Israel’s anti-dumping campaign has stepped up a notch with the ministry of economy proposing levies of up to 175% on Canadian imports.
A report published by the ministry over the weekend outlined acceptable prices for named Canadian companies based on their cooperation with the report and prices in their domestic market.
The move comes after an investigation into the suspected dumping of cheap Canadian cannabis into the Israeli market earlier this year amid concerns the volume of imported product may be damaging the local industry.
In July, the ministry’s preliminary report proposed tariffs ranging from 63% to 369% depending on the companies involved. The final report proposes fees starting from 2% and rising to a maximum of 175%.
The new recommendations are subject to a final ruling from an advisory committee before being implemented.
Australian firms have been watching developments in Israel closely, with some believing the federal government should adopt similar measures.
Neurotech International
Neurotech International has appointed Dr Anthony Filippis as its new managing director and CEO starting in February 2025.
Dr Filippis is currently the chief operating officer of ASX-listed Percheron Therapeutics, a clinical stage biotechnology company with an ongoing Phase IIb clinical trial in the rare paediatric disease, Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
With 25 years’ biotech experience, Neurotech described Dr Filippis an “internationally proven senior business leader with a deep understanding and knowledge of the biotech industry and capital markets”.
Neurotech chairman Mark Davies added: “Anthony will bring to Neurotech a significant amount of experience across the life sciences sector, with an outstanding track record of partnering success and capital markets expertise.
“We.. look forward to his contribution in… 2025, which is shaping up as an important year of delivery for Neurotech as we accelerate our regulatory development.”
Dr Filippis said he was looking forward to working with the Neurotech team and board to progress development of the firm’s broad-spectrum cannabinoid drug therapy NTI164 and provide new treatment options for patients.
NZ prescription data
The number of New Zealanders using medicinal cannabis doubled in 2023, with men and millennials leading the charge, according to government data obtained by The New Zealand Herald.
Since the launch of the country’s Medicinal Cannabis Scheme in 2020, the number of people using the medicine has risen from 9,401 in 2021 to 17,416 in 2022, and 35,359 in 2023.
The figures show those aged 30 to 39 made up the bulk of prescriptions in 2023 with 27,028, followed by the 40 to 49 age group (21,407), 50 to 59-year-olds (17,904), and those aged 60 to 69 (13,236).
While 20 to 29-year-olds accounted for 12,713 prescriptions, those aged over 70 filled 14,542, with just 1,255 issued to those under 20.
Overall, just over 108,000 prescriptions were issued in 2023, up 130% from 46,867 in the previous year, and a more than four-fold increase on the 22,506 issued in 2021.
Prescriptions for men nearly tripled from 22,863 in 2022 to 60,232 in 2023, while those for women doubled from 23,952 to 47,633.
The popularity of the medicine among an older demographic would appear to be borne out by the experience of The Cannabis Clinic, which currently cares for more than 35,000 patients via its in-person, telehealth, and assisted telehealth services.
Co-founder and CEO Dr Waseem Alzaher said: “We’re seeing a growing interest among seniors, with around 30% of our clients aged 65 and over.”
