Ora Pharm has completed its acquisition of Helius Therapeutics, creating New Zealand's largest end-to-end medicinal cannabis and hemp supply chain. The deal merges Helius' EU GMP-certified manufacturing with Ora Pharm's grower network, unlocking new export opportunities for the sector.

Note: this article was published in July 2024 and reflects the position at that time. The travelling roadshow around New Zealand's biggest primary care conferences continued at GPCME North in Rotorua. Close to 1,000 primary care healthcare professionals attend this conference Helius was represented by Teresa Graydon, Customer Manager, Matt Byerly, Extraction Manager and Adrian Lau, Market Intelligence Analyst. We weren’t the only medicinal cannabis exhibitor there, highligh

Note: this article was published in July 2024 and reflects the position at that time. Bruce Wallace, Chief Quality Officer, and Teresa Graydon, Customer Manager, attended the annual Goodfellow Symposium held March 23rd – 24th. They saw yet again, an uptake in inquiry as encouragingly, interest in medicinal cannabis continues to grow.While all doctors they spoke with reported seeing a rise in patient enquiries about medicinal cannabis, there is still much to do to inform and e

Note: this article was published in October 2023 and reflects the position at that time. Helius opened its doors this month to doctors and pharmacists to share more about how medicinal cannabis is made right here in Auckland. Guests were treated to an educational presentation by Dr Michael Murphy, Clinical Director of a specialist medicinal cannabis clinic, CannaPlus+. He talked about the history of cannabis, various dosage forms and approaches as well as where to find more

Note: this article was published in December 2022 and reflects the position at that time. Helius Therapeutics has received Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (GACP) certification at its purpose-built medicinal cannabis facility in East Tamaki, Auckland. Recognised globally, GACP is a leading certification standard for medicinal cannabis. It outlines minimum requirements for growers in creating high quality, consistent flower. “Achieving GACP is another key milestone f

Note: this article was published in April 2022 and reflects the position at that time. New Zealand’s largest medicinal cannabis company, Helius Therapeutics, has launched an industry collaboration with the University of Canterbury’s Engineering Faculty. It sees Helius working together over the coming months with Biomedical, Mechanical, and Mechatronics Engineering students supervised by Distinguished Professor Geoff Chase. The final-year student project centres around how acc

Note: this article was published in March 2022 and reflects the position at that time.Nearly 1,500 New Zealand doctors and pharmacists have now registered on MCinfo.com – a dedicated and comprehensive medicinal cannabis information service. The surge in interest follows a recent Zoom series of educational presentations organised and hosted by MCinfo.com. The latest one titled ‘Medicinal Cannabis: A pharmacist’s perspective’ featured James Yu, charge pharmacist and co-owner of

MedCan Summit 2022: ‘Women in the medicinal cannabis industry panel’ – Moderator Carmen Doran (Chief Executive Officer, Helius Therapeutics), Zoë Reece (Founder and CEO, Ora Pharm), and Eva Neshat (Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Elysian Pharmaceuticals & CannaPlus+). Dr Dottie Clower (Chief Scientific Officer, Puro) joined the panel virtually. “MedCan 2022 successfully brought together New Zealand’s newest sector which is excited to now be making a real difference for

Note: this article was published in December 2021 and reflects the position at that time. Just two months away, New Zealand’s largest medicinal cannabis summit is well and truly gearing up. February’s MedCan 2022, which was postponed from October due to Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions, builds on the success of the 2020 summit and offers the chance for the industry and medical community to come together after a year of uncertainty. “MedCan 2022 is happening this coming Feb

Note: this article was published in October 2021 and reflects the position at that time. Two new kiwi manufactured medicinal cannabis medicines will be available on prescription from Thursday after the Medicinal Cannabis Agency announced they have been verified as meeting its stringent quality standards. The news couldn't come soon enough for kiwi patients following transitional arrangements in the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme came to an end on September 30th removing the availa

Note: this article was published in August 2021 and reflects the position at that time. With the availability of highly desired local medicinal cannabis products fast approaching, healthcare professionals are being encouraged to attend MedCan 2022. The call comes as MedSafe has issued the local industry’s first GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) Licence to Manufacture Medicines to Helius Therapeutics. With other local companies also set for GMP certification, New Zealand medic

Note: this article was published in August 2021 and reflects the position at that time. Under the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme, transitional arrangements for existing medicinal cannabis products in New Zealand will end on 30 September 2021. From 1 October 2021, all medicinal cannabis products (imported and manufactured in New Zealand) must be verified as meeting the medicinal cannabis quality standards before they can be supplied in New Zealand. The Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Ca

Note: this article was published in August 2021 and reflects the position at that time. New Zealand’s largest licenced medicinal cannabis company, Helius Therapeutics, has been issued with the industry’s first GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) certificate by MedSafe, allowing the company to begin manufacturing locally-made medicines for patients. “This is our most significant milestone yet. GMP certification means Helius can now move forward to manufacture New Zealand patient

Note: this article was published in June 2021 and reflects the position at that time. "With over $100 million invested so far in New Zealand’s medicinal cannabis industry, 2021 is our year to shine,” says Dr Zahra Champion, Executive Director of BioTechNZ and MedCan Summit 2021 organiser. Academics, researchers, government officials, doctors, businesspeople, investors, entrepreneurs and innovators, growers, and patients cannot afford to miss October’s MedCan Summit 2021. It m

Note: this article was published in March 2021 and reflects the position at that time. In a statement today, the Medicinal Cannabis Agency has advised that transitional arrangements the country's Medicinal Cannabis Scheme will be extended for six more months. Analytical testing of cannabinoids – Helius Therapeutics Extending the Scheme's transitional arrangements will give local producers and importers more time to comply with New Zealand's new minimum quality standard for me

Note: this article was published in March 2021 and reflects the position at that time. An updated Member's bill, to be put forward by Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Dr Shane Reti, proposes the introduction of a Medicinal Cannabis Card for all eligible patients assessed by healthcare professionals. Introduced by Dr Shane Reti, this Member’s bill amends the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 by providing a medicinal cannabis scheme that will license high quality domestic medicinal cann