Dunbar Pharma Brings First Plant-Derived Dronabinol API to UK Market Through IPS Pharma
Irish manufacturer brings commercial-scale, EU GMP-certified production and reliable supply to medicines produced through the UK's regulated Specials pathway
ATHLONE, Ireland, August 18, 2026--Dunbar Pharmaceuticals ("Dunbar Pharma" or "the Company"), Ireland's first EU GMP-certified manufacturer of plant-derived cannabinoid active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), today announced that its plant-derived dronabinol API, WaterClear THC™, is now available across the United Kingdom.
Through its agreement with IPS Pharma, a leading UK pharmaceutical service provider and licensed Specials manufacturer, clinicians across the UK can source pharmaceutical-grade, plant-derived dronabinol through an established regulated supply network. In the UK, Specials are unlicensed medicines manufactured or supplied to meet the individual clinical needs of a specific patient where no suitable licensed alternative is available. IPS Pharma produces cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBPMs) available as oral capsules, oral sprays, and oily solution drops.
Dunbar Pharma manufactures its dronabinol API at commercial scale at its EU GMP-certified facility in Athlone, Ireland, under the oversight of the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA). Its validated manufacturing process and full batch traceability are designed to provide the consistency and continuity of supply required for regulated pharmaceutical medicines. While dronabinol has historically been produced synthetically, Dunbar Pharma uses a proprietary process based on plant-derived starting materials.
"Making WaterClear THC™, our GMP-certified dronabinol, available through IPS Pharma marks an important milestone in our efforts to broaden access to pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoid medicines," said Leah Fletcher, Founder and CEO of Dunbar Pharma. "Many patients cannot or do not wish to inhale cannabinoid medicines, and they should have access to suitable alternatives. By manufacturing at commercial scale in Ireland to EU GMP standards, we can provide partners such as IPS Pharma with a consistent, reliable supply of dronabinol for oral formulations. This is how cannabinoid therapy becomes an accepted part of medicine rather than a category apart."
"We're delighted to be partnering with Dunbar Pharma to bring its pharmaceutical-grade, plant-derived dronabinol to the UK through our established Specials service," said Ian McFarlane, Director Strategic Partnerships at IPS Pharma. "Partnering with an EU GMP-certified manufacturer that shares our commitment to quality and reliability gives us confidence in the supply of regulated cannabinoid medicines. Together, we're helping improve access to high-quality oral treatment options for clinicians prescribing under the UK's Specials framework."