Argent Biopharma is a European-based company that is making inroads in Australia where it generates the bulk of its sales revenue from the company’s phytocannabinoid portfolio.
The company develops and markets medicines using compounds derived from cannabis and other plant-based sources.
The companydevelops innovative medicines for under-treated medical conditions. The company has a growing patient base in Australia, the UK, Ireland and Brazil with a global distribution footprint through commercial partners. The company has 2 core drugs in clinical development called CimetrA & CannEpil with five further drugs in the development pipeline. CannEpil is high in CBD and low in THC and is used for patients suffering from refractory epilepsy and is available in the UK. CannEpil has been approved by the Irish Medical Cannabis Products Reimbursement Scheme and obtained full health insurance coverage.
CLINICAL TRIALS: YES, all clinical trials are being managed in-house.
OWNERSHIP:
48% of CannPal
40% of ZAM Software Limited, a real-time data collection software with its own AI algorithms.
10% of CannaGlobal.
FACILITIES:
1 manufacturing facility in Malta which is GMP-certified.
MGC Pharma is preparing the facility for EU Good Manufacturing Practice certification later this year and the facility is being supported by the Maltese government through a 3.1 million EURO grant.
2 pharma-grade (EU-GMP) production sites have been constructed in Malta and Slovenia for the manufacture of MGC’s proprietary IMP products CimetrA, CannEpil and CogniCann.
NEWS & PARTNERSHIPS:
2016
The company acquired MGC Pharma.
The company signed a strategic collaboration agreement with SipNose for the development of an approved medical cannabis treatment of the symptoms of epilepsy with an extensive R&D program to commence at the Hadassah Medical Center. The company also secured the option to acquire the exclusive global license for the SipNose delivery device when used with any cannabinoid compounds for the treatment of epileptic seizures.
The company signed its first European sales & distribution agreement for its CBD-based cosmetic product range with Czech Medical Herbs for exclusive sales through retail outlets in the Czech Republic.
The company launched its online sales platform for its CBD products.
2017
The company signed its first exclusive distribution deal with Mikro+Polo for its APIs at an agreed price based on the underlying market price for phytocannabinoids API, which in turn will be sold to all Mikro+Polo customers across Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia.
The company signed a binding memorandum of understanding with Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology for the collaboration of a a full suite of medicinal cannabis research initiatives, initially centred on genetics and cultivation. The parties aim to create the world’s first International Library of Cannabis Medicine with details of genetic makeup of cannabis strains, develop genetics and breeding programs for establishing medical cannabis strains in Australia that are effective for treating specific diseases and the development of medical grade cannabis products for future clinical studies in Australia.
The company signed a 3-year strategic research agreement with University of Ljubljana for a resarch program to create medicinal cannabis strains tailored for specific medical indications, including epilepsy, chronic pain as well as the side effects of oncology and will create new genetic intellectual property for the company.
The company signed a wholesale reseller agreement for its cosmetics product line MGC Derma in Italy with TAI-Ma, an Italian company that brings together hydroponic stores and Cannabis Lifestyle Vendors in Italy.
The company signed a wholesale reseller agreement for its cosmetics product line MGC Derma in Spain with Organic Oz which operates stores and distributes cannabis-related products throughout Spain.
The company signed a wholesale reseller agreement for its cosmetics product line MGC Derma in Romania with Coplex Distribution, a Romanian spa industry distributor who works with premium luxury spa brands.
The company acquired Panax Pharma in the Czech Republic gaining access to a strategic partnership with the Institute of Experimental Botany of the Academy of Sciences.
The company executed a binding umbrella agreement to exclusively partner on medicinal cannabis research initiatives in Australia with Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology to establish a world first library of cannabis medicines – developing genetics, breeding programs and protocols for specific medical cannabis strains.
The company signed a 5-year supply and distribution agreement to supply Lenis with the company’s medicinal products including flower and CannEpil for exclusive distribution in Central and Eastern Europe.
The company executed a binding terms and conditions supply agreement for white-label CBD cosmetics products with Korean cosmetics manufacturer Varm Cosmo amounting to a minimum of 40 million AUD to MGC Derma and MGC Pharmaceuticals 51/49 JV with cosmetics manufacturer Dr M Burstein.
