Medical cannabis: France selects six suppliers
Medical cannabis trial scheduled for early March
Starting in March, 3,000 French patients will be able to receive cannabis treatment as part of France's medical cannabis trial, which aims to validate the prescription and distribution channels for these treatments. The list of companies selected to supply cannabis-based products free of charge throughout the trial was unveiled by the French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) on January 25.
The consultation comprised a total of twelve batches, distributed according to their CBD and THC dosage, as well as their galenic form. Of the twelve batches, nine were awarded: all have a primary and a replacement supplier, with the exception of "Batch 3.4: Flower THC < 5% CBD > 5%". In total, six companies were designated for a primary batch and a substitute batch.
The big winner of this consultation is the Canadian company Aurora, which won three batches for which it will be the primary supplier (1.1, 2.1 and 3.4). Considered one of the world's largest companies in this sector, it is a credible candidate in the event of medical cannabis legalization in France, despite known financial difficulties.
No French cannabis supplier selected
Tilray, based in Toronto, appears to be the second big winner after Aurora. It secured the batches for THC-dominant oils and THC- and CBD-balanced oils. The list also includes Israeli Panaxia and Australian companies Little Green Pharma and Althea.
It comes as no surprise: the list does not include any French producers, even among the substitutes. Worse, only one "European" supplier was selected: Emmac, a British company specializing in the production of cannabis-based medicines, will be a substitute for "Batch 2.3: Oral form to ingest THC and CBD > 5 mg/ml".
This success was achieved with the help of Boiron, which chose to diversify and enter the cannabis market. Initially focused on homeopathy, the laboratory had been in difficulty since the government announced its decision to stop reimbursing its granules by social security. Some 700 jobs were even threatened in France.
