New Zealand medical cannabis company Helius Therapeutics has announced two new strategic partnerships; one with an Australian distributor and the other with a Danish firm.
The deal with Australia’s Novachem will see Novachem act as the sponsor and primary distributor for a wide range of Helius medicinal cannabis products in Australia. Helius CEO Carmen Doran says its expansion across the ditch is an important milestone for the firm, which was made possible through recent changes to New Zealand’s export regulations.
The changes mean exports now need to meet only the standards of the importing jurisdiction, rather than the New Zealand quality standard – which are very stringent. The amendments also streamline the licencing process, update testing and laboratory requirements, and address other issues – collectively reducing costs and time for the sector, while maintaining high standards.
“Partnering with Novachem aligns with our mission to deliver top-tier, GMP-certified products to a broader patient base,” said Ms. Doran. “This collaboration will enable us to extend our reach and improve the lives of more patients in need of advanced medicinal cannabis treatments.”
The other partnership is with Balancial Denmark to launch premium medicinal cannabis extracts in Denmark; marking the debut of Helius products in the Danish market. The arrangement includes both companies delivering comprehensive educational support to healthcare professionals – detailed product information, patient management best practices, and ongoing training.
“We are delighted to collaborate with Helius Therapeutics to introduce their medicinal cannabis extracts to Denmark,” said Balancial Denmark Managing Director Bo Tandrup. “This partnership underscores our dedication to providing advanced treatment solutions while adhering to the highest regulatory standards.”
100% New Zealand owned, Helius Therapeutics was the first medicinal cannabis company in NZ to be GMP certified and secure a Licence to Manufacture Medicines. The firm has an 8,800 square-metre fully integrated facility in East Tamaki, Auckland, with indoor controlled cultivation, analytics, research, manufacturing, logistics, management and bonded distribution all occurring under one roof. Helius says its products are traceable from the mother plant material to the client package.
The firm has been approved to grow more than forty cannabis cultivars, which are sourced from New Zealand and international breeders.