The company signed an exclusive supply agreement with HL Pharma to bring CannEpil to the Australian market with minimum revenues amounting to 1 million AUD per year.
The company signed a 2-year binding agreement with renewal options each year upon mutual agreement, to supply CBD-extract from its European facility to Mabsut Life which will be commercialized into cartridges for vape pens under the Mabsut brand, the deal is valued at 1 million AUD in revenue per year.
2018
The company signed a sales and distribution agreement with Cult Beauty through MGC Derma which will see 15 of MGC Derma’s cosmetics products as well as its Derma Plus skin care range sold on its website.
18 MGC Derma and Derma Plus cosmetics products was launched at Harvey Nichols at the ground floor of the Beyond Beauty Department within Knightsbridge as well as online internationally. 2 months later, Harvey Nichols’ Birmingham and Edinburgh stores started stocking the same products.
The company signed a 3-year exclusive distribution agreement with AM Mangion for its for the company’s medical cannabis pharmaceutical products in Malta, Italy, France, Spain Portugal, the Middle East, North Africa and the UK.
As part of the signing of the definitive agreement of the sale of MGC Derma, the company entered into a 5-year CBD and cosmetic materials supply agreement with CannaGlobal where MXC will supply CBD, proprietary production IP and cosmetic materials for the production of MGC Derma cosmetics.
The company partnered with Epilepsy Action Australia for the launch of a medical cannabis education platform designed for the everyday use of healthcare professionals and epilepsy patients as a gateway to knowledge on epilepsy and access to medical cannabis treatments.
The company signed a partnership agreement with the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and The Hebrew University of Jerusalem to launch CannaHub, an international research hub for medicinal cannabis and its future applications in the field of medicine and patient treatment.
2019
The company signed a 5-year distribution agreement with Grow Biotech to be its exclusive importer and distributor for its CannEpil and CogniCann for sales in the UK market.
The company signed distribution agreements for its CannEpil, CogniCann, MXP100 and MXC1:1 products in Australia with Health House International.
The company entered into a wholesale/logistics agreement with Cannvalate agreements for its CannEpil, CogniCann, MXP100 and MXC1:1 products in Australia and partnered with Cannvalate for clinical research at the Medicinal Cannabis Research Collaboration in Melbourne to increase the body of literature providing further clinical support for MGC Pharma’s cannabinoid pharmaceuticals.
The company signed a marketing and distribution agreement with YuShop Global to market, distribute and support through customer service MGC Nutraceuticals CBD-based products into the Chinese health products market.
The company sold MGC Derma to CannaGlobal.
The company signed an agreement with Mexacare for the distribution of MGC Pharma’s phytocannabinoid-based products in in Germany, Austria & Switzerland.
The company signed a binding term sheet with Brasil Invest Global Business and Development for the establishment of a 50/50 JV dedicated to retail sales and marketing of MGC Pharma products in Brazil and other Latin American markets. The company will supply the JV with product IP formulas and SOP’s for registration of the products as well as marketing material from MGC Pharma and distribution will go through MGC Pharma’s existing agreement with ONIX Empreendimentos e Participações.
The company signed a 3-year exclusive distribution agreement with ONIX Empreendimentos e Participações covering CannEpil and its investigational medicinal products including CogniCann. Products are to be commercialized by ONIX solely under MGC Pharma’s brand and delivered direct to patients utilising OnixCann’s innovative digital platform CANTERA that connects potential patients with the relevant medical professionals.
The company partnered with the Slovenian Institute of Hop Research and Brewing for researching cultivation optimization and standardising the production process of active pharmaceutical ingredients derived from phytocannabinoids.
2020
The company acquired Medicinal Cannabis Clinics.
The company signed a supply agreement for a minimum of 18 months with THC Global for the production and supply of white label pharmaceutical grade Canndeo-branded phytocannabinoid products to Australia and New Zealand.
The company signed a distribution agreement with LYPHE Group for its Mercury Pharma line of products to be sold in the UK s under LYPHE labels to patients at clinics.
The company signed a 5-year exclusive distribution and commercialization agreement with with Anden Bio Naturals for MGC Pharma phytocannabinoid-derived medicines in Peru and Bolivia. The company will also develop and provide a white label line of nutraceutical products which do not compete with the company’s products.
