Rua Bioscience partners to develop native plant smoking cessation products

Rua Bioscience announced a new research partnership today to develop smoking cessation products derived from New Zealand plant species. The collaboration focuses on cytisine, an alkaloid found in kōwhai, which has been used in Eastern Europe for decades to aid smoking cessation and is recognized by Medsafe and the World Health Organization as a treatment for nicotine addiction. Clinical studies, including trials with Māori participants, have shown cytisine to be more effective than standard therapies with a compelling safety profile.

The MBIE-supported program brings together Rua Bioscience and co-founder Manu Caddie's company IO. This initiative will establish a Māori-governed, benefit-sharing model for sourcing and scaling cytisine production, including plantation cultivation, laboratory extraction, and purification by Callaghan Innovation. Workstreams encompass prototype product development, regulatory pathway assessment, and market and IP strategy, with potential exploration into innovative formulations and other therapeutic applications like mood disorders and alcohol addiction.

Rua chief executive Paul Naske stated that the project embodies Rua's founding kaupapa, representing the next evolution of Māori-led bioinnovation. The 12-month project aims to culminate in a regulatory and commercialisation pathway for New Zealand-made cytisine products, laying the groundwork for future clinical trials and scaled manufacturing.