Continues Global Expansion - Asian Markets Strategy
Sydney, April 5, 2019 AEST (ABN Newswire) - THC Global Group Limited (THC Global or the Company) (
ASX:THC) (HDRPF:OTCMKTS) has completed a significant first step in its Asian Markets Strategy in securing a mutually exclusive partnership with Malaysian agri-tech company Heleogenics Sdn Bhd (Heleogenics). The partnership with Heleogenics is initially to liaise with the Malaysian Government towards the legalisation of medicinal cannabis in Malaysia, including the development of policy frameworks and legislation. THC Global will work with Heleogenics to further explore other nations within Asia and the Middle East where there may be opportunities for THC Global to enter the medicinal cannabis market in their nascent growth phases. The partnership will also encompass exploration of the significant agri-tech experience in plant genomics of Heleogenics, as well as THC Global's expertise and IP in medicinal cannabis.
Key Points:
- THC Global expanding into Asia through commercial partnerships in key countries
- Partnership with Malaysian bio-tech firm to deliver medicinal cannabis products
- Pathway to government liaison towards developing legislation for medicinal cannabis within key Asian markets - initially Malaysia
- Nation specific strategy to take advantage of unique competitive advantages and local markets using local knowledge through partners
- Scope of activity in Asia to include developing patient access, doctor and patient engagement, off-take agreements and sales, R&D, and IP commercialisation
Dr Arif Anwar, Executive Director of Heleogenics commented: "We are pleased to be working closely with THC Global towards delivering medicinal cannabis in the Asian region in the near term, as well as working on research and development within the sector, leveraging THC Global's experience in plant breeding and cultivation for medical use.
"THC Global's focus on a farm-to-pharma approach is attractive to us as we see greater likelihood of the Asian region looking towards the pharma model for medicinal cannabis over other options."
Ken Charteris, CEO of THC Global commented: "Working with the Heleogenics team, who are leaders in the bio-tech and agri-tech sector within Asia brings a significant wealth of experience both within government liaison in addition to broadening the Company's research and development capabilities.
"In securing commercial partnerships with established businesses like Heleogenics within Asia, we are able to enter markets in an accelerated manner as soon as legislative changes are made, ensuring a first-to-market approach with significantly lower capital outlay than operating solely."
Heleogenics is associated with Sengenics, a global medical bio-tech company primarily focussed on proteomics for medical diagnostics and the development of novel therapies. Sengenics's shareholders include SBI Holdings (SoftBank) and Insas Berhad.
THC Global's Asian Market Strategy
The Company's Asian Markets Strategy is to enter into commercial partnerships with leaders within specific complimentary industries within key Asian markets based on the local approach that is most likely to deliver success, leveraging local knowledge, IP, and technology through partners. This approach delivers a broad reach across nations with a significantly reduced capital outlay when compared to the Company directly entering these markets.
For Malaysia, seeking a partner in the bio-tech and agri-tech sector reflects the Malaysian Government's focus on investing in and fostering a 'bioeconomy' particularly through its Bioeconomy Corporation. In other nations, the Company is looking to find similar competitive advantages within local markets in order to be best placed to both influence legislative action and take advantage of legislative changes as they are made, with an approach tailored to the specific local market.
THC Global continues to build a strong network of commercial partners globally and expects to continue to secure high-value partners for developing pathways for supply into local markets including patient and doctor engagement and government liaison, in addition to research and development.
Heleogenics Sdn Bhd
Heleogenics is a pioneer Bionexus Company that has developed novel solutions for accelerated breeding of new varieties of plants, based on four key cutting-edge technologies: plant trait discovery, accelerated breeding, plant traceability and small molecule synthesis using plant pathways. Together, these technologies result in a massive reduction in the time required to develop new plant varieties with the traits of commercial value. Furthermore, the cisgenic approach utilised, ensures that the new variety can be classified as "non-GMO".
About THC Global Group Limited
THC Global Group Limited (ASX:THC) (OTCMKTS:HDRPF) (FRA:9TH) operates under a 'Farm to Pharma' pharmaceutical model, now holding all three key cannabis licences being a Cannabis Research Licence, a Medicinal Cannabis Licence (Cultivation), and a Manufacture Licence through its domestic medicinal cannabis subsidiaries THC Pharma and Canndeo. THC Global has secured a significant cannabis growing capacity over multiple cultivation projects and owns a pharmaceuticals bio-manufacturing facility with attached testing and product development laboratory. THC Global is in prime position to commence medicinal cannabis production to service both domestic patients and the global export market. THC Global is active globally with operations in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada and partnerships across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. In addition to its core Australian medicinal cannabis assets, THC Global has a significant Canadian presence – both in cannabis and in hydroponics equipment. THC Global's Canadian cannabis operation, Vertical Canna, holds property in Nova Scotia, Canada being developed into a large scale cannabis production site. THC Global's hydroponics equipment division, Crystal Mountain, is a revenue generating manufacturer, wholesaler, and retailer of hydroponic equipment and supplies.
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