VANCOUVER, BC — Willow Biosciences Inc. (“Willow” or the “Company”) (TSX: WLLW) (OTCQB: CANSF), a leading biotechnology company focused on revolutionizing industrial manufacturing of high-value molecules traditionally derived from plants, announces expanded production capacity with a new manufacturing partnership and progress with respect to its Generally Recognized as Safe (“GRAS”) determination.
Expansion of Fermentation Manufacturing Network
Willow is pleased to announce the signing of a Manufacturing Services Agreement (“MSA”) with a second Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (“CDMO”), which will offer increased fermentation capacity to produce Willow’s FutureGrown™ products, including cannabigerol (“CBG”). Willow’s new partner has a strong track record in the large-scale production of food, nutritional, and pharmaceutical products and holds all necessary certifications to serve these markets. This new CDMO partnership allows Willow to accommodate new programs, both internal and partnered, in addition to its cannabinoid portfolio.
Willow’s Chief Operating Officer Dr. Chris Savile noted, “with the unprecedented demand for precision fermentation assets, having a global network of CDMOs with diverse capabilities is an absolute requirement. The addition of this premier CDMO with large scale fermentation assets will ensure Willow’s manufacturing capabilities can readily expand to meet market demand.”
Successful Completion of Initial Toxicological Assessment for GRAS Determination
Willow has successfully completed the Stage 1 toxicological assessment of its FutureGrown™ CBG product for oral product applications, an important milestone for biosynthetically produced cannabinoids. The assessment concluded that FutureGrownTM CBG was non-mutagenic, non-clastogenic, non-genotoxic, which, is the first step toward concluding Willow’s FutureGrown™ CBG as GRAS in the United States. Willow is engaging AIBMR Life Sciences, Inc. to perform the toxicology studies, with Stage 2 studies to be initiated shortly.
Willow produces its FutureGrown™ CBG through precision fermentation, drastically reducing production time and carbon footprint when compared to traditionally grown cannabis extracts.
About Willow Biosciences Inc.
Willow is a leading biotechnology company that develops and produces high-purity, plant derived ingredients for the personal care, food and beverage, and pharmaceutical markets. Willow’s FutureGrown™ biotechnology platform allows large-scale production of pure, consistent, and sustainable products to benefit our B2B partners and their customers.
