Spectrum Biomedical UK Opens New Chapter for Medicinal Cannabis Industry

OXFORD, England, January 21, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --

Spectrum Biomedical UK (Spectrum UK) is a newly formed company focused on providing access of cannabis-based medicinal products to UK patients with severe clinical unmet need. The joint venture between Canopy Growth Corporation (Canopy Growth) (TSX: WEED) (NYSE: CGC) and Beckley Canopy Therapeutics (Beckley Canopy) will be the exclusive distributor of Spectrum Cannabis medicinal products in the UK market.

Spectrum UK was formed to address a groundswell of patient need for high quality, standardised cannabis-based medicinal products in the UK. Under the government's new classification, which took effect November 1, specialist doctors in the UK can prescribe cannabis-based medicines for patients with severe clinical unmet need.

"We are witnessing the birth of the UK medical cannabis industry, an industry borne out of the unmet clinical needs of patients across the country. The formation of Spectrum UK is testament to the importance of the opportunity to help patients access the medicine here in the UK," said Marc Wayne, Co-Managing Director, Spectrum Biomedical UK.

Spectrum UK is a built-for-purpose distribution company that will introduce Spectrum Cannabis medicinal cannabis products to UK patients and doctors. The company combines the scientific rigour, research experience and local management team of Beckley Canopy Therapeutics, with the expertise in production, formulation of pharmaceutical-quality cannabis-based products of Canopy Growth. Spectrum UK will also engage in physician education to ensure doctors are exposed to the deep breadth of research showing the therapeutic benefits of cannabis.

"There is significant real world and clinical evidence supporting the safety and effectiveness of cannabis-based medicinal products. However, due to the current regulations and lack of education about medicinal cannabis among clinicians in the UK, there remain considerable obstacles to patient access. Spectrum UK has the expertise and ambition to simplify the UK medicinal cannabis landscape and ensure access to cannabis-based medicinal products for patients with great clinical unmet need," said Dr Mark Ware, Chief Medical Officer, Canopy Growth.