Late last week saw a flurry of activity on the Australian medical cannabis and industrial hemp business scene – here’s a summary of some of the big stories.
Bod Australia
On Friday, cosmetics and skincare company Bod Australia (ASX: BDA) announced it had been granted an import licence for medicinal cannabis products from the New South Wales Department of Health and the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
It now needs permission to import from the Office of Drug Control (ODC) so that cannabis products can be made available to authorised prescribers under the Special Access Category B scheme and for Bod’s clinical trial programs
“Receiving an import licence is a great achievement for Bod Australia and delivers significant value,” said Bod Australia CEO Jo Patterson. “It is a game changer in establishing medicinal cannabis operations in Australia.”
Assuming it can secure the remaining necessary approvals, the company intends commencing a Phase I clinical trial next year, which will assess the safety, tolerance and pharmacokinetics of a proprietary sublingual (placed under the tongue) cannabis extract produced by Bod’s partner, Linnea SA.
Zelda Therapeutics
Also on Friday, Zelda Therapeutics Limited (ASX: ZLD) went into a trading halt; pending an announcement regarding a “material and significant partnership with a US-based research institution.
Auscann
On Thursday, AusCann (ASX:AC8) announced partner Tasmanian Alkaloids had been granted a licence to commence manufacturing operations in Tasmania. This, says AusCann, makes the company the only ASX-listed firm to now have all the licences required to carry out cultivation, harvesting, manufacturing and distribution of cannabinoid medicines.
“This final required licence from the ODC is a significant achievement for the Partnership and AusCann,” said AusCann Managing Director, Elaine Darby.
The Hydroponics Company
Also late last week, The Hydroponics Company (ASX:THC) announced a license agreement with National Access Cannabis (NAC) concerning a transfer of technology, knowledge and IP from NAC. The company says this will assist in THC in the development of a professional clinic model.
Medical Cannabis Limited
Finally, Queensland Bauxite Limited (QBL), which has a 55% stake in Medical Cannabis Limited, reported progress on MCL’s Vitahemp brand – a hemp foods company. QBL said MCL had approximately 60 tonnes of industrial hemp seed ready for food production, with another 10 tonnes on its way.
QBL also said its contracted farmers should produce 500 tonnes of seed in March next year from 20 tonnes of seed that was recently imported and cleared last week by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS).
