Rua receives narcotic license through Nimbus Health for distribution and marketing of our first product for Germany

Rua Bioscience Limited announced today that it has received its narcotic license through Nimbus Health GmbH for distribution and marketing of its first product for the German medicinal cannabis market – a move understood to make Rua the first medicinal cannabis company from New Zealand to take such a step.

The application to extend the narcotics license of Nimbus Health GmbH (“Nimbus”) to include Rua’s dried flower has been granted by the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM). Rua signed a commercial agreement with Nimbus Health in July 2020. The approval of the application will enable Nimbus to distribute and market Rua's products in Germany by the end of 2022.

The medicinal cannabis product which is a high THC flower, has been developed through an extensive R&D programme by Cann Group, Rua’s Australian strategic manufacturing, supply and technical services partner.

Linus Weber, Nimbus Founder and Managing Director, says his team is excited with the progress.

“In Germany, medicinal dried-cannabis flower is prescribed mainly for pain patients (70%)1, and cannabis flowers with a THC content of greater than 20% make up 77% of cannabis flower prescriptions1. At its launch, we believe Rua’s flower will be one of the highest THC dried flower medicines on the market, which will give Rua a significant competitive advantage,” he says. “Through its partnership with Cann Group and with Nimbus as a distribution partner, Rua is well-positioned to provide German patients with sustainable access to its product for many years to come.”

Rua CEO, Rob Mitchell says, “With the European medicinal cannabis market estimated to be worth €2.3b ($3.82b NZD) by 20262, Rua understands it must go global to support local, and our export plans, particularly into Germany and wider Europe, are coming to fruition.

“The acquisition of Zalm Therapeutics has enabled us to advance the securing of supply agreements in other emerging, high growth markets including Czech Republic, Poland and the UK. 

“The global commercial opportunities open to Rua are compelling and underpinned by our ability to export high-value medicinal cannabis at scale and pace as a result of the partnership we now have with Cann Group and the scale afforded by their Mildura facility,” he says.

Cann’s new AUD $120m cultivation and processing facility at Mildura is considered one of the largest and most advanced in Australasia. The first stage of its construction is now operational and capable of producing 12,500 kilograms of dried cannabis flower per year. When complete, capacity at the 13.5-hectare facility will grow up to 70,000 kilograms. In a capital-light strategy, Gisborne-based Rua is leveraging this unprecedented scale to punch above its weight and deliver a range of medicinal cannabis products to multiple export markets in record time.