Sativa Investments PLC (LON:SATI), the UK’s only medicinal cannabis investment vehicle, has formed the Sativa Foundation to fund academic research into medicinal cannabis and its benefits to the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors. The Foundation will award grants to research projects approved by the Foundation’s Advisory Board, which includes Pharmacologist Sir Alasdair Breckenridge, physician and barrister Dr Peter Feldshreiber, physician Dr Stuart Ungar, and founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sativa Investments, Geremy Thomas. Three research grants are already being considered.
Sativa Investments will have a fiduciary interest in any grant, as each will be conditional on Sativa Research and Development Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sativa Investments PLC, being entitled to the entire IP and licensing rights to any discovery or other agreed terms. Commercialisation agreements will be agreed between the parties, and Home Office growing licenses will be sought to supply materials to the researchers.
Geremy Thomas said: “Medicinal cannabis in the UK is becoming a major pharmaceutical and healthcare solution to treat patients’ symptoms without the side effects from opioids. Medicinal cannabis needs to be far more thoroughly researched in the UK and Sativa is delighted to be helping to fund it.
“The Board looks forward to help lead medicinal cannabis research in the UK, so its use can be implemented in the best way possible for better patient outcome.”