Avicanna Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of plant-derived cannabinoid-based products is pleased to announce that it has entered into a relationship agreement whereby Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre will distribute the RHO Phyto products to patients with appropriate medical authorization at Odette Cancer Centre pharmacy. This first of its kind collaboration will focus on increasing healthcare provider and patient education on medical cannabis products and provide patients with a one stop process for accessing plant-based cannabis for medical use, in coordination with their hospital healthcare team. Pursuant to the Agreement, Avicanna and Sunnybrook Hospital which is one of Canada’s leading hospitals and research centres have agreed to collaborate on the development of an education program to educate patients and train health care professionals about the RHO Phyto product formulary.
The growing demand for access to standardized cannabinoid medicine in the medical community, coupled with the advancement of cannabis access regulations permits Canadian hospitals with appropriate infrastructure to store and dispense qualified medical cannabis products such as the RHO Phyto offerings. Avicanna and Sunnybrook Hospital aim to establish a gold standard of care for cannabinoid-based medicine by providing support and educating and training physicians, pharmacists and patients on the formulary of the RHO Phyto products. This education initiative will allow for a personalized medicine approach with the support and consultation of both the patient’s physicians and pharmacists to track patient outcomes and promote the safe and consistent use of cannabinoid-based medicines.
“This is an incredibly significant development for Avicanna as it validates our medical focus and credibility with the healthcare community. This first of its kind collaboration with a major Canadian medical institution substantiates the need and importance of a comprehensive cannabinoid-based medicine program that includes standardized, inhalation-free, and accurately dosed products that are supported by education and patient support programs. We look forward to the collaboration with the Sunnybrook Hospital team, improving on the learnings and pioneering the standard of care with cannabinoid-based medicine that could improve patient outcomes, quality of life and increase the medical community’s confidence in cannabinoid-based medicine,” stated Aras Azadian, CEO of Avicanna Inc.
“Patients have questions about and want access to plant-based cannabinoids, and that requires healthcare professionals to become knowledgeable about the use of cannabinoids for medical purposes,” said Carlo DeAngelis, pharmacist and researcher at Sunnybrook Hospital’s Odette Cancer Centre. “Our primary goal is patient safety. This collaboration will help us ensure patients have access to plant-based cannabinoid products of high quality as well as provide education focused on dosing, monitoring of symptoms and effects on concurrent anti-cancer treatments.”
The RHO Phyto products will be supplied to Sunnybrook Hospital through Avicanna’s exclusive medical partnership with Medical Cannabis by ShoppersTM online platform who will be distributing the RHO Phyto products and supporting Avicanna’s education and training programs.
About RHO Phyto
RHO Phyto is Avicanna’s unique formulary of products that are backed by scientific rigour and an evidence-based approach to meet the quality and consistency standards that patients and the medical community should expect of medical cannabis products. The RHO Phyto product line consists of oral, sublingual, and topical delivery systems offered in a range of CBD only and CBD-THC ratios. All RHO Phyto formulations are designed to maintain the stability of the cannabinoids, and provide accurate dosing. Through pre-clinical studies, these formulations have been optimized for increased and faster absorption of cannabinoids relative to formulations available in the marketplace.
About Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre is inventing the future of health care for the 1.2 million patients the hospital cares for each year through the dedication of its more than 10,000 staff and volunteers. An internationally recognized leader in research and education and a full affiliation with the University of Toronto distinguishes Sunnybrook as one of Canada’s premier academic health sciences centres. Sunnybrook specializes in caring for high-risk pregnancies, critically-ill newborns and adults, offering specialized rehabilitation and treating and preventing cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurological and psychiatric disorders, orthopaedic and arthritic conditions and traumatic injuries. The Hospital also has a unique and national leading program for the care of Canada’s war veterans.
About Avicanna Inc.
Avicanna is a diversified and vertically integrated Canadian biopharmaceutical company focused on the research, development, and commercialization of plant-derived cannabinoid-based products for the global consumer, medical, and pharmaceutical market segments.