France has received its first shipment of dried flower to be used in the country’s medical cannabis pilot program.
On Wednesday, Aurora Germany GMbH, a subsidiary of Alberta-based Aurora Cannabis Inc. (TSX: ACB) (Nasdaq: ACB), along with Europe-based pharmaceutical company Ethypharm, reported the successful delivery of cannabis dried flower to be used by up to 3,000 patients over the next two years.
In January, France’s National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products selected Aurora to be the primary supplier of dried flower for the pilot.
Four varieties have been authorized: Aurora 10/1 XPE, a high-THC cultivar; Aurora 8/8 XPE, a balanced THC and CBD cultivar; and the Aurora 1/12 XPE, a high-CBD cultivar.
“This accomplishment is another example of Aurora’s leadership in global cannabis, with a proven track record of supporting the advancement of international medical cannabis markets alongside government bodies,” CEO Miguel Martin said in a statement.
In October 2020, Aurora and Ethypharm agreed with the French government that Aurora would be responsible of sourcing medical cannabis supplies from its EU GMP-certified Aurora Nordic facilities in Odense, Denmark, while Ethypharm is responsible for distribution.
Other cannabis suppliers of the program include British Columbia-based Tilray Inc. (TSX: TLRY) (Nasdaq: TLRY), which will be supplying THC-dominant and THC-CBD balanced oils, as well as Australia-based Little Green Pharma LTD (ASX: LGP) supplying CBD-dominant oils.
All the cannabis is being provided for free.
Aurora’s stock fell by around 1.9 per cent on Wednesday to $8.94 on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
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“We want to be a driving force to support patients suffering from chronic pain when there is no other therapeutic option than medical cannabis,” says Jean Monin, Ethypharm COO.
The French medical cannabis pilot program is free of charge, and will offer patients a Storz and Bickel vaporizer. It’s aimed at patients suffering from treatment-resistant epilepsy, those in palliative care as well as patients suffering from other treatment-resistant central nervous system disorders.
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