Rua enters into partnership with ancient plant

Wairuakohu (Radula marginata)

He taonga na Tane, na Rongo. He rongoa taketake no Aotearoa.

Rua Bioscience has entered into a joint venture between three companies and an entity representing the interests of an indigenous plant. This is another important step for Indigenous-led science in Aotearoa.

At the centre of the venture is Wairuakohu (Radula marginata), a liverwort endemic to Aotearoa. Found in native forests across the North Island and on some offshore islands, this unassuming plant has been around nearly 400 million years and grows only around 1mm a month, yet it holds something pretty special.

Wairuakohu produces rare bibenzyl cannabinoids, including perrottetinene (PET), a molecule very similar to THC, one of the main secondary metabolites of Cannabis Sativa.  2018 Research showed synthesised PET could cross the blood-brain barrier in mice, producing cooling and pain-relieving effects. It demonstrates benefits similar to THC without some of the side effects of THC.

Rua’s co-founder Manu Caddie recognised this potential early on and made the case for Rua to invest in the Wairuakohu research nearly ten years ago, grounded in our commitment to cannabinoid medicines and Indigenous innovation.

That early investment helped lay the foundation for the work that continues today and was formalised recently with the signing of a limited partnership between the Wairuakohu Charitable Trust, an entity established to protect and benefit the species that is governed by iwi (Maori tribal authorities) that have the plant growing in their territories, and research and development investors, Rua Bioscience, the Bioeconomy Science Institute, and IO Limited (Manu’s own company).

Protecting the taonga (treasured indigenous species) and the ecosystems that sustains it is central to the project, and the Wairuakohu Charitable Trust therefore represents the interests of the plant and its customary kaitiaki, holding a 50% shareholding in the venture, ensuring any future benefits from commercialising intellectual property held by the venture are shared equitably.

We're grateful to have played a part in getting this kaupapa off the ground, and excited to see this kaitiaki-led approach to research and innovation continue to grow.