Member Spotlight: RX Extraction

The CIC team had the pleasure of visiting the RX Extraction team at their facility to showcase domestic cannabis manufacturing capabilities in the UK. Since launching in 2019, RX Extraction has been working towards a long-term vision of creating the infrastructure needed to manufacture high-quality cannabinoid medicines in the UK. 

Whilst much of the UK’s medical cannabis market has been understandably focused on imported and domestic flower, RX Extraction anticipated that the market would eventually evolve. Drawing on developments in other international jurisdictions, the company recognised that mature medical cannabis markets tend to move beyond flower towards pharmaceutical-grade extracts, standardised formulations and precision dose forms. At RX Extraction, that vision is becoming a reality.

Following the achievement of the company’s GMP certification for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in 2025 and the granting of Home Office Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 controlled drug licenses in 2026, RX Extraction has established itself as one of the UK’s most advanced cannabinoid extraction and manufacturing facilities. The business has been built entirely through self investment, reflecting the team’s long-term commitment to developing domestic manufacturing capabilities in the UK. 

Creating a UK Supply Chain

For many companies operating in the sector, sourcing cannabinoid ingredients internationally can be complex and time consuming. 

RX Extraction believes that developing domestic manufacturing capabilities will help to simplify procurement for UK companies whilst strengthening resilience across the wider supply chain. By providing extraction and manufacturing services within the UK, RX Extraction aims to reduce reliance on overseas production and support the continued growth of the domestic medical cannabis sector. 

The company is currently working with both UK and international cultivation partners to process cannabis flower into pharmaceutical ingredients and finished formulations. This work is expected to support what could become the UK’s first fully manufactured unlicensed cannabis medicines, including oil formulations and vape cartridge products, subject to the appropriate regulatory approvals and Specials audits. 

From Plant to Pharma Ingredient

Using CO2 extraction, cannabinoids are separated from cannabis flower in a process “comparable to brewing a cup of tea, but using pressurised carbon dioxide instead of hot water,” said RX Extraction CEO, Dominic Bartle. The resulting extract then undergoes two-stage distillation, removing unwanted plant compounds and producing highly purified cannabinoid concentrates. 

Further purification is available through crystallisation enabling the production of high-purity cannabinoid isolates, including GMP-grade CBD isolate suitable for pharma manufacturing. The company is also preparing for a Specials audit, which would enable it to manufacture finished unlicensed medicines from its GMP-produced APIs. 

Alongside these capabilities, RX Extraction is expanding its technology portfolio, including the planned introduction of solventless rosin production to broaden the range of products available to partners. Throughout every stage of production, quality assurance and regulatory compliance remain central to the company’s operations, with a dedicated quality control department supporting every manufacturing process. 

Looking to the UK’s Future

Like many organisations operating within the UK’s medical cannabis sector, RX Extraction recognises that progress can sometimes be slower than hoped, particularly given the regulatory complexity surrounding controlled drug manufacturing. However, the team remains optimistic about the future. 

The company’s long-term ambition is to build a fully integrated end-to-end domestic manufacturing supply chain capable of supporting every stage of CBPM production, from extraction through to finished pharmaceutical products. Beyond serving the UK market, RX Extraction also sees opportunities to export UK-manufactured pharmaceutical ingredients internationally as global demand for high-quality cannabinoid medicines continues to grow. 

Investment in domestic manufacturing capability will play an increasingly important role in improving supply chain resilience, supporting innovation and ensuring patients have access to consistently manufactured, high quality medicines. As the UK’s medical cannabis industry matures, RX Extraction aims to be at the centre of that journey.