Medicinal cannabis company Canntic has launched a new warehouse and virtual clinic on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, with the facility set to supply TGA-compliant products to pharmacies across the country.
The Coolum Beach distribution centre was officially opened by Sunshine Coast mayor Mark Jamieson, who estimated the project would deliver close to A$9.5 million in economic benefit to the local region.
He said in a statement: "Canntic's warehouse, dispensary and virtual clinic facility has an estimated capital expenditure of $1.3 million. This major company has a forecasted economic impact to the region of $9.44 million, generating more than 29 direct and indirect local jobs.
"The new facility will bring patient and telehealth access to plant-based medicine for regional and interstate patients and advance our region in line with the priorities from our Regional Economic Development Strategy 2013-2033."
Canntic CEO and managing director Shaun Anderson added: "We are a Sunshine Coast-based company started by two locals, with myself having worked for 30 years in big pharma, and my partner being an engineer involved in the renewable energy space.
"Sunshine Coast Council has provided business support measures over a number of years assisting us with finding potential sites, investment support and promotion through its Sunshine Coast Economic Resurgence Plan.
"We look forward to growing our presence on the Sunshine Coast and continuing our mission to build locally owned and operated plant-based medicine businesses, in a socially responsible and environmentally aware way."
Myleaf
Brisbane-based MedTech start-up Myleaf has expanded its offering beyond its recently opened walk-in clinic by adding an online clinic and dispensary component.
Through a dedicated patient portal, users can track their dispensing history and doctor consultations, with first appointments available for A$69.
Myleaf said it provides next-day appointments, personalised treatment plans and "streamlined prescription and dispensing that benefits rural and remote patients around the country with access to city-based specialist care".
Co-founder Craig Hayter added: "Myleaf was launched to reduce the friction patients may have when it comes to accessing alternative medicines, ensuring they are not just proactive in managing their health, but that they're equipped with the knowledge and advice from a medical team of specialists in alternative therapies."
"An important aspect of Myleaf is our commitment to providing ongoing patient care and support beyond the initial prescription phase. Myleaf tracks patient progress, adjusts treatment plans as needed, and supports individuals… via an advanced online portal and mandatory follow-up consultations."
Neurotech International
Neurotech International has secured both Human Research Ethics Committee approval and Therapeutic Goods Administration clearance to investigate its cannabinoid therapy NTII64 as a potential treatment for children living with cerebral palsy.
The company will carry out a phase I/II single-arm, open-label clinical trial in which caregivers will complete a questionnaire at the 12-week mark to assess their views on health-related quality of life outcomes.
Secondary endpoints will assess the safety and efficacy of NTII64 across measures including pain, sleep, seizure frequency, muscle contraction (dystonia) and spasticity.
The trial will recruit a total of 14 paediatric patients from Monash Medical Centre.
Neurotech's proprietary cannabis formulation contains multiple cannabinoids — including CBDA, CBC, CBDP, CBDB and CBN — and is already undergoing testing for autism.
The company is also investigating the potential of NTII64 in the treatment of Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS), Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) and Rett Syndrome.
On the potential of the therapy in cerebral palsy, Neurotech executive director Dr Thomas Duthy said: "Although there are a variety of drug therapies used in the treatment of Spastic CP they are often associated with sedation, confusion, memory loss and attention deficit.
"We see NTII64 as potentially a new breakthrough treatment as part of the clinical armamentarium to treat CP spasticity more effectively."
The trial is expected to get underway in the first half of 2024.
Current estimates put the number of people living with cerebral palsy at 34,000 in Australia and 750,000 in the United States.
