An Ontario pharmaceutical company has become the first in Canada to receive Health Canada approval to manufacture cannabis-based prescription drugs in its facility.

Burlington’s EmpowerPharm, a new clinical-stage, Canadian-owned drug company, made the announcement this week.

While the company was already in possession of numerous cannabis-related certifications, including a Cannabis Drug Licence, a Standard Processing Licence, and a Cannabis Research Licence, the newly granted Drug Establishment Licence (DEL) certifies EmpowerPharm as compliant with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards.

“With this new Health Canada licence, EmpowerPharm is well positioned to disrupt the pharmaceutical sector through further investment in its R&D,” reads a statement from the company released earlier this week. “Healthcare practitioners and governments have long called for scientific evidence to support cannabis-based pharmaceutical products for therapeutic use.”

Clinical trials are now underway in the development of a cannabidiol-based prescription anxiety drug, Empower CBD™.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a psychoactive but non-intoxicating compound derived from the cannabis plant that has exploded in popularity over the past few years.

Researchers are now working towards its next step – establishing enough evidence of efficacy and safety of the drug to support a New Drug Submission to Health Canada, as well as a Regulatory Filing with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).