New export opportunities as a result of Ora Pharm’s purchase of Helius Therapeutics, 24th June 2026

Ora Pharm has completed its acquisition of Helius Therapeutics’ business and key operating assets, with settlement now finalised and all relevant licences and product registrations issued to Ora Pharm.

The deal sees the creation of New Zealand’s largest end-to-end medicinal cannabis and hemp supply chain capable of supporting an emerging high-value export industry.

Helius’ EU GMP-certified manufacturing facility and established prescriber and distribution relationships will be merged with Ora Pharm’s national grower network and global export capability. Together, the two form a fully integrated supply chain spanning genetics, cultivation, processing, manufacturing and export. 

Ora Pharm says the purchase addresses a major barrier to growth in New Zealand’s medicinal cannabis sector.  Historically, there has been limited onshore capacity to extract pharmaceutical-grade oil, which has restricted opportunities for New Zealand-grown cannabis biomass to be developed into export-ready medicinal products.

Ora Pharm Chief Executive, Zoe Reece, says the acquisition is a significant milestone for both Ora Pharm and the whole New Zealand medicinal cannabis sector.

“For the first time we have an integrated export pathway for bulk cannabis biomass and finished products, capable of operating at scale. That gives New Zealand growers commercially realistic access into regulated international markets.”

The acquisition comes as the Government continues to lower barriers for medicinal cannabis exporters.  Recent regulatory changes now allow licensed medicinal cannabis cultivators to grow low-THC plants without a separate hemp licence, opening new opportunities across both medicinal cannabis and industrial hemp production. Medsafe export licence processing times have also reduced significantly under the new regulations, while export demand continues to rise steadily.

Ora Pharm says there are already benefits to regional economies of the integrated model, with a new grower hub in the Hokonui (Southland) region being established, including centralised drying and packing facilities to support local cultivators. Bulk plant material will be transported from the Hokonui hub to Ora Pharm’s extraction and manufacturing facilities for processing into a final product for local patients or export.

The company believes the model could become a blueprint for regional investment, employment and skills development as the sector matures.

“This is one of those situations where a rising tide lifts all boats,” says Ms Reece. “The more we can process and export from New Zealand, the greater the opportunity for farmers to consider cannabis and hemp as viable high-value crops. It also creates the scale needed to support further investment into advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities, added-value products and associated clinical research.”

“New Zealand already has a global reputation for high-quality agriculture, trusted provenance and strong regulatory standards. The medicinal cannabis industry aligns naturally with those strengths – making it ideally positioned as a significant primary industry for the future.”

ENDS

Media contact: 

Nadia Scott – nadia.scott@mymarketer.co.nz

021780943

High-Level Medicinal Cannabis Sector Statistics

• New Zealand’s Medicinal Cannabis Scheme came into effect on 1 April 2020 (Ministry of Health). 80 medicinal cannabis products have been verified since the Scheme began in 2020, including 25 new products in 2025 (Health New Zealand). 

  
  

• Supply has grown significantly since the Scheme was introduced. Product dispensing has increased from 4,875 in 2020 to 389,668 in 2025 (Health New Zealand).

  
  

• Access is increasingly being driven through cannabis clinics. 83% of medicinal cannabis users who received a prescription did so through a cannabis clinic, compared with 21% through a GP in a community health centre. Online consultations were reported more frequently than face-to-face appointments. (Massey University’s 2025 NZ Drug Trends Survey).

  
  

• The proportion of medicinal cannabis users with a prescription has risen sharply, from 2% in 2020 to 44% in 2025. (Massey University’s 2025 NZ Drug Trends Survey).

  
  

• Medicinal cannabis products that meet New Zealand’s minimum quality standard can be prescribed by a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner or pharmacist prescriber.

  
  

• The global medical cannabis market is forecast to continue growing strongly, although estimates vary by analyst. Towards Healthcare estimated the global medical cannabis market at USD 14.34 billion in 2024 and forecast it to reach USD 52.23 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 13.8% from 2025 to 2034.