Medical cannabis products approved for patients in Portugal

A global cannabis cultivator has been granted approval to provide medical cannabis to patients in Portugal as ‘demand increases’. 

Global cannabis research and production company, Tilray has received the necessary approvals in accordance with the Portuguese legislation – to supply medical cannabis products from its GMP-certified EU facility in Cantanhede, Portugal. 

This is the first time a full quality dossier was required and delivered to obtain market authorisation in Europe for a medical cannabis product.

The market authorisation was issued by Infarmed, the Portuguese National Authority of Medicines and Health Products, whose approval confirms the quality and safety standards of Tilray’s Good Manufacturing Processes (GMP) certified production.

According to Infarmed and Portuguese Medicinal Cannabis regulations, Tilray medical cannabis products are approved for the treatment of spasticity associated with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) or spinal cord injuries; nausea, vomiting (resulting from chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and combined HIV medication for hepatitis C); appetite stimulation in the palliative care of patients undergoing oncological treatment or with HIV/AIDS; Tourette syndrome, Epilepsy, and treatment of severe seizure disorders in children; therapeutic-resistant Glaucoma and chronic pain.

“We are very proud of Infarmed’s market authorisation, which confirms Tilray’s medical cannabis products live up to the highest national and international quality standards,” commented Sascha Mielcarek, Tilray’s managing director in Europe.

“Patient demand is increasing in Portugal and throughout Europe and our objectives are to provide them with the safest and best quality medical cannabis products. 

”Patients can access Tilray products through major pharmaceutical distribution channels throughout Portugal and other European markets. We are confident that as demand increases around the world and more regulated or authorised medical cannabis markets emerge, Tilray’s EU campus is ready to serve more partners and patients across the EU and other international medical markets.”

In May 2020, Tilray received its third and complete Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification for Tilray Portugal. The complete GMP-certification allows Tilray to manufacture medical cannabis extracts in-house and export GMP-produced finished medical cannabis products, both dried flower, and oil, from Portugal throughout the European Union and other international markets with authorized national medical cannabis programs. 

The certification also authorises Tilray to manufacture bulk extracts on-site to sell as cannabis API (active pharmaceutical ingredients) and provides additional quality control lab capacity further to advance its ability for product innovation and research.

Brendan Kennedy, Tilray’s chief executive officer, added: “Tilray is committed to quality and patient safety, and we look forward to significantly improving the quality of lives of Portuguese patients through our medical cannabis products.”