s decision on
MDMA is one of those steps, and we’re proud to help make it real for patients. This agreement
builds on what Rua already does well, adds a new product category to our business, and
positions us early in a field we expect to grow as the evidence and the regulatory framework
continue to develop.”
Nicholas Kadysh, Chief Executive Officer of PharmAla Biotech, said: “Medsafe’s decision gives
New Zealand psychiatrists a path to treat PTSD with MDMA. Those clinicians need a reliable,
GMP-grade supply. Rua has the licences, quality systems and prescriber relationships to deliver
it from day one, and shares our regulatory-first approach. We are pleased to partner with
them.”
Looking ahead
Rua will now work with PharmAla and Medsafe to complete the regulatory and quality steps
before the first shipment. Patient numbers will be modest at first, but both companies see this
as an important first step in a broader shift in how Aotearoa approaches mental health
treatment.
About PharmAla
PharmAla Biotech Holdings Inc. (CSE: MDMA) (OTCQB: MDXXF) is a biotechnology company
focused on the research, development and manufacturing of MDxx class molecules, including
MDMA. PharmAla manufactures GMP-grade LaNeo™ MDMA for clinical trials and authorised
prescribers, and develops novel MDxx class drugs, including its lead candidate ALA-002.
PharmAla is a “regulatory first” organization.

ENDS

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




The person who authorised this announcement:

Paul Naske
Chief Executive Officer
paul.naske@ruabio.com
+64 21 445154