Rua Bioscience is a Maori-born biotech business and the only New Zealand-based medicinal cannabis company with an explicit focus on delivering social impact.
NEWS & PARTNERSHIPS:
2022
The company exported the first cannabis genetics under the medicinal cannabis scheme to Cann Group for the assessment of their commercial potential. The company will also perform a similar trial.
The company received its first international order from Germany for its high THC flower.
The company acquired Zalm Therapeutics, a manufacturer of GMP-grade medicinal cannabis products in New Zealand.
The company signed a 5-year agreement with Motagon becoming its preferred Australia/NZ supplier of medicinal cannabis products.
2023
The company signed a supply agreement with Motagon for the supply of medicinal cannabis products to Central and Eastern European countries, with a first focus on Poland.
The company announced the decision to cease local GMP manufacturing to be able to accelerate its global brand strategy, building its international product pipeline while developing valuable points of difference in the areas of genetic discovery and novel product development.
The company teamed up with Anspec for the launch and distribution of its products in Australia to patients through prescribers.
The company was granted a licence to cultivate indigenous fungi containing psilocybin because of its involvement in a health science research and development collaboration led by Rangiwaho Marae.
The company signed a distribution agreement with Leafio in Australia.
The company signed a strategic supply agreement with an EU-based medicinal cannabis company for the demand in the German and Australian markets.
The company signed a distribution agreement with Target Health to supply Rua products in the UK.
2024
The company announced an agreement with Apollo Green for the introduction of its unique East Coast Tairawhiti cannabis strains to the Canadian market.
The company was granted an expanded licence by Manatū Hauora, the NZ Ministry of Health to research all 10 indigenous Psilocybe varieties and explore their therapeutic potential. A new research agreement has been executed involving 8 partners:Rangiwaho Marae, Institute of Environmental Science & Research, Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, the Mātai Medical Research Institute, Tūranga Health, IO Limited, the New Zealand Drug Foundation and Rua Bioscience.
The company signed an agreement with Cannprisma to conduct pre-commercial trials of Rua’s unique cannabis varieties with the company exporting the first legal clones from new Zealand to Portugal. Following successful trials, the agreement allows for commercial production.
The company renewed its distribution agreement with Nimbus Health for 3 years.
The company launched it first product in Australia with the strain Rua Rau Hiwa which is derived from legacy genetics developed during the illegal cannabis cultivation era in the Tairāwhiti region.
The company launched 3 medical cannabis products in the UK with distribution exclusively done by Target Healthcare.
2025
The company expanded its product offering in Germany with 2 more Rua-branded products, landing at a total of 4 in the country. The new products were launched in collaboration with Nimbus Health.
The company launched Oleo Panacea Dry Herb Vaporiser, a high-performance medical device designed to support consistent, combustion-free use of dried cannabis flower, available to buy at participating clinics in New Zealand or from the company’s website.
The company expanded its European footprint of sales to Czechia through a partnership with Motagon, a Czech-based pharmaceutical distributor with whom Rua has entered a formal distribution agreement for Czechia, Poland and other eastern European countries.
The company secured new long-term exclusive supply arrangements with Australia’s Green Farmers as well as A-grade medical flower of unique genetics from Apollo Green Australia for the German market with a minimum targeted offtake of 1,000 KG per annum, with up to 2,000 KG of annual capacity guaranteed to be made available at Rua’s request.
The company announced a new research partnership to develop clinically-proven smoking cessation products from New Zealand plant species which could transform smoking cessation and broader public health outcomes in Aotearoa and beyond. Cytisine is an alkaloid found in high concentrations in kōwhai and has been used for decades in Eastern Europe to help people quit smoking. The 12-month project will culminate in a regulatory and commercialisation pathway for New Zealand–made cytisine products, providing the foundation for future clinical trials and scaled manufacturing.
2026
The company made history exporting first 4 varieties of legal live cannabis clones from New Zealand to Apollo Green in Canada.
The company exported the first legal shipment of cannabis clones with 4 varieties from New Zealand to Canada to Apollo Green.