The company signed an acquisition agreement to sell for 100% of MGC Nutraceuticals to Onassis Holdings.
The company signed a binding amendment to its supply and distribution agreement with ONIX Brazil setting minimum order volumes for year 1 to 20,000 units continued by a minimum order volume of 50,000 units annually. This amendment is valid for 7 years and may be renewed for an additional 5-year term.
The company executed a 5-year (followed by yearly renewals and a 6-month cancellation notice) binding contract manufacturing and distribution argeement with Micelle Technology for necessary research support, commercial manufacturing and distribution of a natural anti-infective based formulation with the aim to treat human patients with serious viral infections with inflammatory complications. The product is based on Micelle’s patented MyCell Enhanced delivery system technology. MGC will be the pharmaceutical partner and have responsibility for all future clinical trials, EU-GMP production and wholesale distribution of the product. Micelle will provide the company with the product in bulk form and MGC will manufacture and pack the finished product and will be the manufacturer and wholesaler of the finished product in all countries worldwide. This agreement supersedes and replaces the binding term sheet executed on the 21st of march 2020.
The company signed a binding term sheet with KS KIM International for the sales and distribution of ArtemiC in Israel, Russia, the CIS countries, including Georgia, Ukraine and Belarus and countries in the Balkan region.
The company entered into an exclusive commercial wholesale supply agreement with Polish NGO Cannabis House Association, Stowarzyszenie Cannabis House and and the Forensic Laboratory of the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Łódź in Poland for the supply of the company’s cannabinoid medicine products and scientific support to a large-scale commercial research study aimed at collecting data on medicinal cannabis users and products in Poland. The company’s phytocannabinoid products will be based on CannEpil, CogniCann, and the Mercury Pharma line will be sold to pharmacies and authorised stores. The rollout will start with 15 POS followed by a total of 50 within 9 months followed by a full rollout in 2 years coming to a total of 250 POS.
The company signed a term sheet with Dr Svetlana Kopachevskaja for the creation of a 70/30 JV intended for sales of ArtemiC as a medicine to be sold in the Russian market. The distribution and sales of ArtemiC to Russia and CIS countries will be managed by existing MXC partner, KS Kim.
The company signed a 5-year binding term sheet with IM Cannabis for the exclusive importation, sale and distribution of CannEpil in Israel. The company remains the developer and owner of all IP rights in relation to CannEpil.
2021
The company signed a 3-year exclusive worldwide supply and distribution agreement with Swiss PharmaCan for ArtemiC Rescue. The minimum for the deal is 40,000 units per quarter.
The company expanded into the US through a 24 million USD, 3-year sales and distribution agreement including clinical trials for the US market with private company AMC Holdings. AMC is working towards the submission of MGC Pharma products to the University of South Florida’s Internal Review Board for approval.
2022
The company’s patent for CannEpil drug delivery carrier of self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system in Ionic Complex Concentrate, MGC Pharma’s phytocannabinoid-derived Investigational Medicinal Product drug, designed to treat drug-resistant epilepsy with a high CBD, low THC formula was granted by the Slovenian Intellectual Property Office.
The company’s patent commercial protection for the IP of its CimetrA product was granted in the EU by the Slovenian Intellectual Property Office.
The company acquired a 40% stake in ZAM Software.
The company signed a supply and distribution agreement deal with Sciensus Rare to be the exclusive distributor of the company’s CannEpil and CogniCann products in key European markets and the UK. The products are respectively used to treat drug-resistant epilepsy and dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. CogniCann has clinical trials working towards these ailments.
The company started a partnership with HempStreet, an Indian research to retail venture in the medicinal cannabis sector, allowing for CannEpil and CimetrA to be distributed in India. The partnership will also help HempStreet’s future endeavors in the field of transdermal delivery technology for cannabinoids, to launch in markets outside of Asia with MGC Pharma’s help in markets where they are active such as Australia, the UK, Brazil, and Ireland.
2023
The company’s CannEpil became available in the UK by its named pateient request to be prescribed by doctors on the General Medical Council.
The company received permission for its first import of 200 grams of psilocybin raw mushroom material to its GMP-certified, Slovenian research facility from Psyence Group. The company will perform an analysis on the materials with a view to assist Psyence in the development of new psilocybin products to take to market.
