Khiron to be Exclusive Latin American Provider to Project Twenty21, Europe's Largest Medical Cannabis Study with 20,000 Patients
- Khiron Life Sciences establishes early mover position to build its brand and product offering in the United Kingdom's nascent medical cannabis market
- Project Twenty21 will study medical cannabis's therapeutic effects on 20,000 patients - and build largest ever evidence base for UK National Health Service (NHS) provision of these medicines
- Real-world data registry will document patient outcomes in those prescribed medical cannabis and support health authority applications
- Project welcomed by The Royal College of Psychiatrists, peers, The British Pain Society, United Patients Alliance and leading campaigners, including Hannah Deacon - whose high profile case led to her son, Alfie Deacon, being one of the few prescribed medical cannabis for his intractable epilepsy
- Alongside epilepsy, the project will address Chronic Pain, Multiple Sclerosis, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and other chronic conditions
TORONTO, Nov. 19, 2019 /CNW/ - Khiron Life Sciences Corp. ("Khiron" or the "Company") (TSXV: KHRN), (OTCQB: KHRNF), (Frankfurt: A2JMZC), a vertically integrated cannabis leader with core operations in Latin America, announced today that it will be the exclusive Latin American provider of cannabis medicines to Project Twenty21 in the United Kingdom.
Project Twenty21, Europe's first and biggest national medical cannabis registry, was launched on November 7, 2019 at the Royal College of Psychiatrists in London. The project will enrol 20,000 patients by the end of 2021, creating the largest body of evidence for the efficacy of medical cannabis, with an aim to then convince UK policy makers that medical cannabis should be as widely available, and affordable, as other approved medicines for patients who would benefit from them.
It will also aim to support prescribers across the country to feel confident in providing medical cannabis to such patients, while helping to build a case for NHS funding in seven key identified conditions. These conditions include Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Tourette's Syndrome, Anxiety Disorder or those who are dealing with the harm of substance misuse.
Leading the project, Professor David Nutt from the UK's leading independent scientific body Drug Science commented: "Medical cannabis is still out of reach for far too many. Patients are left untreated, in significant debt from the cost of private prescriptions, or criminalized as they are forced to turn to the illicit market. They don't deserve any of this, and the situation with prescribing desperately needs to change."
The study will use real-world data to document the effectiveness, safety, quality of life, and patient reported outcomes in those prescribed medical cannabis for these conditions. It will not be a randomised control trial (where some would receive placebo), and all 20,000 participants will receive medical cannabis from participating providers at an affordable cost, subsidised in part by the cannabis providers, including Khiron, and by Drug Science itself. Project Twenty21 has the support of The Royal College of Psychiatrists, The British Pain Society, the United Patients Alliance, patients, peers and medical cannabis campaigners.
The participation of Khiron in Project Twenty21 in the United Kingdom further cements the Company's focused regional strategy of entering and capturing market share in the region's estimated €115.7 Billion medical cannabis market by 2028 (Prohibition Partners).
Management Commentary
Tejinder Virk, President of Khiron Europe, commented, "We are excited to have this opportunity to participate in Project Twenty21 and help improve access to cannabis medicines in the UK. According to the Centre for Medicinal Cannabis, it is estimated that 1.4 million people in the UK are using illicit or 'street cannabis' to treat the symptoms of chronic conditions. Once available, patients will benefit from Khiron's high quality product offering and our inherent cost advantages. In advance of a more liberalized medical cannabis market in the UK, the study provides prescribers and patients an opportunity to get early familiarity with Khiron's brand and product offering."
About Khiron Life Sciences Corp.
Khiron Life Sciences Corp. is positioned to be the dominant integrated cannabis company in Latin America. Khiron has core operations in Latin America and is fully licensed in Colombia for the cultivation, production, domestic distribution, and international export of both tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) medical cannabis. The company delivers best in class regulatory compliance, has the first approved set of CBD cosmetic products on shelf in Colombia, and is currently facilitating testing to meet and surpass all license requirements for commercial cannabis derived products.
With a focused regional strategy and patient oriented approach, the Company combines global scientific expertise, agricultural advantages, branded product market entrance experience and education to drive prescription and brand loyalty to address priority medical conditions such as chronic pain, epilepsy, depression and anxiety in the Latin American market of over 620 million people. The Company is led by Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Alvaro Torres, together with an experienced executive team, and a knowledgeable Board of Directors that includes former President of Mexico, Vicente Fox.
Cautionary Notes
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All information contained herein that is not historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. Khiron undertakes no obligation to comment analyses, expectations or statements made by third-parties in respect of Khiron, its securities, or financial or operating results (as applicable). Although Khiron believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements in this press release are reasonable, such forward-looking statement has been based on expectations, factors and assumptions concerning future events which may prove to be inaccurate and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond Khiron's control, including the risk factors discussed in Khiron's Annual Information Form which is available on Khiron's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and are made as of the date hereof. Khiron disclaims any intention and has no obligation or responsibility, except as required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
United States Disclaimer
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons (as such term is defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available
Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.
Further information in respect of the Company can be found at www.khiron.ca.
Investor Contacts: Chris Naprawa, President, T: +1 (416) 705-1144, E: cnaprawa@khiron.ca; Media Contact: Jon Packer, Vice President, Communications, T: +1 (416) 543-9179, E: jpacker@khiron.ca
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