Dunbar Pharma CEO Leah Fletcher has been featured in a new interview with Manufacturing Chemist, discussing her journey from primary school teacher to founding one of Ireland’s pioneering pharmaceutical companies specialising in plant-derived dronabinol.
In the interview, “From classroom to cleanroom: how a teacher built Ireland’s pioneering dronabinol pharma company,” Leah speaks with Manufacturing Chemist’s Emily Letton about the origins of Dunbar Pharma, the challenges involved in establishing a pharmaceutical company in the cannabinoid sector, and the company’s continued expansion into European markets.
The conversation explores the regulatory, scientific and commercial challenges Dunbar Pharma has navigated since its foundation, including achieving EU GMP certification, building an experienced pharmaceutical team and developing the analytical capabilities required for the manufacture and characterisation of cannabinoid APIs.
Leah also discusses Dunbar Pharma’s decision to focus on plant-derived dronabinol, the importance of robust analytical testing within the cannabinoid industry, and the company’s approach to maintaining manufacturing, quality control and R&D capabilities in-house.
The interview follows Dunbar Pharma’s recent expansion into the UK through its partnership with IPS Pharma, building on the company’s existing presence in Germany and marking another step in its continued European growth.
Looking ahead, Leah shares her ambitions for Dunbar Pharma’s next phase of development, including further European expansion while continuing to build a strong team around the company’s growing operations.
Read the full interview with Manufacturing Chemist:
From classroom to cleanroom: how a teacher built Ireland’s pioneering dronabinol pharma company
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Media Contact
For further information, please contact:
Nicole Farah
Americana Communications Ltd.
pr@dunbarpharma.ie
www.americanapr.com
About Dunbar Pharma
Dunbar Pharmaceuticals (Mercury Rising Ltd.) is a privately owned Irish pharmaceutical manufacturer and Ireland’s first EU GMP manufacturer of plant-derived cannabinoid active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Based in Athlone, Ireland, the company manufactures difficult-to-make, pharmaceutical-grade APIs, including plant-derived dronabinol, to recognised pharmacopoeia standards for regulated pharmaceutical markets, including Germany and the UK.
Built from the ground up as a pharmaceutical manufacturer on Ireland’s world-class pharma platform, Dunbar Pharma operates under the oversight of the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), with validated processes and full batch traceability supporting dependable supply to licensed partners across Europe.
Dunbar Pharma was founded on a simple observation: medical use of cannabinoids was growing worldwide, but the pharmaceutical infrastructure behind it had not kept pace. The company is closing that gap, building Europe’s pharmaceutical infrastructure for plant-derived cannabinoid medicines by combining EU GMP manufacturing, pharmaceutical quality standards and reliable supply for healthcare partners and patients. The company has been recognised for its growth and innovation, including Emerging Company of the Year at the BioPharmaChem Impact Awards 2026, Product & Manufacturing Start-Up of the Year at the National Start-Up Awards 2025, and the Ambition & Growth Award at the Local Enterprise Office Awards 2026. Keep up to date on activity from Dunbar Pharma on LinkedIn.
Notes to Editor
Dunbar Pharmaceuticals (Mercury Rising Ltd.) is an Irish GMP manufacturer based in Athlone, Ireland. GMP Certificate: 35486/ASR13213/000001; ASR Certificate: ASR13213/000001 — verifiable on the EudraGMDP public register.
Dronabinol is the INN (international non-proprietary name) for delta-9-THC in purified pharmaceutical form, prescribed internationally for decades in regulated prescription medicines for specific indications.
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. They are prescribed by clinicians and produced by licensed Specials manufacturers, such as IPS Pharma, under MHRA oversight.
Dunbar’s dronabinol is manufactured exclusively for pharmaceutical use, not consumer or wellness products.