British Columbia-based HYTN Innovations Inc. (CSE: HYTN) has started selling its cannabis-infused drinks to patients in Australia.
On Monday, the cannabis beverage producer revealed a manufacturing and sales agreement with Aussie drug manufacturer Promethean BioPharma. The first drinks have already been prescribed in Sydney, and are currently being distributed across the country.
In the deal, the cannabis-infused drinks will be developed and exported by HYTN and sold under the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration’s Special Access and Authorized Prescriber schemes.
The drinks are made using an proprietary process that mixes oil and water. They come in 60-millilitre bottles with 1,200 milligrams of cannabinoids in different concentrations of CBD and THC.
HYTN says the drinks are first-of-a-kind in the Australian market, and it intends to expand to other emerging legal markets when possible.
Read more: Emerald Health partners with HYTN to launch THC drinks in Canada
Read more: Australia wants medical cannabis importers to follow GMP standards
HYTN COO Jason Broome says that delivering cannabinoids orally has been a challenge for the industry.
“Oil-in-oil formulations, whereby cannabis distillate or isolate is suspended in an oil such as medium-chain triglycerides, tend to have diminished bioavailability and onset times, resulting in reduced efficacy,” he said in a statement.
HYTN technology turns cannabis oils into a small particle size that enhances bioavailability and onset times, Broome explains
Promethean marketing lead Michael Kale says that in Australia CBD is generally prescribed for inflammation, seizures, nausea, anxiety, depression, migraine and psychosis, while THC is given for pain, lack of appetite, insomnia, glaucoma, inflammation and muscle spasticity.
The Aussie firm focuses on supply chain, manufacturing, innovation, partnership, medical advisory and brand strategy for cannabis-based products and other novel medicines including psychedelics.
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