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Aphria assisting medical cannabis trials in Australia

The shipment is part of the previously announced agreement between Aphria and Medlab, in which Aphria will produce and supply high-yield cannabis extracts for Medlab to be used in its forthcoming human trial to test management of intractable pain in oncology patients – the first trial of its kind globally.

The product formulation and permits have been approved by Health Canada and the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration.
“The first shipment of medical cannabis to Medlab is part of our global expansion strategy to take the Aphria story to other regulated countries like Australia and create additional revenue streams,” says Vic Neufeld, chief executive officer of Aphria.

APHRIA’S FIRST INTERNATIONAL PARTNER

“As Aphria’s first international partner, Medlab shares our vision to advance the use of medical cannabis as an alternative treatment for patients in need. We are proud to be a part of this important research, and we look forward to continuing to provide high-quality, safe and pure medical cannabis products to support Medlab’s clinical research and help patients effectively manage their pain.”

Sean Hall, CEO of Medlab, described this as is an important step for Australian medical science as it begins its first clinical trial for advance cancer pain patients to help them manage their pain with a cannabis based medicine.

“We’re grateful for the support of health authorities in Australia and Canada for this trial which will provide scientific backing for the use of CBD and THC while giving the medical community confidence in its efficacy and safety.”

As part of the supply agreement, Aphria will grow and prepare the high-yield cannabis for Medlab in Canada and Medlab will complete the manufacturing at a licensed Schedule 8 (S8) TGA approved facility, located in Melbourne, Australia.

At this facility, the cannabis product will be combined with Medlab’s patented medicine delivery system, NanoCelle™, which enables sub-micron sized particles to be taken by mouth spray, allowing a swifter and more direct absorption of medicine into the bloodstream. The end result will be the production of a precise, potent cannabis medicine for the human trial.

RESEARCH BEING DONE AT THE KOLLING INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL RESEARCH

NanaBis™, Medlab’s cannabis-based medicine, combines the two most active ingredients in cannabis, cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and has received all approvals ready for the trial to commence at Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney.

The trial will be supervised by Professor Stephen Clarke OAM, a medical oncologist, palliative medicine specialist and Professor of Medicine at the University of Sydney.

Medlab’s trial will be classified as a Phase 1 cross-over IIa trial, combining SAD (single ascending dose) and MAD (multiple ascending dose) studies. Separately, Medlab has also received approvals to begin a trial for a second cannabis-based medicine, NanaBidial™, which is a CBD only product intended to treat chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and seizures.