2024
The company announced a strategic collaboration with SINTEF to address the clinical challenge of chronic wound management through nano-formulations as part of the company’s ongoing expansion into new therapeutic areas. The company intends the study to focus on identifying and selecting the antimicrobial activities of a range of repurposed polypharmacological agents endowed with multiple medically beneficial activities. SINTEF will investigate the chosen range of active ingredients for their anti-biofilm, skin-health modifying and symptom alleviating functions. The composition of the particles will be modified in response to the efficacy observed in the course of development, simultaneously with modification of their additional pharmacological features. All costs applicable to the project will be incurred by Argent BioPharma and the company will retain ownership of all project results, including any intellectual property developed.
The company announced plans to de-list from the LSE after earler during the year saying it would delist from the ASX, the company will however stay with ASX and the OTCQB Venture platforms. The potential departure from the ASX was primarily due to lack of liquidity in the trading of its shares and because company has faced long-going fundraising challenges in Australia and capital-raising efforts were primarily supported by investors from the UK and the US and it considered LSE to be its primary. However, the delisting decision from the LSE was driven by the company’s desire to streamline and simplify processes while at the same time increasing administrative efficiencies.
2025
The company’s CBD-based refractory epilepsy treatment, CannEpil gained approval for prescription in Germany.
The company signed a collaboration agreement with David Trading giving DT complete control over Argent’s Malta factory for the next 49 years. CimetrA will still be produced at the factory and the cmpany will pay DT the cost of making it plus an extra 25%. DT also received the option to purchase the entire factory in the future for 1M USD.
The company entered into a strategic manufacturing partnership with ECCPharm which will provide GMP product manufacturing and batch relese services for CannEpil and CogniCann for early patient access programs in Ireland, the UK and Germany. Argent BioPharma will retain ownership of current and future R&D and IP rights under the partnership.
The company entered into a Strategic Heads of Agreement with AusCann to accelerate cannabinoid-based pharmaceutical development through the sharing of proprietary datasets and regulatory expertise. Under the agreement, AusCann will license Argent’s CannEpil CMC and regulatory dossier for non-epilepsy pharmaceutical programs, ensuring no overlap with Argent’s epilepsy portfolio. Both companies will also gain access to AusCann’s Neuvis PK/PD data, supporting improved bioavailability and development efficiency. The partnership establishes a Joint Steering Committee to coordinate R&D and regulatory strategy, and incorporates a deferred licensing model with royalties on future pharmaceutical products.
The company started its formal supply of its EU-GMP cannabinoid-based API to the University Medical Centre Ljubljana.
The company entered into a financing agreement with 2 US-based funds managed by C/M Capital and secured a A$11m facility with an immediate 3M drawdown in order to acquireAusCann Group Holdings’ core assets and to advance its pathway to a dual listing on a US stock exchange.
2026
The company acquired a 48% stake in CannPal for $2 million with an option to acquire the Neuvis drug-delivery platform within 12 months post-completion for an additional $2 million in shares.
The company licensed the exclusive global commercialization rights to Splash Beverage Group, ticker SBEV for 5.5 M USD with Splash assuming all future clinical trial costs, including pushing the drug through its active US FDA Investigational New Drug (IND) pathway. The company is still a 100% owner of the IP and remains the exclusive global manufacture while receiving 15% net revenue royalty on all global sales.
BRANDS:
ArtemiC is a natural supplement with only natural active ingredients that is clinically proven to improve symptons of a cytokine storm. It reduces inflammation, enhances the body’s immune response and prevents the onset of the sometimes-deadly cytokine storm effect, it prevents blood clotting, strengthens and regulates mitochondrial function and staves off additional infection from bacteria. It is powered by Swiss PharmaCan’s patented MyCell technology.
CannEpil is a high-margin, pharmaceutical-grade medical cannabinoid therapy formulated as a standardized 20:1 CBD-to-THC oral solution specifically developed to treat drug-resistant (refractory) epilepsy. CannEpil is backed by rigorous clinical data and manufactured under strict EU-GMP standards, securing full government insurance reimbursement in Ireland and active prescription pathways in the UK, Germany, and Australia.