Rapid success of first program leads to second collaboration to develop optimized enzyme for large scale manufacturing process

Enzyme development expected to enable commercial-scale production of the API in 2025

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Sept. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Willow Biosciences Inc. ("Willow") (TSX: WLLW) (OTCQB: CANSF), a leading biotechnology company focused on revolutionizing industrial manufacturing of pure, consistent, and sustainable ingredients, today announced a second program with a leading Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient ("API") manufacturer, to develop a more sustainable, cost-effective manufacturing route for a large volume ingredient used in a therapeutic with a global market in excess of $1 billion. This marks the second development collaboration for the two parties following the announcement of the first program on January 31, 2024, where Willow has already successfully achieved certain development goals.

Willow's collaboration partner, who currently sells the target API, has now sought Willow's expertise to develop an enzyme to replace an existing complex large scale chemical process. The development phase of this funded collaboration is expected to last approximately six months with additional milestone payments to be made for achieving defined performance targets, which could be achieved as early as 2025. This API partnership represents Willow's 4^th announced commercial agreement year to date that contains milestone or other commercial payments that could be received as early as next year.

"We are excited to start a second program with this leading API manufacturer to apply our technology platform to the production of more sustainable APIs for existing, large volume global markets," said Dr. Chris Savile, Willow's President & CEO. "The ultimate goal of any successful business is to establish a long-term relationship with its partners." continued Dr. Savile.

About Willow Biosciences Inc.

Willow develops and produces precision fermented functional ingredients for the health and wellness, food and beverage and personal care markets. Willow's FutureGrown^? and BioOxi^? platforms enable large-scale production with sustainability at its core. Willow's R&D team has a proven track record of developing and commercializing bio-based manufacturing processes and products to benefit our B2B partners and their customers. For more information, visit www.willowbio.com.

FutureGrown^? and BioOxi^? are registered trademarks of Willow Biosciences Inc. All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective holders.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may include forward-looking statements including opinions, assumptions, estimates and the Company's assessment of future plans and operations, and, more particularly, statements concerning: the development programs with its biopharma partner, including the ability to accommodate new programs and to expand capabilities;; the demand and market size potential of the synthetic ingredients industry; and the business plan of the Company, generally, including becoming a leader in precision fermentation, research and production of functional ingredients. When used in this news release, the words "will," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intent," "may," "project," "should," "could," and similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are founded on the basis of expectations and assumptions made by the Company which include, but are not limited to: the success of Willow's strategic partnerships, including the development of future strategic partnerships; the financial strength of the Company; the ability of the Company to fund its business plan using cash on hand and existing resources; the market for Willow's products; the ability of the Company to obtain and retain applicable licences; the ability of the Company to obtain suitable manufacturing partners and other strategic relationships; and the successful implementation of Willow's commercialization and production strategy, generally. Forward-looking statements are subject to a wide range of risks and uncertainties, and although the Company believes that the expectations represented by such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will be realized. Any number of important factors could cause actual results biotechnology industry in general; the success of the Company's research and development strategies; infringement on intellectual property; failure to benefit from partnerships or successfully integrate acquisitions; actions and initiatives of federal and provincial governments and changes to government policies and the execution and impact of these actions, initiatives and policies; competition from other industry participants; adverse U.S., Canadian and global economic conditions; adverse global events and public-health crises,; failure to comply with certain regulations; departure of key management personnel or inability to attract and retain talent; and other factors more fully described from time to time in the reports and filings made by the Company with securities regulatory authorities. Please refer to the Company's most recent annual information form and management's discussion and analysis for additional risk factors relating to Willow, which can be accessed either on Willow's website at www.willowbio.com or under the Company's profile on www.sedarplus.com.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law. The forward-looking statements contained herein are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

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SOURCE Willow Biosciences Inc.