Helius Therapeutics achieves GACP certification for medical cannabis facility.

Helius Therapeutics has received Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP) certification for its dedicated medicinal cannabis facility located in East Tamaki, Auckland.

GACP is a globally recognized leading certification standard for medicinal cannabis. It outlines the minimum requirements for cultivators to produce high-quality, consistent flowers.

Achieving GACP is another important milestone for Helius team in our comprehensive accreditation journey. GACP is a recognized requirement for medicinal cannabis in numerous countries. Obtaining this accreditation will only open more doors as we are currently launching our export strategy, said Carmen Doran, CEO of Helius Therapeutics.

October marks the audit month for Helius. The notification of GACP accreditation for New Zealand's largest medicinal cannabis company is the first in a series of announcements.

This certification reinforces that Helius is first and foremost a pharmaceutical company. We are harnessing the power of cannabis to improve the quality of life. Our research team is primarily focused on unlocking the global potential of medicinal cannabis therapies developed in New Zealand," she said.

In September, Helius became the first New Zealand medicinal cannabis company to receive approval for locally grown cannabis products. Helius also produces full-spectrum CBD medication locally. Previously, in late August, Helius received verification that its active ingredients meet quality standards.

In New Zealand, doctors are now able to prescribe medicinal cannabis for any health condition, with a growing number of healthcare professionals willing to support this highly talked-about natural alternative. In fact, according to Health Minister Andrew Little, between July 1, 2022 and September 30, 2022, 17,363 packs of medicinal cannabis meeting the minimum quality standards were supplied within New Zealand.

Over the past year, many New Zealand patients have legally accessed locally manufactured medicinal cannabis products, and recently, products grown in New Zealand as well, according to regulations in our local medicinal cannabis industry. Helius is changing this, and by 2023, we can expect to see even more products and an expanded market in our New Zealand facilities. This is an exciting development," stated Ms. Doran.

Helius, a privately owned company that is 100% owned by New Zealanders, has identified Europe and South America as its priority export markets. The company is continuing to secure investments as part of its plans to accelerate both domestic and international growth.

Helius is New Zealand's first pharmaceutical cannabis company to receive the GMP license for manufacturing drugs in July 2021 and will be launching their first batch of products three months after the license date.

Helius utilizes vertical integration from the factory to the patient. They combine variety breeding with yield optimization in their operations. They accomplish this through precise extraction of high-value cannabinoids, development of next-generation drugs, GMP production, and academic and scientific partnerships.

Helius is currently defining standards for reliable and accessible cannabis-based medicines. At a time of economic hardship, New Zealand needs sustainable businesses to generate strong export revenue opportunities. Helius is proud to be a key player in New Zealand's latest and most exciting industry, providing services to the world beyond improving people's quality of life at home, according to Carmen Doran.

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