Economic Impact of Biosynthesis on the Cannabis Industry - Seite 3

"This novel approach to the biosynthesis of cannabinoids is a game-changer for drug development. The importance of producing cannabinoids that are identical to the naturally occurring compounds cannot be overstated. Many drug development efforts with synthetic derivatives have failed," Dr. Vikramaditya Yadav, assistant professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of British Columbia, a co-inventor of the biosynthesis technology, stated in a news release announcing the filing (http://nnw.fm/WJ8zY).

On the cusp of revolutionizing cannabinoid extraction, InMed is assembling the world's leading experts to assist with advancing its biosynthesis technology toward commercialization. In September, InMed retained Ben Paterson, P.E. as a consultant to help define the pathway for the scale-up, purification, and manufacturing strategies for InMed's cannabinoid biosynthesis program (http://nnw.fm/pY34f). Paterson has nearly 40 years' experience developing pharmaceutical manufacturing and purification processes. He devoted 24 of his 37 years as a senior engineering advisor at Eli Lilly in the company's biosynthesis division. His expertise in this arena includes the design, construction, operation, optimization, and troubleshooting of both large and small molecule drug facilities, including the E. coli biosynthesis of numerous products.  

No other extraction method reduces the cost or time required to create pharmaceutically-viable cannabinoid compounds like InMed's. Other companies depend on the expertise of outside cultivators.

GW Pharmaceuticals' (NASDAQ: GWPH) strategy is to engage a UK-based greenhouse grower to cultivate cannabis for its Epidiolex treatment. In 2016, GW Pharmaceuticals entered into a partnership with British Sugar that saw the cultivator switch from growing tomato plants to cannabis. The long-term contract involves growing marijuana plants in an 18-hectare greenhouse complex in Wissington, Norfolk, UK, to support GW's development of a childhood epilepsy drug. It is expected that the crop will yield enough cannabis to treat 40,000 children per year globally. However, the production process still requires a great deal of expense, including electricity, lighting, heating, real estate costs and other resources that could potentially cost tens of millions of dollars, or more - racking up considerable costs compared to InMed's ability to extract cannabinoids in a laboratory setting.