Eqalis Pharmaceuticals

What Eqalis Pharmaceuticals does

Eqalis Pharmaceuticals is a New Zealand-based medicinal cannabis company established in early 2019 and headquartered in Katikati, Bay of Plenty. The company cultivates and manufactures CBD-based medicines (oils and soft gel capsules) under pharmaceutical-grade controls, targeting patients with conditions including chronic pain and epilepsy who receive products through doctor prescriptions. Its core technology layer is the QSafe system: a smart refrigerated controlled drug safe installed at pharmacies that automates controlled drug recording, Section 29 reporting, fridge temperature monitoring, and inventory reordering, with direct integration into the Rx One and Toniq dispensing platforms. This integration allows Eqalis to bypass conventional wholesale distribution margins, which the company frames as the principal mechanism for reducing patient cost.

The business model combines prescription product sales with a hardware-plus-software distribution platform. Products reach patients via two channels: a prescriber channel in which GPs and specialists order through patient management systems (Medtech, MyPractice) and the Ministry of Health database, and a pharmacy channel in which QSafe automates dispensing. Pricing is quote-based and dependent on compound mix and dose. Distribution is supported by a channel partnership with RestoreMe, an online clinic that simplifies patient access and prescriber workflows. Revenue and capital structure are not publicly disclosed; the only recorded external funding is a $2,912 Callaghan Innovation grant dated May 2020.

On 1 June 2023, Eqalis merged with Cannasouth, a leading New Zealand medicinal cannabis company. The merger combined IP, technology, R&D, innovation, manufacturing, sales, and prescribing capabilities under Cannasouth's governance and leadership structure, and Eqalis ceased to operate as an independent entity. The product portfolio, QSafe infrastructure, and prescriber relationships now sit within the Cannasouth platform.

Name

Eqalis Pharmaceuticals

Legal name

Eqalis Pharmaceuticals Ltd

Website

https://eqalis.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Eqalis Pharmaceuticals was a New Zealand medicinal cannabis producer (founded 2019, Katikati, Bay of Plenty) that manufactured CBD-based oils and soft gel capsules and operated the QSafe pharmacy dispensing system, serving prescribers, pharmacies, and patients before merging into Cannasouth in June 2023.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medicinal Cannabis Pharmaceuticals

NAICS

Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing (325411)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)

akta.pro primary industry

Cannabis Dispensary + Pharmacy/Clinical Model (Patient Services) (CRANAFAI)

Keywords

• Medicinal cannabis
• CBD pharmaceuticals
• Controlled drug dispensing
• Pharmacy automation
• Pharmaceutical manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Katikati

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Medicinal Cannabis Product Sales: Sale of CBD-based medicinal cannabis products including oils and soft gel capsules. Products are prescribed by doctors and dispensed through pharmacies. Pricing is quote-based as costs depend on compounds in medicine and patient dose.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Eqalis Pharmaceuticals develops and manufactures CBD-based medicinal cannabis medicines—including oils and soft gel capsules—grown and produced in New Zealand under strict pharmaceutical controls. The company also operates the proprietary QSafe system, a smart refrigerated controlled drug safe installed in pharmacies that automates controlled drug recording, Section 29 reporting, temperature monitoring, inventory, and reordering, with full integration into Rx One and Toniq dispensing systems.

Product overview

Eqalis Pharmaceuticals offers a portfolio of CBD-based medicinal cannabis products including oils and soft gels, combined with QSafe—a smart refrigerated controlled drug system. The QSafe system integrates directly into pharmacy dispensing workflows to manage controlled drug recording, temperature monitoring, and automated reordering. The core medicinal cannabis products work alongside the QSafe distribution technology to deliver affordable treatment to patients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• QSafe Smart Refrigerated Controlled Drug System QSafe is a smart refrigerated controlled drug safe installed free at pharmacies. It provides automated electronic controlled drug recording—eliminating the need for manual controlled drug registers—delivers instant supply of cannabis medicine at dispensing, addresses all Section 29 reporting requirements via NZePs barcode scanning, and includes automatic fridge temperature control monitoring with alerting, automated reordering, and inventory management. It is fully integrated with Rx One and Toniq pharmacy dispensing systems and can stock any MOH quality standard approved cannabis product registered on the Universal Medicines List.
• CBD-based Medicinal Cannabis Medicines (oils and soft gel capsules) Prescription-only CBD-based medicinal cannabis medicines including oils and soft gel capsules, manufactured in New Zealand's Bay of Plenty under strict pharmaceutical controls and meeting international pharmaceutical standards. Products contain decarboxylated cannabis oil and are prescribed by GPs and specialists for medical conditions from chronic pain to epilepsy, accessed via the official MOH database and dispensed through partner pharmacies using the QSafe system.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and moderate.

• CannasouthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2023On 1 June 2023, Eqalis merged with Cannasouth, a leading medicinal cannabis company. The merger combines IP, technology, research and development, innovation, manufacturing, sales, and prescribing capabilities to deliver better outcomes for patients locally and globally.
• RestoreMe CliniccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRestoreMe is an innovative online clinic led by qualified health professionals that makes accessing high quality medicinal cannabis products easier and more affordable for patients and easier for doctors to prescribe. Eqalis products are available through this channel.
• Rx OnecoreTechnology or IntegrationQSafe system is fully integrated with Rx One dispensing system for seamless pharmacy workflow and controlled drug recording.
• ToniqcoreTechnology or IntegrationQSafe system is fully integrated with Toniq dispensing system for seamless pharmacy workflow and controlled drug recording.
• Brookfield PharmacyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcknowledged for collaboration in designing the QSafe smart refrigerated controlled drug system.
• International Growers and Industry ExpertsmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerEqalis collaborates with world-class growers, industry experts and stakeholders on both national and global scale to bring the best medical solutions.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cannasouth: Cannasouth is the NZ-based medicinal cannabis company with which Eqalis merged on 1 June 2023. Directly comparable given shared focus on NZ-produced GMP-grade medicinal cannabis, shared regulatory scheme, and now combined commercial operations.
• Helius Therapeutics: New Zealand-based medicinal cannabis company with a GMP-licensed facility and focus on locally produced cannabinoid medicines. A direct competitor in the same NZ regulatory regime and same doctor-prescribed pharmacy-dispensed model.

Regional players

• Medlab Clinical: Australian-listed pharmaceutical company developing cannabinoid-based medicines including NanaBis and NanaStat. Comparable in the prescribed-cannabinoid pharmaceutical category, primarily operating in Australia with overlap in therapeutic indications (chronic pain, oncology support).
• ANTG (Australian Natural Therapeutics Group): Australian medicinal cannabis producer with GMP manufacturing and a domestic/UK distribution footprint. Comparable on the cultivation-to-pharmacy value chain in a similarly regulated APAC jurisdiction.
• Althea Group Holdings: Australian medicinal cannabis company distributing CBD and THC products via pharmacy channels with patient access programs. Comparable on the prescription-driven pharmacy distribution model in a similar APAC regulatory environment.

Emerging players

• Zelira Therapeutics: Clinical-stage cannabinoid therapeutics company with prescription products targeting insomnia and chronic pain. Comparable as a pharma-grade, evidence-driven cannabis therapeutics player rather than a recreational/retail operator.
• Bod Australia: Australian-listed company with medicinal cannabis and CBD consumer health products distributed via pharmacy channels. Comparable pharmacy-distribution model for cannabinoid-based therapeutic products.

Broad incumbents

• Jazz Pharmaceuticals (GW Pharmaceuticals legacy): Acquired GW Pharmaceuticals, originator of Sativex (THC/CBD oromucosal spray) and Epidiolex. The leading incumbent in prescription cannabinoid medicine globally, comparable as the established pharmaceutical benchmark for plant-derived cannabinoid Rx products.
• Tilray Brands: Global cannabis company with branded medical cannabis division distributed internationally. Comparable as a multi-jurisdiction medicinal cannabis supplier with pharmaceutical-grade positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/eqalis
• Instagraminstagram.com/eqalis
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eqalis

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Eqalis Pharmaceuticals