ECS Botanics has signed an agreement to import a 'smart inhaler' from an unnamed overseas manufacturer, with plans to offer the metered-dosing vaporiser to its B2B customers.
Although no firm orders have been placed yet, market research carried out by ECS found strong interest in the dosage form, chief executive Nan-Maree Schoerie said in an interview.
Cartridges will be filled with ECS flower at the company's GMP manufacturing facility, and all of its cultivar strains will be made available in the format.
ECS said the device will regulate dosage volumes and give patients who are uncomfortable handling dried flower themselves greater confidence in their consumption.
"It will be particularly beneficial for people who are not used to cannabis, and don't want to use it the recreational way," Schoerie said. "It allows them to feel confident that they're not going to take too much, particularly elderly people who are not necessarily comfortable smoking or using cannabis.
“It gives them the confidence that they will get the immediate effect without the risk of being stoned as they will be able to consumer the right amount of product prescribed by their doctor.”
The device will also give prescribing doctors considerably more control over dosing, allowing them to closely track patient consumption and the therapeutic outcomes being achieved.
“It’s designed for medical patients who don’t want to be grinding flower and playing with cannabis, they just insert the cartridge in the device and inhale,” Schoerie said.
Vaporisers are gaining traction in the Australian market, a trend reflected in the strong interest ECS found through its research.
“For us it’s not so much about the novelty of metered dosing, it’s about the ability to provide our customers with another way of consuming the product,” Schoerie said.
General manager commercial, Blaise Bratter, added: “The dose-measuring inhalers and cartridges provide patients with useful control and feedback [via a software application].
“Controlled, measured inhalation will allow both patients and doctors to optimise treatment for the most effective therapeutic benefit.”
In a separate development, ECS is exporting what is understood to be the first shipment of oil and flower to Switzerland from the Australian market.
Switzerland only legalised the use of medicinal cannabis in August.
The shipment follows the signing of a three-year supply agreement between ECS and Zurich-based Medropharm.
On another front, construction of six cropping enclosures is expected to wrap up at the end of January after work was suspended due to recent flooding.
While the high water levels affected yields, Schoerie said the impact was not material and no crops were lost.
Although floodwaters have receded enough in recent weeks to allow large vehicles to transport product, water continues to surround the site, with staff still arriving and departing by boat.
