Lexaria Bioscience Corp.
Funding
Altria is funding a milestone-based research & development program (“R&D Program”) in exchange for a minority equity interest in Lexaria Nicotine and certain DehydraTECH™ license rights. Altria will provide initial funding of US$1 million, with the option for additional funding of up to US$12 million through multiple phased private financings.
R&D Program
Lexaria Nicotine will execute a comprehensive series of clinical investigations of oral forms of nicotine delivery, utilizing Lexaria’s patented DehydraTECHTM technology.
DehydraTECH™License
Altria has been granted a license to use Lexaria Bioscience’s patented DehydraTECH™ technology for oral nicotine delivery forms on an exclusive basis in the United States and a non-exclusive basis elsewhere globally. Altria will pay Lexaria Nicotine a royalty on revenue generated from the sale of nicotine products containing DehydraTECH™, until such time it may acquire 100% ownership in Lexaria Nicotine.
Additional Information
Altria will initially have the right to appoint one of the seven directors on Lexaria Nicotine’s board of directors and, through the additional phased investments, may have the right to appoint up to three of the seven directors.
Altria has the option to acquire 100% ownership interest in Lexaria Nicotine commensurate with then-current fair market value. Lexaria Bioscience has not sold or optioned any of its own equity. As announced on October 10, 2018, Lexaria Bioscience has created a number of individual subsidiaries – including Lexaria Nicotine – in a structure whereby Lexaria Bioscience retains ownership of its patented DehydraTECH™ technology and licenses its use to multiple molecular classes, including nicotine.
Management Commentary
“Lexaria Bioscience is proud that, after careful selection, Altria has chosen to fund research into DehydraTECH™ technology and potentially commercialize this technology for oral nicotine,” remarks Chris Bunka, CEO of Lexaria Bioscience. “This partnership will provide significant benefits to Lexaria Bioscience and its shareholders with a world-class R&D Program and regulatory compliance process. We believe Altria is the best corporate partner we could work with to truly make a difference in the lives of millions of consumers.”
“Lexaria Bioscience has repeatedly demonstrated the powerful effects of its patented DehydraTECH™ technology for enhancing the palatability and speed of onset of orally-consumed bioactive substances such as nicotine,” added John Docherty, President of Lexaria Bioscience. “Laboratory research to date on oral nicotine formulations has been quite encouraging. We are very excited to advance the clinical phases of our comprehensive R&D Program together with Altria with a view to full commercial product development.”
Advisors
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP acted as independent legal counsel to Lexaria Bioscience and Lexaria Nicotine. Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP acted as independent legal counsel to Altria.
About Lexaria Bioscience
Lexaria Bioscience Corp. has developed and out-licenses its disruptive delivery technology that promotes healthier ingestion methods, lower overall dosing and quicker onset of lipophilic active molecules. Lexaria has ten patents granted in the USA and in Australia and has filed over 50 patent applications worldwide across ten patent families. Lexaria’s technology provides more rapid delivery to the bloodstream; and important taste-masking benefits, for orally administered bioactive molecules including cannabinoids, vitamins, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), nicotine and other molecules.
Lexaria Nicotine LLC is a United States domiciled, majority-owned subsidiary of Lexaria Bioscience Corp., focused on reduced-risk nicotine solutions.
For regular updates, connect with Lexaria on Twitter https://twitter.com/lexariacorp and on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lexariabioscience/
About Altria Group
Altria’s wholly-owned subsidiaries include Philip Morris USA Inc. (PM USA), U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC (USSTC), John Middleton Co. (Middleton), Sherman Group Holdings, LLC and its subsidiaries (Nat Sherman), Ste. Michelle Wine Estates Ltd. (Ste. Michelle) and Philip Morris Capital Corporation (PMCC). Altria holds an equity investment in Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (AB InBev).
The brand portfolios of Altria’s tobacco operating companies include Marlboro®, Black &Mild®, Copenhagen® and Skoal®. Ste. Michelle produces and markets premium wines sold under various labels, including Chateau Ste. Michelle®, Columbia Crest®,14 Hands®and Stag’s LeapWine Cellars™, and it imports and markets Antinori®, Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte™,Torres® and Villa MariaEstate™ products in the United States. Trademarks and service marks related to Altria referenced in this release are the property of Altria or its subsidiaries or are used with permission. More information about Altria is available at altria.com and on the Altria Investor app.
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