Tag: Helius

  • New Zealand has First Home-Grown Cannabis Vapes

    New Zealand has First Home-Grown Cannabis Vapes

    Helius CEO Carmen Doran

    In New Zealand, two new medicinal cannabis products have been verified as meeting the quality standard for legal sale. This follows Helius, a week earlier, being the first New Zealand company to receive GMP certification to produce THC extracts and manufacture medicines containing THC.

    “We are very pleased to bring more NZ grown, NZ made medicinal cannabis products to Kiwi patients,” says Carmen Doran, chief executive of Helius Therapeutics. The launch of two new medicines into the New Zealand market makes a total of four new medicines from Helius in 2022. It brings Helius’ portfolio of products to six, according to an email sent to Vapor Voice.

    “In mid-December we were able to announce GACP certification, and since then we’ve also obtained GMP certification for four more processes at our East Auckland site. Such progress is testament to the culture of teamwork Helius is building,” she says.

    Helius is New Zealand’s only company to have GMP certification for extraction and manufacture of CBD and THC medicines. What’s more, it is now one of two companies (the other being Nubu Pharma) who have six products verified as meeting the minimum quality standard in New Zealand.

    The latest products will be exported in 2023 to Helius customers in Europe.

    “The THC containing products have had considerable interest internationally, with GMP manufactured products gaining a lot of attention globally as the medical markets continue to grow. We have seen particular interest in balanced, full spectrum medicinal cannabis formulations,” says Doran.

    With the launch of these products, New Zealand patients now have access to NZ made products across the spectrum of oral solutions. No longer do they have to rely on imported products which have had supply delays throughout 2022 and can be priced considerably higher.

  • Helius Appoints Perry to the Cannabis Company’s Board

    Helius Appoints Perry to the Cannabis Company’s Board

    New Zealand’s largest licensed medicinal cannabis company, Helius Therapeutics, has appointed Joanna Perry to its Board of Directors. The appointment comes as the New Zealand-based company prepares to enter both the domestic and international markets. Perry will serve as chairperson on the board’s Audit Finance Committee.

    Joanna Perry, Credit: Helius

    “Joanna’s significant governance experience, combined with her well-known inquisitive probing, will be a real asset. Her nature to challenge and always seek continuous improvement strongly aligns with Helius’ internal cultural value of staying curious,” says Carmen Doran, CEO of Helius Therapeutics.

    Having raised $48m in capital since 2018, Helius has invested significantly in both its facility and talent, according to a press release. Perry’s arrival to the board of Helius is timely, with its state-of-the-art, integrated medicines manufacturing facility in Auckland’s East Tamaki set to begin production.

    “Our world-class executive leadership team is complete, and our board is equally excited to bring high quality, highly efficacious medicinal cannabis products to market with an exciting R&D pipeline to follow,” says Doran.

    Perry says it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be involved with such an innovative biotechnology company, leading the infancy of New Zealand’s medicinal cannabis sector. “I’m delighted to add my governance and financial experience to the vast pharmaceutical and cannabinoid medicine experience of the Helius team. It’s an incredible journey not only for Helius, but for the country,” says Perry.