Aequus Awarded Growth Stage Life Sciences Company of the Year

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Feb. 26, 2016) - Aequus Pharmaceuticals Inc. (TSX VENTURE:AQS)(OTCQB:AQSZF) ("Aequus" or the "Company"), a specialty pharmaceutical company with a focus on developing, advancing and promoting differentiated products, announced today that is has been selected as the recipient of the 2016 LifeSciences British Columbia (LSBC) Growth Stage Life Sciences Company of the Year. This award is presented to an early-stage life sciences company which has demonstrated outstanding performance in 2015 and has positioned itself well for potential future commercial success.

"We are honored to be recognized by our peers in the life sciences community for this award," said Doug Janzen, Chairman and CEO of Aequus. "In the past 12 months we have achieved some notable milestones, including a completed acquisition of TeOra Health which provided us with a sales infrastructure that accelerated our plans of being a revenue generating company. We launched promotional efforts for our first commercial product in transplant and expect to launch a second commercial product in ophthalmology in the near term. Additionally, we in-licensed Canadian rights to two additional commercial-stage branded epilepsy products from Supernus, which we expect to introduce to the Canadian market in 2017. On our development side we advanced our lead transdermal antipsychotic program into clinical trials and continued optimization on two additional transdermal development programs. We are excited about the company's momentum and look forward to advancing our pipeline, promoting our commercial-stage products, and advancing partnering discussions this year."

The award will be presented on April 21, 2016 at the 18^th annual LSBC Awards Gala.

About Aequus Pharmaceuticals

Aequus Pharmaceuticals Inc. (TSX VENTURE:AQS)(OTCQB:AQSZF) is a rapidly growing specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing high quality, differentiated products. Aequus' sales and marketing efforts are based in Canada, targeting highly specialized therapeutic areas including neurology, ophthalmology and transplant. Aequus is developing a pipeline of products in neurology and psychiatry with a goal of addressing the need for improved medication adherence through enhanced delivery systems. Aequus intends to commercialize its internal programs in Canada and to establish strategic partnerships to accelerate and maximize the potential of its product candidates worldwide. Aequus intends on building this Canadian commercial platform with the launch of additional products that are either created internally or brought in through an acquisition or license; remaining focused on highly specialized therapeutic areas. For further information, please visit www.aequuspharma.ca.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements or forward-looking information under applicable Canadian securities legislation that may not be based on historical fact. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions made by us in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as the factors we believe are appropriate. Forward-looking statements in this release include but are not limited to statements relating to the growth and revenue prospects of Aequus and Aequus' intention to build its business in 2016. Such statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties and are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Aequus, are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In making the forward-looking statements included in this release, the Company has made various material assumptions, including, but not limited to the advancement of Aequus' pipeline and general business and economic conditions. In evaluating forward-looking statements, current and prospective shareholders should specifically consider various factors set out under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's base shelf prospectus dated June 30, 2015, a copy of which is available on Aequus' profile on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com, and as otherwise disclosed from time to time on Aequus' SEDAR profile. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties, or a risk that is not currently known to us materialize, or should assumptions underlying those forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release and we do not intend, and do not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are inherently uncertain. Accordingly, investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements.