Organigram announced the preliminary results of a new clinical study on nanoemulsion technology this week in collaboration with its partner, British American Tobacco (BAT).
The clinical pharmacokinetic study looks at the effectiveness of Organigram’s new nanoemulsion technology in providing a more rapid onset for ingestible cannabis products by improving the bioavailability of various cannabinoids.
The full results of the study, concluded this past January, will be published in October 2024. According to the New Brunswick cannabis producer, the preliminary results show faster onset compared to traditional ingestible products, up to double the cannabinoid delivery at peak compared to the control group, and early indicators of a more predictable duration of the effects of cannabis.
The Product Development Collaboration (PDC) is a joint collaboration between BAT and Organigram and was established to focus on developing next-generation cannabis products.
Since 2021, BAT, the British multinational that manufactures and sells cigarettes, tobacco, and other nicotine products, has made several minority investments in the cannabis space, including its 19.9% equity in Organigram in their “Beyond Nicotine” campaign.
In 2023, BAT announced plans to invest another nearly $125 million into Organigram, more than doubling its equity position in the cannabis company from about 20% to 45%.
The PDC was created as part of BAT’s first round of investment with Organigram. The goal is to create a Center of Excellence at Organigram’s Moncton campus, focussed on developing the next generation of cannabis products, IP, and technologies.
The PDC is also in late-stage development of an array of emulsions, novel vapour formulations, flavour innovations, and packaging solutions that will be applied across some products in Organigram’s portfolio in calendar year 2024, according to the cannabis producer’s most recent investor presentation.
“We are thrilled with the study findings,” said Borna Zlamalik, SVP of Innovation and R&D, in a press release. “The patent-pending nanoemulsion technology, FAST™, promises to unlock the power of the ingested cannabinoids and allow consumers to navigate and control their dosage experience more accurately – a key consumer pain point in the ingestible product space. These technological advances underscore Organigram’s commitment to consumers and to developing science-driven innovations.”
“As a responsible licensed producer, our aim is to thoroughly educate consumers about the effects of this technology, empowering them to enjoy a controlled and predictable ingestible experience,” added Mr. Zlamalik.
Such research can also allow a federally licensed cannabis producer like Organigram to better market its products while ensuring any product claims adhere to Health Canada regulations.
Organigram and BAT say they believe the 19-day in-clinic, eight-arm study is one of the largest pharmacokinetic studies targeted at adult-use recreational cannabis products.
The research was undertaken by a third-party clinical research organization that evaluated cannabinoid absorption across three product formats to determine the effectiveness of the innovative delivery system.
Organigram hopes to commercialize FAST™ in the fall of 2024, starting with cannabis gummies. According to their most recent investor presentation, manufacturing scale-up trials for these gummies are reportedly already underway at Organigram’s 51,000 sq. ft. edibles facility in Winnipeg.
“Organigram has always been focused on consumer-centric innovation as one of its core differentiators and our commitment to the development of advanced technologies underscores this commitment,” said Beena Goldenberg, CEO of Organigram. “We are confident that our investment in this technology will pave the way for our continued success in the edibles space both here and in the future abroad.”
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