SMITHS FALLS, ON, Feb. 10, 2017 /CNW/ - Canopy Health
Innovations (CHI), the recently formed research incubator partly
owned by Canopy Growth Corporation (TSX: WEED), has entered into a
3-year consulting agreement with EPIC Consulting Inc., the
Quebec-based consulting firm of
Dr. Mark Ware.
Canopy Health Innovations was established to research and
develop clinically ready cannabis drug formulations and delivery
systems for both human and/or animal patients targeting unmet
medical needs in traditional pharmaceutical markets that could be
disrupted by cannabis-based options. Under a framework agreement
with CHI, Canopy Growth retains the right of first refusal to
commercialize all resulting intellectual property developed by CHI
globally.
"Canadian policy and regulations around cannabis are very
progressive when compared to other jurisdictions around the world,"
said Marc Wayne, President and
Director of CHI. "We have a unique opportunity here in Canada to study cannabis and develop products
that will change the world. Bringing Dr. Ware in at this exciting
moment to consult on our clinical research strategy is an important
step towards our vision of bringing validated cannabis medicines to
market as quickly as possible."
Dr. Mark Ware has been conducting
medical cannabis research in Canada for more than 19 years and brings
considerable expertise in the design of high quality clinical
studies to evaluate the safety and efficacy of cannabinoids. "I am
pleased to support the work that CHI is doing to develop
cannabinoid medicines, and to help generate important data for
patients and health care providers regarding the safety and
efficacy of cannabis-based therapies" stated Dr. Ware. "EPIC was
established to guide organizations in identifying and developing
credible and evidence-based approaches to address the considerable
gaps that currently exist in our understanding of the safe use of
cannabis".
Dr. Ware's guidance will be instrumental for CHI research
planning. With access to cannabis products from Canada's largest and most diverse production
platform, Tweed's Dealer's License under Section 56 of the
Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, and research data from studies
operated by Canopy Growth subsidiaries, CHI's access to research
tools is significant.
It is an honour to add Dr. Ware's expertise and guidance as
Canopy Health Innovations works to implement its vision of
researching and developing cannabis medicines that will help
patients worldwide.
About Canopy Health Innovations:
Canopy Health
Innovations (CHI) operates as an independent and private
collaborator of Canopy Growth Corporation and its subsidiaries. CHI
is owned in part by Canopy Growth and qualified private investors.
CHI's business model is to engage simultaneously in numerous
research areas, with a strict focus on the creation and enhancement
of intellectual property, which is then retained exclusively on a
first-priority basis. Canopy Growth and its subsidiaries retain an
exclusive, first priority right to license and commercialize
intellectual property developed and owned by CHI.
SOURCE Canopy Growth Corporation