Aurora Germany GmbH, a subsidiary of Canadian firm Aurora Cannabis, has successfully delivered its initial shipment of cannabis to the French medical cannabis pilot programme.
The dried cannabis flower-based products are set to be made available to patients in the coming weeks.
Up to 3,000 patients will benefit from the two-year trial led by the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM), which launched earlier this year.
Aurora and Ethypharm were selected to supply the entire medical cannabis dried flower range (three lots of the tender) to French patients during the pilot programme.
Under the terms of the exclusive agreement, Aurora supplies medical cannabis sourced from the company’s largest greenhouse production facility on European soil, Aurora Nordic, as well as EU GMP manufacturing and logistics support.
Ethypharm’s French subsidiary, Laboratoires Ethypharm, is responsible for pharmaceutical distribution in France.
A significant step forward
Miguel Martin, chief executive officer of Aurora Cannabis, commented: “The first prescriptions of dried medical cannabis as part of the French pilot program are a significant step toward providing access to patients and will support the destigmatisation of medical cannabis in France.
“This accomplishment is another example of Aurora’s leadership in global cannabis, with a proven track record of supporting the advancement of international medical cannabis markets alongside government bodies. By demonstrating a deep commitment to compliance and focus on product quality, we won three of the nine available tenders. If successful, this pilot programme could lead to one of the largest regulated medical cannabis markets in Europe.”
Jean Monin, chief commercial operations officer of Ethypharm added: “Combining our pharmaceutical skills is, in our view, the right approach to build trust and confidence in medical cannabis for the long term in France.
“We want to be a driving force to support patients suffering from chronic pain when there is no other therapeutic option than medical cannabis. With our deep expertise in disorders of the central nervous system and an expertise in highly regulated medicines, we are well prepared to collaborate with the health authorities and physicians. If positive, Ethypharm will, as a pharmaceutical company, ensure distribution and patient access to new therapeutic cannabis options.”
There are three types of high-quality pharmaceutical-grade dried flower medical cannabis available in the pilot program: Aurora 20/1 XPE (high-THC dried flower), Aurora 8/8 XPE (THC:CBD balanced dried flower) and Aurora 1/12 XPE (high-CBD dried flower).
Dried flower is administered with a vaporiser by STORZ & BICKEL, a reputable medical device tested and used by patients across Europe, recently selected by the ANSM.
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