Zelda Therapeutics (ASX:ZLD) has entered a new agreement with the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)-funded Australian Centre for Clinical Cannabinoid Research Excellence (ACRE), based at the University of Newcastle, to commercially supply a cannabis oil formulation.

The formulation will be used for participants in the Cannabinoids for Symptom Control in Advanced Cancer trial (CARE).

The CARE NSW Clinical Trial is seeking to enrol up to 600 advanced cancer patients who will be prescribed a product selected from a range of cannabis medicines for symptom management.

Zelda said it is one of several suppliers selected to supply investigation product for the trial under a commercial contract.



"The agreement does not guarantee suppliers with a minimum or maximum volume of the investigational product to be purchased nor the frequency of required supply to the CARE NSW trial," it said.



According to Zelda managing director, Dr Richard Hopkins, “We’re delighted for the opportunity to supply investigational product in the CARE NSW trial. The focus on studying cannabis as a strategy to potentially alleviate symptoms in advanced cancer patients is very much aligned to our strategic interests in this area.

"The commercial supply agreement also represents a significant milestone for our shareholders, as it is expected to generate the Company’s first revenues from Zelda-branded TGA-TG093 compliant products. This is an important step towards commercialisation of Zelda’s own clinically validated products for sleep, chronic pain and anxiety, which the Zelda is expected to launch from 2020."

Zelda recently announced plans to merge with Ilera Therapeutics (Ilera), a privately held medicinal cannabis and cannabinoid science company based in the US, which will be renamed Zelira Therapeutics.