BioTechNZ executive director and MedCan Summit 2022 organiser Dr Zahra Champion says MedCan 2022 successfully brought together New Zealand's newest sector which she says is excited to now be making a real difference for Kiwi patients and the economy.

Zahra's comments came following New Zealand's largest medicinal cannabis summit, including a one-day Healthcare Professionals Forum, which took place virtually on February 10 and 11. The content was livestreamed from a studio at AUT.

More than 400 delegates registered, with over 30 international and national expert speakers presenting and roundtable discussions gave attendees the opportunity to interact with each other.

MedCan Summit 2022: ‘Women in the medicinal cannabis industry panel' included 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.

Dr Champion says one of the many highlights was hearing Health Minister Andrew Little's address which acknowledged the sector's progress.

'I want to thank the medicinal cannabis industry for your pioneering work producing safe products that consumers want and building a world class export industry,” says Little.

He said despite the medicinal cannabis scheme operational for only two years, significant progress has been made.

'The domestic industry is becoming well established with 39 active licences covering cultivation, possession for manufacture and supply activities. Locally manufactured CBD products are available that cost less than imported products. Three companies have been granted licences to manufacture medicinal cannabis products and more licence applications are in the pipeline,” says Little.

He noted in the past week alone, two more products have been verified against the quality standards, with a total of ten products now in the domestic market.

On quality standards, the Health Minister acknowledged that there is a cost to regulatory compliance. However, New Zealand's standards are focused on ensuring world class safety and quality.

'They are set to protect patients and to give prescribers confidence that the products they are prescribing will not contain harmful contaminants and contain stable and consistent levels of active ingredients as stated. The standards we have are an essential foundation for Aotearoa New Zealand's reputation as a world leading, trusted supplier into the future,” says Little.

Dr Champion says the Minister reinforcing that domestically there are now local CBD products that cost less than imported ones is helpful for patient awareness and for local medicinal cannabis manufacturers who are unable to promote or even talk about their products due to statutory restrictions.

MedCan's Foundation sponsor, Helius Therapeutics, raised similar concerns during the summit, saying too many Kiwis remain unaware of the sector's successful delivery in recent months and that was frustrating.

'Several products have been verified as meeting the quality standards. However, local manufacturers must remain silent until they achieve approved medicines status. High GMP standards now give prescribers' confidence, but until Kiwi manufacturers go through exhaustive clinical trials they can't say much. MedCan 2022 was key to shining much-needed light on what the sector's now achieving for local patients,” says Helius Therapeutics chief executive Carmen Doran.

MedCan Summit 2022: CEO panel. Photo: Supplied.

MedCan Summit 2022: CEO panel included MC Andrew Patterson, Carmen Doran (Chief Executive Officer, Helius Therapeutics), Mitch Cuevas (Pharmaceutical Director, Eqalis) and Mark Lucas, (Chief Executive Office, Cannasouth). Tim Aldridge (Managing Director, Puro) and Manu Caddie (Co-Founder, Kaihautu – Innovation and Regulation, Rua Bioscience) joined the panel virtually.

MedCan Summit 2022 was organised by NZTech and BioTechNZ - a not for profit, membership-funded organisation with the goal of maximising New Zealand's bioscience and technology capability to create a strong New Zealand bioeconomy. BioTechNZ is part of the New Zealand Tech Alliance.

Foundation sponsor was Helius Therapeutics. Gold sponsor was Eqalis, with Silver sponsors Elysian and CannaPlus+. Puro, Callaghan Innovation and Shimadzu are Bronze sponsors, with 11 companies also supporting MedCan 2022 as exhibitors.

Dr Zahra Champion says work will soon begin on MedCan Summit 2023, with the sector's many stakeholders looking forward to getting together in person again.

www.medcansummit.co.nz.