Avicanna and Sigma Analytical Services launch joint venture “Sigma Magdalena”, establishing the first cannabis Quality Assurance laboratory in South America.
Sigma Analytical Services Inc. (“Sigma Analytical”) and Avicanna Inc. (“Avicanna”) are pleased to announce a joint venture, Sigma Magdalena, establishing the first cannabis and cannabis-derived product Quality Assurance laboratory and testing service to the fast-growing medical cannabis industry in South America. The laboratory will be the first of its kind, meeting Health Canada, European Pharmacopeia, US Pharmacopeia standards and compliant to EU GMP standards.
With the emergence of the medicinal cannabis industry in Colombia and South America, Sigma Magdalena will provide a comprehensive suite of cannabis-specific testing, which will include pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents, aflatoxins, microbial, genotyping, and cannabinoid and terpene profiling.
Sigma Analytical will continue to draw on years of experience in Canada and the US, along with the knowledge and expertise for various types of cannabis and derived products to not only facilitate exports from the Colombian market but to continue establishing industry’s quality standards.
“Sigma Analytical is excited to partner with Avicanna in establishing the first GMP testing facility in South America for cannabis and derived products to serve the growing cannabis industry in this region. With cannabinoids and terpenes being increasingly used as active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in various types of products, it is imperative to establish the most accurate and precise methodologies for efficacy and safety of products. At Sigma Analytical Services, we look forward to bringing our years of experience in Canada and the US, proven methodologies, and know-how in cannabis testing to South America.”
– Kaveh Kahen, CEO of Sigma Analytical Services Inc.
With technical transfer well underway, expected completion and launch of the laboratory services are slated for early Q4. Independent analytical services will be managed and operated by Sigma Analytical within the new Santa Marta Golden Hemp S.A.S. (“SMGH”) facilities, with testing services provided to producers ranging from large scale, such as Sativa Nativa S.A.S. (“SN”) and SMGH, to smaller-scale partner farmers.
“This level of world-class quality testing is a necessity for Avicanna’s pharmaceutical development and clinical development programs, but also will be established as a minimum requirement for all of our product categories as we aim to establish a global standard for cannabinoid-based solution.”
– Aras Azadian, CEO of Avicanna Inc.
Current and proposed future legislation require comprehensive laboratory testing and certification for cannabis extract as API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient) for future medical sales and export, however, full-suite testing in line with global standards and meeting EU GMP requirements is currently unavailable in Colombia, which requires many companies to go through the lengthy process of exporting samples to obtain validated testing results.
For further information about Sigma Analytical Services, visit www.sigmaanalytical.com, call 1-647-496-9919, or email info@sigmaanalytical.com
For further information about Avicanna Inc., visit www.avicanna.com, call 1-647-243-5283, or email info@avicanna.com
About Sigma Analytical Services Inc.
Sigma Analytical Services, headquartered in Toronto, Canada, is a unique full-service testing and research GMP-compliant laboratory offering comprehensive testing and analytical services, R&D, and consulting in cannabis and derived products along with consulting and high-level training for set-up and operation of cannabis quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) and R&D labs. Sigma Analytical maintains a global presence with projects and laboratories spanning Northern and Central America, as well as several strategic partnerships with major analytical instrument providers, testing labs, producers, service providers, and universities across Canada, Central America, United States, Europe and Australia.
Sigma Analytical has emerged as a thought leader in advancing the understanding of cannabis chemistry and is establishing a global scientific network of pioneers to facilitate research and knowledge sharing in this new and promising field of science.
About Avicanna Inc.
Avicanna is an Ontario corporation focused on the development, manufacturing and commercialization of plant-derived cannabinoid-based products through its two main business segments, cultivation and research and development.
Avicanna’s two majority-owned subsidiaries, Sativa Nativa S.A.S. and Santa Marta Golden Hemp S.A.S., both located in Santa Marta, Colombia are the base for Avicanna’s cultivation activities. These two companies are licensed to cultivate and process cannabis for the production of cannabis extracts and purified cannabinoids including cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Avicanna’s research and development business is primarily conducted out of Canada at its headquarters in the Johnson & Johnson Innovation Centre, JLABS @ Toronto. Avicanna’s scientific team develops products, and Avicanna has also engaged the services of researchers at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto for the purpose of optimizing and improving upon its products.
Avicanna’s research and development and cultivation activities are focused on the development of its key products, including plant-derived cannabinoid pharmaceuticals, phyto-therapeutics, derma-cosmetics and Extracts (defined as plant-derived cannabinoid extracts and purified cannabinoids, including distillates and isolates), with a goal of eventually having these products manufactured and distributed through various markets.
