Le Lézard
Classified in: Health
Subjects: NEW PRODUCTS/SERVICES, HEALTH

Scientus Pharma Obtains Health Canada Approval for Cannabis Oils and Softgel Production


TORONTO, Oct. 22, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HydRx Farms Ltd. (o/a Scientus Pharma) ("Scientus" or the "Company"), a biopharmaceutical company conducting research and product development for extracts and formulations related to medical cannabinoids and their derivatives, is pleased to announce that it has received Health Canada authorization to produce cannabis softgel capsules and oils at its state-of-the-art, 45,000 Sq. Ft. commercial production facility in Whitby, Ontario.

The company is now ready to launch the next generation advancement toward a more consistent and safer product for medical patients. To date, existing extraction methods in the industry do not adequately activate the medicinal component of the cannabis plant, such as THC and CBD. Nor do they compensate for large batch-to-batch variability inherent in natural plant materials. Scientus has solved these challenges on both fronts.

"At Scientus Pharma, our main purpose is to provide patients and physicians with a standardized, predictable and effective medicine. We have developed a proprietary continuous flow extraction platform to produce consistent batch profiles of oils and softgel capsules with 100% decarboxylation," said Har Grover, Chairman and CEO of Scientus. "This will allow us to generate product predictability, to increase patient safety and to help health care practitioners improve dosing guidelines."

Scientus has been granted a Notice of Allowance from the United States Patent and Trademark Office on the first of its patent applications. The Company has several other patent applications pending that, if granted, would provide additional protection for its formulation and extraction technologies.

About Patient Safety

Many patients interested in exploring medical cannabis therapies have been looking for derivatives that are predictable and effective. Up until now, the most consistent and efficacious method to benefit from the therapeutic effects of cannabis was smoking the plant, which traditionally delivers the highest level of decarboxylation and potency. Decarboxylation is the chemical process that activates the potency of the cannabis plant through heat.

With several delivery methods now available, patients are no longer restricted to having to smoke cannabis to obtain the full therapeutic benefit. But this diversity comes with its own risks, because potency levels among non-combustible medical cannabis products, such as a concentrate or an oil, varies greatly based on the method used to activate the cannabinoids.

In fact, a recent Canadian study that looked at cannabis oils, concentrates and capsules currently available for medical use, uncovered varying levels of potency from batch to batch within the same product families. This means that patients could be paying hundreds of dollars monthly for medical cannabis derivatives that either have no therapeutic effects at all, or that are much more potent than expected and could result in a negative experience.

About Scientus Pharma's Production

The cannabis plant is highly complex with over 500 elements.  There can also be huge variability in batches from one harvest to another.  Many growers have developed standardized cultivation methods to reduce these variabilities, but that is not enough when it comes to producing derivatives for medical purposes.  This variability must be reduced or eliminated in order to align with the high standards of the pharmaceutical industry and other sectors such as consumer products and beverages.

The Company's process starts with the extraction method. Scientus Pharma has developed a proprietary method for extraction and activation of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) from the cannabis plant.  The result is an intermediary resin that can be used in a range of dosing forms.  The company's extraction process provides the chemical and biological quality control appropriate for pharmaceutical grade product lines.

"At a manufacturing capacity of up to 200,000 cannabis softgel capsules per hour, we believe that our in-house production capabilities are unrivaled," said Mr. Grover. "That, combined with our ability to produce cannabis-infused gelatins into a product that is >99% activated for THC and CBD, makes us unique in the cannabis industry. Our production platform can also be major value-add in the beverage sector."

In addition to the production license received, the Company has had its pre-sales audit, the final step prior to receiving its Sales License from Health Canada.

About Scientus Pharma Inc.

Scientus Pharma Inc. is a vertically-integrated biopharmaceutical Licensed Producer and Licensed Dealer under the Narcotics Control Regulations of Canada who conducts scientific research on cannabinoids with a focus on developing and commercializing pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoid derivative products. Being one of a limited number of Licensed Dealers in Canada authorized to handle and conduct cannabinoid products, Scientus Pharma has the ability to wholesale, buy, process and sell cannabinoid derivatives, from and to other Licensed Producers, as well as international markets. Scientus is also a Licensed Producer under the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR).

Forward-Looking Statements

This new release includes forward-looking statements regarding the Company and its business. Such statements are based on the current expectations and views of future events of the Company's management. In some cases, the forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "may", "will", "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "intend", "potential", "estimate", "believe" or the negative of these terms, or other similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include the Company's expected U.S. patent grant.  No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed.  In addition, certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking information that involves substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. This forward-looking information is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward looking information or statements.  Except as required by applicable securities laws, forward-looking statements or information speak only as of the date on which they are made, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement or information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Contacts:

Corporate:
Har Grover
Chairman and CEO
1-844-493-7922
[email protected]

Investors:
Stephen Kilmer
1-647-872-4849
[email protected]

Media:
Sonya Friesen
MSL Group
1-416-847-1343
[email protected]


These press releases may also interest you

at 08:16
Canadian health care providers now have access to clinical tools and resources they need to better support older adults experiencing...

at 08:15
VarmX, a biotech company focusing on the development of innovative approaches for the reversal of anticoagulation, today announces that it will be attending the LSX World Congress (29-30 April) and presenting at Bio?quity Europe (12-14 May). The...

at 08:15
Azura Ophthalmics Ltd., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a potential new therapeutic class of Ophthalmic Keratolytics for ocular surface diseases, today announced multiple presentations highlighting positive efficacy and safety...

at 08:15
Nuvation Bio Inc. , a biopharmaceutical company tackling some of the greatest unmet needs in oncology by developing differentiated and novel therapeutic candidates, today announced the appointment of Colleen Sjogren as Chief Commercial Officer. Ms....

at 08:15
Axiom Health, a leading provider of data analytics solutions for the medical device industry, today announced the appointments of Russell "Rusty" Lewis as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Jim Best as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). These...

at 08:15
GlobeStar Therapeutics Corporation (GSTC), is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company focused on advancing new therapies for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and other neurological diseases, including but not limited to Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), released on...



News published on and distributed by: