Cann Group
Cann Group has hit its enrolment target for a Phase III clinical trial examining low-dose Satipharm CBD capsules as a treatment for short-term sleep disturbance.
Since recruitment began in February across centres in Australia and New Zealand, more than 212 patients have joined the trial.
Working alongside its trial investigators, the company is now conducting a follow-up analysis to assess whether the participant numbers are sufficient to detect statistical significance and produce a definitive study outcome.
Cann Group expects a positive trial result to support an application to register Satipharm CBD capsules as a Schedule 3, over-the-counter medicine in Australia.
Global healthcare company Haleon previously secured an exclusive evaluation and option agreement with Cann Group for the marketing and sale of over-the-counter Satipharm CBD capsules in Australia.
Cann described the clinical study report as a pivotal milestone on the path to a definitive commercial agreement with Haleon.
CEO Peter Crock added: "Recruiting participants for clinical trials has become more difficult following Covid, so we are happy to report that this study is proceeding well, and we look forward to sharing the results in the coming months."
Cronos Australia
The Victorian Government has granted Cronos the licences needed to operate its newly commissioned Melbourne Distribution Centre (MDC), located at an undisclosed site.
Fit-out of the MDC wrapped up last week, and the facility is approximately double the size of the company's existing Gold Coast operation, built to handle growing order volumes.
The MDC will manage distribution across Victoria, parts of NSW, SA, WA and Tasmania, while the Gold Coast facility will continue to service the remainder of NSW, Queensland, the Northern Territory and the ACT.
Cronos said the new centre will shorten delivery times for patients, with some Melbourne pharmacies set to receive same-day orders. The MDC has begun accepting orders, and a formal opening is expected within the coming months.
Cronos Australia CEO Rodney Cocks said the facility would "support a significant uplift in medicinal cannabis sales volume through our market-leading CanView platform" and "puts product closer to pharmacies and patients".
Releaf Group
Medicinal cannabis franchisor Releaf Group has announced plans to grow its pharmacy franchise chain by an additional 20 high street locations set to open in 2023, timed alongside the group's national clinic rollout.
The company is inviting individual pharmacists and pharmacy groups to get in touch about partnering on single or multiple high-street sites under the Releaf Dispensary banner.
Releaf currently operates in St Kilda, Fortitude Valley, Coolangatta, Noosa and Caloundra, and is actively building new clinics and pharmacies in Queensland, Victoria, NSW and SA, with ambitions to "expand into all key high street city, suburban and regional locations across Australia".
Rua Bioscience
Medicinal cannabis producer Rua Bioscience has completed its first seed export to Australia, in what is thought to be the first legal shipment of cannabis genetics under New Zealand's medicinal cannabis scheme.
Cann Group will cultivate the seeds and evaluate their commercial potential, mirroring a parallel trial taking place at Rua's cultivation research and development facility in New Zealand.
Managing director Anna Stove said: "This seed export demonstrates the value of our relationship with Cann Group as we further establish an end-to-end cultivation and supply chain solution at scale.
"It's taking time, but we believe weaving the intergenerational plant knowledge of our team with the global cultivation scale of Cann Group will give us a significant competitive advantage."
Incannex Healthcare
Incannex has concluded a pre-investigational new drug (IND) application meeting with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) concerning its proprietary drug candidate for traumatic brain injury (TBI) and concussion.
The combination drug IHL-216A, which pairs CBD with isoflurane, is intended to be delivered by inhalation shortly after a head injury to limit secondary brain damage that could otherwise produce neurological deficits — including chronic traumatic encephalopathy linked to repeated impacts in contact sports.
The FDA outlined its data requirements for opening an IND for the drug, with particular focus on the development of an inhaled delivery format and the conduct of clinical trials involving an anaesthetic agent.
Incannex said the regulator recognised TBI as a significant unmet medical need calling for innovative treatment approaches. The company is now drafting a follow-up request seeking additional clarification on the FDA's recommendations.
