Israel-based Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, the world’s largest generic medicines producer, and Israeli startup Syqe Medical have signed a distribution and cooperation agreement to market medical cannabis for pain management with Syqe’s revolutionary selective-dose pharmaceutical-grade medicinal plants inhaler in Israel.

Inhalation is considered the most efficient way of administering medical marijuana for pain relief.

According to a joint statement, this marks the first time that a company in the quickly growing medical-cannabis sector has met pharmaceutical standards for inhalation.

Teva will have exclusive marketing and distribution rights in Israel. The pocket-sized product will be available for home use next year to individuals approved by the Israeli Health Ministry. Nurses will provide training for both patients and medical professionals.

Haifa’s Rambam Health Care Campus has been testing the Syqe inhaler over the past year with the approval of the Health Ministry, reportedly making it the first hospital in the world to prescribe cannabis as a standard medical treatment.

“Teva Israel is entering the field of medical cannabis out of a deep commitment to patients coping with pain, which is one of the company’s core therapeutic areas,” said Teva Israel CEO Avinoam Sapir, who also is Teva’s director of Innovation in Emerging Markets.

“State-of-the-art technology and groundbreaking medical devices — such as those developed by Syqe Medical, and which generate tremendous therapeutic value for patients and medical staff alike — integrate perfectly into the strategy of Teva Israel.”

Philip Morris International is among the investors in Syqe Medical, which is based in Tel Aviv and chaired by former Health Ministry Director General Dr. Eytan Hyam. Founder Perry Davidson formerly cofounded the largest medical cannabis production company in Israel.

(via Israel21c)

[Photo: Israel21c ]