Aphria Signs Agreement to Provide Sponsorship and Medical Marijuana to Large Three-Year Observational Research Study

LEAMINGTON, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - March 3, 2015) - Aphria Inc. ("Aphria") (TSX VENTURE:APH) announced today that it has signed an agreement with Canadian-based Apollo Applied Research Inc. ("Apollo") to be a sponsor of, and supplier to, a three-year medical marijuana observational research study being conducted by Apollo. The study has received ethics approval to conduct clinical research on up to 1,100 qualified subjects across Ontario.

Apollo, renowned in Canada for advanced medical marijuana research, offers an evidence-based approach to pain management. Data collected through the study, which commenced March 1, 2015, will be systematically analyzed in order to evaluate and understand the impact of medical marijuana on quality of life for those suffering from various chronic pain conditions. It will also be used to identify dosing regimens and specific conditions that may benefit from cannabis-based treatment.

"Apollo is conducting important groundbreaking research," stated Vic Neufeld, Chief Executive Officer of Aphria. "Medical marijuana as a patient-accepted and physician-supported health and wellness alternative will greatly benefit from the advancement of this large ethics approved study. We are thrilled to supply Aphria-grown product to the project and its subjects who will be working with some of Canada's leading specialists in the field of pain management."

"While there are many players in the Canadian medical marijuana space, we were impressed by Aphria's management team, facilities and ability to supply large uninterrupted quantities of top quality product," stated Bryan Hendin, President and Director of Apollo. "Apollo has been investigating and furthering medical marijuana research for the past two years and this study is a culmination of this work. Aphria is our first industry sponsor."

Apollo's clinical team is comprised of nationally and internationally recognized pain physicians and scientists who share the objective of treating chronic pain patients with medical cannabis. The physicians participating in this project include some of Canada's leading specialists in pain management, including doctors from pain departments at several large nationally-recognized hospitals. They will assist in introducing Apollo to patients looking for a natural alternative treatment that addresses their daily chronic pain needs.