The European medical cannabis group Khiron is aiming to use its first product sales in Brazil as a launchpad for South American growth.
Through the firm´s strategic alliance with CANNAB, a patient association that connects physicians, patients, academic institutions, and suppliers, a three-year old child from Salvador de Bahia suffering from epilepsy has received six units of Khiron high-CBD 100mg/50ml extract.
The importation of Khiron’s medical cannabis on behalf of the patient was authorised by ANVISA (the Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency).
The company plans to collaborate with CANNAB to continue offering its medical products to many more patients in Brazil.
CANNAB expects to help over 1,200 new patients gain access to medical cannabis products during 2021.
According to Prohibition Partners, the Brazilian medical cannabis user base could reach close to 3 million people in the next few years.
CEO Alvaro Torres said: “Our initial export to the Brazilian market represents an important first step toward opening a large, underserved market where patients face high barriers to access.
“By providing patients with affordable high-quality products, and an unparalleled patient experience, we see an opportunity to disrupt the Brazilian market and deliver on our mission of improving patients lives.
“Khiron is already treating thousands of patients in Colombia, Peru, UK and Germany, with positive outcomes.
“In due course, we plan to bring our successful Zerenia clinic model to Brazil, as we have done in Peru and Colombia.”
The company has also established two partnerships in Brazil to increase product awareness and medical cannabis education for health care providers across the country.
Khiron has an exclusive agreement with Medlive, a pharmaceutical and health products distributor with a network of over 3,000 clinics and hospitals in southern Brazil.
It has also signed a marketing contract with TAIMIN, a leading medical distributor focused on Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and northern Brazil.
Together, the two agreements provide broad regional coverage across Brazil and are intended to drive sales by expanding Khiron’s network of prescribing physicians.
The company is also in discussion with several medical clinics as it seeks to expand its clinic model into Brazil.
