BAT forms partnership to accelerate ‘beyond nicotine’ strategy

By Liz Wells in Industry News 11th March 2021

BAT Group has signed a collaboration agreement with Organigram Inc focused on the development of next-generation cannabis products, with an initial focus on cannabidiol (CBD).

Organigram has a track record of consumer-led innovation and developing adult-use recreational and medical cannabis products, which are legally available in Canada.

The agreement will enable BAT to “deepen its understanding of this rapidly expanding and evolving area” and gain access to R&D technologies, product innovation, and cannabis expertise.

It adds to ongoing BAT activities to expand its portfolio ‘beyond nicotine’ and follows the pilot launch of Vuse CBD Zone in Manchester earlier this year.

Dr David O’Reilly, director scientific research at BAT, said: “We believe this collaboration has significant potential to enhance our activities, allowing us to combine our world-class expertise while enabling scientists from both BAT and Organigram to work closely together and share information real-time. We know that in R&D this is how you make real breakthroughs and accelerate progress.”