Ease Labs

Ease Labs operates as a vertically integrated pharmaceutical company headquartered in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, with a strategic focus on cannabis-based products and other natural medicines. Founded in 2017 by Gustavo Palhares and Guilherme Franco, the company has established itself by controlling the entire production chain, from cultivation to distribution. To achieve this, Ease Labs acquired a cultivation and extraction operation in Colombia, allowing it to manage its own plant genetics and raw material supply, a practice not yet permitted in Brazil.

The company's business model is centered on the development, local production, and commercialization of pharmaceutical-grade cannabis products. This approach was bolstered in January 2020 when Ease Labs acquired a 50-year-old pharmaceutical laboratory in Belo Horizonte, providing significant manufacturing capacity. Its revenue is generated through a diversified sales mix that includes supplying products to government and private laboratories, public hospitals, and retail pharmacies. Products are sold exclusively through pharmacies and drugstores, requiring a medical prescription. This model aims to make treatments more accessible and affordable compared to relying on imported goods.

Ease Labs has secured multiple rounds of funding to fuel its expansion, including a R$12 million round in 2022 and a R$40 million round in 2024, with participation from funds like MadFish, Airborne Ventures, and L5 Capital, as well as a venture debt line from Itaú BBA. These investments are targeted at expanding its product line, entering public health programs, and structuring an international operation in Asia, specifically Thailand. The company's product portfolio includes cannabidiol (CBD) isolates and full-spectrum cannabis extracts. In January 2024, it received approval from Brazil's health agency, Anvisa, for the first full-spectrum cannabis product containing THC to be manufactured entirely in Brazil, indicated for conditions like fibromyalgia, dementia, and chronic pain. This milestone was achieved through partnerships for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) with suppliers like Avicanna and PharmaCielo.

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