Willow Biosciences provides manufacturing update
by CM Staff
Willow previously announced the expansion of its precision fermentation manufacturing network with the signing of a Manufacturing Services Agreement.
CALGARY and MOUNTAIN VIEW — Willow Biosciences Inc., a biotechnology company focused on the industrial manufacturing of pure, consistent and sustainable functional ingredients, provided an update on cannabigerol, the Company’s first commercialized functional ingredient in its portfolio.
“As we expand our portfolio of products and partnerships, we also remain committed to maximizing the value of our first functional ingredient, CBG, through continued development, operational improvements, and marketing efforts”, said Dr. Peter Seufer-Wasserthal, Willow’s Interim President and Chief Executive Officer. “We remain optimistic on the future opportunity for CBG and other cannabinoids and will be well-positioned to capture that value as the markets develop.”
Willow previously announced the expansion of its precision fermentation manufacturing network with the signing of a Manufacturing Services Agreement with a second Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization, increasing fermentation capacity to produce Willow’s FutureGrown™ products, including CBG. Willow has completed the initial phases of technology transfer with the CDMO and anticipates running its first commercial batches in the first half of 2023. Willow continues to supply current and prospective partners through its first previously announced CDMO, Curia Global, Inc. (formerly AMRI). Willow has also refined and advanced its industry leading downstream process, which allows for significantly reduced costs and optionality for working with additional CDMO’s in the future. As the market for biosynthetically produced CBG continues to develop, Willow will be in a strong position to deliver commercial scale volumes. When the regulatory environment permits, Willow is also well-positioned to develop additional cannabinoids beyond CBG.
Willow previously announced that it had successfully completed the initial toxicological assessment for Generally Recognized as Safe for its FutureGrown™ CBG product. The Company has successfully completed the Stage 1 toxicological assessment for oral product applications. The assessment concluded that FutureGrown™ CBG caused no adverse effects and was non-mutagenic, non-clastogenic and non-genotoxic, completing the first step toward GRAS designation in the United States. Willow anticipates initiating its Stage 2 pivotal toxicological assessment in Q3 2022 and attaining an independent conclusion of GRAS in the first half of 2023.
