TEVA: Cannabis inhaler

Israel’s Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has signed an agreement with Tel Aviv-based biotech Syqe Medical for the distribution and marketing of the world’s first medical cannabis inhaler. 

Teva will receive exclusive marketing and distribution rights to the product, while Syqe will be responsible for the manufacture of the inhaler itself and its disposable cartridges. The duo also has plans to provide medical education for the device to patients and professionals. 

Sqqe’s inhaler claims to be the world’s first for the precise administration of botanical medication at level of safety and efficacy corroborant with conventional drugs, which works by modifying the cannabis on a physical level while maintaining its characteristics in a measurable way. The company’s medical chairman Dr Eytan Hyam, former director-general of the Health Ministry, commented: “Thanks to the Syqe inhaler, we are effectively moving from cannabis use to cannabis treatment. For doctors, the inhaler solves the problem of prescribing plants for smoking, and offers a solution for patients in that, for the first time, they will be able to receive a precise dose of medical cannabis.” 

Israel’s loose regulatory landscape has made the country a prime location for medical marijuana research. Syqe’s inhaler has already been in use at Haifa’s Rambam Hospital for over a year with approval from Israel’s Health Ministry, with approval for home use expected next year. 

“Teva Israel is entering the field of medical cannabis out of a deep commitment to patients coping with pain, which is one of the company’s core therapeutic areas,” said Teva Israel CEO Avinoam Sapir. “State-of-the-art technology and ground-breaking medical devices — such as those developed by Syqe Medical, and which generate tremendous therapeutic value for patients and medical staff alike — integrate perfectly into the strategy of Teva Israel.” 

Analysts predict that the medical marijuana market could be worth $20 billion internationally by 2026. (Ver)