Israel Launches Medical Cannabis Cloning in Bioreactors
Israeli company BioHarvest Sciences has started cloning medical cannabis in bioreactors for pharmaceutical production. The company plans to obtain licenses to sell cannabinoid-based medications in Israel and the United States.
New Technology Reduces Cannabis Cultivation Costs
BioHarvest Sciences CEO Ilan Sobel explained the unique aspects of their production process: “We don’t grow cannabis plants. Instead, we use a process of replicating plant cells in large tanks called bioreactors to produce a massive quantity of identical cells. These cells grow in bioreactors for just three weeks, while traditional cannabis takes 14 to 23 weeks to mature. Our technology also allows us to significantly increase the concentration of active compounds compared to regular plants.”
According to Sobel, cultivating cannabis cells in a bioreactor requires far fewer resources than growing cannabis in greenhouses. The concentration of cannabinoids in the cell cultures is 12 times higher than in cannabis plants. While Sobel did not disclose the details of the technology developed by BioHarvest Sciences, he noted that their invention will shake up the cannabis market. He also explained that experts can adjust the cannabinoid content in the cells by changing the climate conditions inside the tanks.
The biomass produced in the bioreactors consists of cells identical to those of regular cannabis, as scientists do not alter the cannabis genotype. Therefore, products made from BioHarvest Sciences’ raw materials are not subject to restrictions on goods containing genetically modified organisms.
Extracting Cannabinoids from Cannabis Biomass
Thanks to the technology of cloning cannabis cells in bioreactors, BioHarvest Sciences will significantly reduce the cost of producing cannabis-based medicines. Compared to traditional plant cultivation, obtaining cannabinoids through cell replication in tanks requires:
- Eight times less electricity
- Fifty-four times less water
- Ten times less space
Additionally, the company’s technology solves two major problems faced by cannabis growers: contamination by microorganisms and unstable cannabinoid concentrations. The controlled and protected environment eliminates the risk of crop loss due to mold and guarantees consistent levels of psychoactive substances in the cells.
The biomass produced by BioHarvest Sciences contains the full spectrum of substances used in medicine. The company plans to manufacture medications with CBD and THC, as well as rarer cannabinoids like cannabichromene. Sobel intends to bring to market tablets, solutions, chewing gums, vape liquids, and many other types of pharmaceutical products containing cannabinoids extracted from cloned cannabis cells.