Agreement to supply CBD to Cellulac plc

RNS Number : 6525H

Highlands Natural Resources PLC

02 August 2019

 

THE INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS DEEMED TO CONSTITUTE INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF ARTICLE 7 OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU) NO. 596/2014. UPON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, THIS INSIDE INFORMATION IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.

2 August 2019

Highlands Natural Resources plc

("Highlands" or the "Company")

Agreement to supply hemp-derived CBD to Cellulac plc

Highlands, the London listed natural resources company, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a two-year agreement to provide hemp-derived cannabidiol ("CBD"), grown under quality-controlled conditions, with less than 0.2% Tetrahydrocannabinol ("THC"), to Cellulac plc (9.35% owned by Integumen plc) for conversion to medical grade CBD.

The agreement with Cellulac will provide for the conversion of the CBD, supplied by Highlands, into medical-grade CBD and submission of the finished products to Integumen's Labskin test facilities. The CBD will be infused on their Wound pHase and STOER range of wound care and skin care products, providing a vertically integrated farm-to-finished product to meet with the requirements of all parties to the agreement.

The establishment of Zoetic, Highland's wholly owned vertically integrated CBD operation in Colorado, has already seen a successful launch of premium CBD consumer products in a matter of months. In addition, Highlands has also identified higher value opportunities in the supply of quality controlled, hemp-derived CBD, for inclusion in medical devices, cosmeceutical and pharmaceutical products.

Robert Price - Executive Chairman and CEO Highlands, comments:

"With over 110 varieties of hemp, there is a requirement to provide quality hemp-derived CBD to meet specifications for the medical, cosmeceutical and pharmaceutical sectors, grown under supervised quality-controlled conditions.

"Our state-of-the-art, 33,000-foot indoor hemp growing facility in Colorado, US, offers the quality and consistency grade needed to meet those requirements and we welcome the recognition of the quality products and the opportunity to collaborate with Cellulac and Integumen to deliver consumer products for wound care and skin care consumer products in the shortest possible time." 

Gerard Brandon - CEO of Cellulac and Integumen, comments:

"We are delighted to have entered into an agreement with Highlands. To satisfy regulatory authorities in multiple jurisdictions, it is necessary to identify the origin of each plant and confirm the supervised growth from seed, extraction and shipment. The CBD market is still evolving, so it is imperative that any CBD infused treatments in wound care and skin care are subject to the highest testing standards, scientific verification and validation prior to product launch." 

CBD and Pain Relief:

The human body makes its own version of exocannbinoids (THC and CBD) called endocannabinoids which bind to two receptors CB1 and CB2.  These endocannabinoids operate like neurotransmitters, switching on and off nerves.  These, in turn, spark or dampen the electric pulses that create thoughts, behaviours and movements. 

THC, the psychoactive substance that creates a high feeling, has a strong affinity to CB1, whereas CBD, with less than 0.2% THC, does not typically interact with CB1 but can trigger a response to the body's endocannabinoids.  Researchers, including Dr Joseph Cheer, a neurobiologist at the University of Maryland who specialises in cannabinoids, suggest that CBD switches off electrical pulses associated with pain by tweaking the amount of calcium that can get inside the body's nerves¹.

Labskin, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Integumen plc, has already successfully tested CBD demonstrating anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory effects in skin-care with Integumen's STOER For Men cosmetics products, and is currently testing CBD infused female hygiene products at Integumen's Labskin test facility in York, UK.

Wound Care Growth:

The incidence of chronic wounds is growing with approximately 1-2% of the USA population sustaining chronic wounds during their lifetime, leading to approximately 6.5 million incidences at an annual cost of approximately US$25 billion.  In Europe, wound management costs approximately €6650-€10,000 per patient and consumes 2-4% of European healthcare budgets. 

Patients with diabetes are also at high risk of wound infections. Approximately 387 million people have diabetes, and this number is predicted to increase by 205 million by 2035².

1.   https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/is-cbd-legal-heres-what-you-need-to-know-according-to-science

2.   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2018.04.004

**ENDS**

Enquiries

Highlands Natural Resources plc                                                                               [phone]

Robert Price

Nick Tulloch

Cantor Fitzgerald Europe                                                                                            [phone]        

David Porter     

Newgate Communications                                                                                        [phone]

Elisabeth Cowell

Ian Silvera          

Fiona Norman  

 

END

 

 

AGRPBMMTMBAMTJL