GESlabs licenced by SAHPRA to produce cannabinoid pharma ingredients

After two years of design, build, inspection and collaboration, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has licenced GESLabs to manufacture cannabinoid active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) at its new South African production laboratory.

GESLabs has attracted R20m of foreign direct investment and has established a world-class pharmaceutical laboratory in Cape Town, South Africa, which will serve domestic and international markets with APIs for use in cannabinoid medicines.

Despite being launched as the pandemic struck, the ambitious project team consisting of local scientists, engineers and builders were able to blend on- and off-site work to execute the construction of a world class pharmaceutical facility on time and within budget.

Quality and safety approved

The company engaged with SAHPRA from the outset, sharing detailed engineering plans for the site construction and lines of operating machinery within the facility. SAHPRA collaboratively shaped the design of the space to ensure that the final outcome met the exacting quality and safety standards set by the authority and the global certification.

Peter Nel, managing director at GESLabs explained, “SAHPRA has been an extremely constructive partner over the last 18 months and found time for us despite the sudden and intense pressures they faced as the central agency for COVID-19 vaccinations. It was a hard journey, but effective regulation of cannabinoids is vital for the long-term safety and reputation of our sector.”

Ensuring continued efficacy of manufactured drugs is crucial for the protection of the local and international reputation of SA’s pharma industry

A rolling partnership of compliance

The relationship between SAHPRA and GESLabs is far from over. The process is not a once-off box-ticking exercise, but a rolling partnership of compliance. Now that the governance component is firmly entrenched, monitoring and reporting will ensure standards are updated as legislation is amended. Ensuring continued efficacy of manufactured drugs is crucial for the protection of the local and international reputation of SA’s pharma industry.

GESLabs will start production immediately and will ship its first sample of APIs to the USA, UK, Germany and Australia in February.