Althea has launched two more softgel capsules into the Australian market as it claimed the dosage form is convincing more doctors to experiment with medicinal cannabis.
The company released its first softgel capsules in September 2022, with a 25mg CBD product manufactured by FoliuMed.
It has now expanded the range with the release of a balanced CBD capsule containing 3mg of CBD and 2.5mg of THC, and a 10mg THC-only product.
Althea said the capsules, which offer a fixed dose with gradual onset and extended duration of effect, is enticing more practitioners to take an interest in the medicinal possibilities of cannabis.
Of around 300 doctors who treated patients with Althea’s CBD-only capsule between May and November 2023, almost one third were first-time prescribers, chief executive Josh Fegan said.
“The successful launch of the CBD25 capsules proves that this is the preparation of choice for new and existing prescribers of cannabis-based medicines,” he said.
Despite optimism surrounding softgel capsules – several executives believe their conventional appearance will help normalise the drug – they still represented only 2% of all Special Access Scheme approvals in 2023.
