The first 100% Moroccan therapeutic cannabis medicine was officially launched in Casablanca on Thursday. This new medication is designed to treat certain severe forms of epilepsy that are resistant to conventional treatments. Developed over five years with an investment of over 200 million dirhams, the medicine is now available in pharmacies. It is the result of a project that covers the entire production chain, from regulated cannabis cultivation to the manufacturing of the final product.
The medicine is produced by Pharma 5 laboratories, which highlighted the significance of this achievement in strengthening Morocco's national health sovereignty. The company's general director, Mia Lahlou-Filali, emphasized that this new medication represents a major advancement in the care of patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsy, a condition for which therapeutic options are limited. According to Lahlou-Filali, nearly a quarter of the 400,000 people with epilepsy in Morocco suffer from treatment-resistant forms, with a significant proportion being children.
The therapeutic cannabis medicine is expected to reduce the frequency of seizures in about 50% of patients and eliminate them in 10 to 15% of cases. This offers new perspectives for managing the condition. The substance used in the medicine is cannabidiol (CBD) purified to over 98%, meeting European Pharmacopoeia and international pharmaceutical quality standards. The project integrates agricultural, scientific, and pharmaceutical activities, from cannabis cultivation in the Rif region to extraction, purification, and medication production.
The project involves over 40 hectares of cultivation and benefits 70 local families integrated into the legal circuit. More than 100 tonnes of biomass have been processed according to pharmaceutical standards. The initiative is part of the dynamic launched by Law No. 13-21 on licit uses of cannabis and has benefited from collaboration with several institutions, including the National Agency for Regulation of Cannabis Activities (ANRAC), the Moroccan Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AMMPS), and the Mohammed VI Foundation for Science and Health (FM6SS).
According to Abdelmoumen Mahly, director of Research and Innovation at Pharma 5, the company plans to export the medicine to several African and Middle Eastern countries after meeting domestic market needs. There are already expressed demands from some of these countries. This project not only has a medical impact but also significant economic and social dimensions, particularly in integrating populations from the Rif region into the licit cannabis industry and creating added value through a fully controlled production chain in Morocco.
Mia Lahlou-Filali highlighted the importance of this project in creating value-added products from Morocco's natural resources, thanks to the mobilization of 100% Moroccan scientific and industrial competencies. The launch of this medicine demonstrates Morocco's ability to transform its resources into high-value-added therapeutic solutions. The project also aligns with efforts to develop the pharmaceutical industry in Morocco and improve access to innovative treatments for patients.
The development of this therapeutic cannabis medicine marks a significant milestone in Morocco's healthcare and pharmaceutical sector. It showcases the country's capabilities in producing high-quality, innovative medications that meet international standards. As the medicine becomes available in pharmacies, patients with severe, treatment-resistant epilepsy will have access to a new therapeutic option that could significantly improve their quality of life.
Key points
- The medicine is produced from cannabidiol (CBD) purified to over 98% and is expected to reduce seizure frequency in about 50% of patients.
