Avicanna and Vectura Fertin Pharma Collaborate to Advance Medical Cannabis Research in Canada

Image | adobe.stock/RYLAND ZWEIFEL

In a January 21, 2025, press release, international biopharmaceutical company Avicanna announced a collaboration with pharmaceutical manufacturer Vectura Fertin Pharma, a subsidiary of Philip Morris International (1). The partnership is aimed at creating a joint Scientific and Medical Affairs Committee with the goal of increasing the understanding of medical cannabis in Canada, particularly with patient access and support.

Working alongside healthcare professionals and medical community in Canada, the Committee will enable research studies and provide educational resources, aiming to improve knowledge around medical cannabis access and applications.

Avicanna’s scientific platform has led to the commercialization of more than two dozen proprietary products. The company also recently announced the first delivery of its topical products to German and European markets, as part of an exclusive supply agreement (2). The products, a localized cream and a transdermal gel, included the cannabinoids cannabigerol (CBG) and cannabidiol (CBD).

The new collaboration with Vectura Fertin Pharma will work with patients and patient advocacy groups, and utilize Avicanna’s platforms, including MyMedi.ca. Operated by Northern Green Canada Inc, the platform offers products, support programs, specialty services, and educational resources.

In September 2023, Avicanna announced the launch of a new study (3) led by Hance Clarke, MD, FRCPC, PhD, President of The Canadian Pain Society and Canadian Consortium for the Investigation of Cannabinoids and used the medical cannabis care platform MyMedi.ca. The study aimed to enroll more than 1,000 US patients completing questionnaires on medicinal cannabis and its effects on epilepsy, anxiety, depression, pain, and sleep.

Formed in 2022, Vectura Fertin Pharma develops and commercializes healthcare and wellness brands, and applies its research and development to the areas of cannabinoids, inhaled therapeutics, nicotine replacement therapy, and consumer health. In September 2024, Vectura Fertin Pharma announced the development and launch of their first CBD lozenge, its first medical cannabis product in Canada (4). The company had used an ecommerce platform from Aurora Cannabis for distribution.

The announcement came after the formation of collaboration with Aurora. “The launch of our newly developed Luo CBD lozenge on Aurora’s medical cannabis patient platform closely follows the announcement of our joint commercial collaboration in August this year, and is testament to our pioneering approach to science-backed innovation to address unmet medical and health needs,” Michael Kunst, CEO for Vectura Fertin Pharma, had stated in the September press release.

References

1. Avicanna. Avicanna Announces Scientific and Medical Affairs Collaboration with Vectura Fertin Pharma. Globe Newswire. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/01/16/3010704/0/en/Avicanna-Announces-Scientific-and-Medical-Affairs-Collaboration-with-Vectura-Fertin-Pharma.html (accessed Jan 22, 2025).
2. Avicanna. Avicanna Completes First Delivery of Proprietary Topical Products to Multinational Pharmaceutical Company. Globe Newswire. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/12/02/2989684/0/en/Avicanna-Completes-First-Delivery-of-Proprietary-Topical-Products-to-Multinational-Pharmaceutical-Company.html (accessed Jan 22, 2025).
3. Vectura Fertin Pharma. Aurora Cannabis and Vectura Fertin Pharma, Inc. announce launch of novel Luo CBD lozenge https://www.vecturafertinpharma.com/aurora-cannabis-and-vectura-fertin-pharma-inc-announce-launch-of-novel-luo-cbd-lozenge/ (accessed Jan 22, 2025).
4. Colli, M. Avicanna unveils large-scale MyMedi.ca medical cannabis study. https://www.cannabissciencetech.com/view/avicanna-unveils-large-scale-mymedi-ca-medical-cannabis-study (accessed Jan 22, 2025).