The Rho Phyto portfolio contains a full
formulary of products including oil drops, sublingual sprays,
capsules, and topicals that have controlled dosing,
enhanced absorption and stability studies supported by pre-clinical
data which will be available exclusively on the Medical Cannabis by
Shoppers™ online portal by the end of July
2020.
This first-of-its-kind Canadian study is led
by Dr. Hance Clarke, Director of Pain Services at Toronto General Hospital, and will examine the
efficacy of a select group of medical cannabis products including
Avicanna's Rho Phyto line of products on patient reported outcomes
of pain, sleep and anxiety.
This specific study is aligned and in parallel
with Avicanna's comprehensive clinical program of other real-world
evidence studies involving the Rho Phyto products and clinical
trials on its pharmaceutical pipeline with world-class,
Toronto-based medical
institutions.
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TORONTO, July 15, 2020 /CNW/ - Avicanna Inc.
("Avicanna" or the "Company") (TSX: AVCN)
(OTCQX: AVCNF) (FSE: 0NN), a biopharmaceutical company focused on
the development, manufacturing and commercialization of
plant-derived cannabinoid-based products is pleased to announce
that its Rho Phyto™ product line of advanced medical cannabis
products will be the subject of a Medical Cannabis Real-World
Evidence study ("MC-RWE Study") led by Dr. Hance Clarke of
the University Health Network ("UHN") in Toronto, Canada. The Rho Phyto products were
developed in accordance with the recent Health Canada Cannabis 2.0
regulations that allow for more advanced, higher quality, medical
cannabis product offerings. These products have been tested for
prolonged stability, enhanced absorption, controlled delivery and
other properties, in collaboration with Dr. Christine Allen's research group at the Leslie
Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of
Toronto.
The Rho Phyto medical cannabis product line is a full formulary
that includes sublingual sprays, oil drops, capsules, and topicals
of various cannabinoid ratios, namely THC and CBD. By offering a
variety of delivery systems, the medical community has the
possibility to select the appropriate Rho Phyto product to suit a
range of medical conditions such as pain relief, which may require
either a fast onset of action or prolonged duration of effect over
the course of treatment. The products are manufactured under good
manufacturing practice ("GMP") in partnership with MediPharm
Labs Inc. to ensure batch-to-batch consistency and high-quality
products. The manufacture of the Rho Phyto products in accordance
with GMP standard allows for data derived from this MC-RWE Study to
provide early insights into Avicanna's ongoing and future
directions of pharmaceutical development. Avicanna remains
committed to patient safety and product consistency which is why
all products subject to the MC-RWE Study are tested by Sigma
Analytical and tracked by TruTrace Blockchain Technologies.
Dr. Justin Grant, Avicanna's
Executive Vice President of Scientific Affairs commented, "After 3
years of collaborating with world-class Toronto-based researchers and clinicians
including those at the University of
Toronto and UHN, we are excited to offer the most consistent
formulary of advanced medical cannabis products to prescribers and
principal investigators, including Dr. Clarke, to further
demonstrate the potential therapeutic efficacy of
cannabinoids."
Avicanna's Rho Phyto products will be exclusively available to
patients through the Medical Cannabis by Shoppers online portal in
addition to UHN clinicians through the MC-RWE Study by the end of
July 2020. Additionally, Avicanna and
Medical Cannabis by Shoppers are co-hosting a medical symposium in
line with the launch of the Rho Phyto product line entitled,
"MEDICAL CANNABIS 2.0: Advancements in Cannabinoid Research,
Product Offerings and Patient Access". The symposium will be
held on a virtual platform on July 21,
2020 and will include Dr Clarke's presentation "Real
World Evidence and The Future of Medical Cannabis / Cannabinoid
medicine for Pain Management" that will provide further
insights on the MC-RWE Study. For registration and more information
please visit (https://www.avicanna.com/symposium/).
About Avicanna Inc.
Avicanna is an Ontario, Canada
based corporation focused on the development, manufacturing, and
commercialization of plant-derived cannabinoid-based products
through its two main business segments, cultivation and research
and development.
Avicanna's two majority-owned subsidiaries, Sativa Nativa S.A.S.
and Santa Marta Golden Hemp S.A.S., both located in Santa Marta, Colombia are the base for Avicanna's
cultivation activities. These two companies are licensed to
cultivate and process cannabis for the production of cannabis
extracts and purified cannabinoids including cannabidiol (CBD) and
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Avicanna's research and development business is primarily
conducted out of Canada at its
headquarters in the Johnson & Johnson Innovation Centre, JLABS
@ Toronto. Avicanna's scientific
team develops products, and Avicanna has also engaged the services
of researchers at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy at the
University of Toronto for the purpose
of optimizing and improving upon its products.
Avicanna's research and development and cultivation activities
are focused on the development of its key products, including
plant-derived cannabinoid pharmaceuticals, phyto-therapeutics,
derma-cosmetics, and Extracts (defined as plant-derived cannabinoid
extracts and purified cannabinoids, including distillates and
isolates), with a goal of eventually having these products
manufactured and distributed through various markets.
Stay Connected
For more information about Avicanna,
visit www.avicanna.com, call 1-647-243-5283, or contact
Setu Purohit, President by
email info@avicanna.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information and
Statements
This news release contains "forward-looking information"
within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking
information contained in this press release may be identified by
the use of words such as, "may", "would", "could", "will",
"likely", "expect", "anticipate", "believe, "intend", "plan",
"forecast", "project", "estimate", "outlook" and other similar
expressions, and includes statements with respect to the Rho Phyto
products benefiting patients managing a range of medical
conditions, the data derived from the MC-RWE Study providing the
Company with early insights into Avicanna's ongoing and future
directions of pharmaceutical development, and the Rho Phyto
products being available to patients through the Medical Cannabis
by Shoppers online portal and UHN clinicians by end of July 2020. Forward-looking information is not a
guarantee of future performance and is based upon a number of
estimates and assumptions of management in light of management's
experience and perception of trends, current conditions and
expected developments, as well as other factors relevant in the
circumstances, including assumptions in respect of current and
future market conditions, the current and future regulatory
environment; and the availability of licenses, approvals and
permits.
Although the Company believes that the expectations and
assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are
reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the
forward-looking information because the Company can give no
assurance that they will prove to be correct. Actual results and
developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these
statements. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results
to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking
information. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not
limited to current and future market conditions, including the
market price of the common shares of the Company, and the risk
factors set out in the Company's annual information form
dated April 15, 2020, filed with the Canadian securities
regulators and available under the Company's profile on SEDAR
at www.sedar.com.
The statements in this press release are made as of the date
of this release. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to
update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new
information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as
required by applicable securities laws.
SOURCE Avicanna Inc.
