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UK: GW Pharma: more cannabis spray trials

CommentWire

Monday 21 Jan 2002

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GW is in a unique position. Although cannabis use is illegal in the UK, the
company has the right to grow the drug for use in clinical trials. If the
latest trials are successful, up to 40% of cancer patients may be able to
benefit from the therapy. Strong trial results would leave GW in a position
to gain approval for its product as early as 2004.

UK-based GW Pharmaceuticals, which has a government license to grow
cannabis, is expanding its clinical trials program to include an effort to
ease the pain of cancer patients. It has already reported positive data
from trials involving patients with multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury.

Over 100 patients, who are suffering from terminal cancer and associated
refractory pain, will take part in trials at more than 20 centers
throughout the country. They will self-administer the drug using a
sublingual (under-the-tongue) spray. GW believes that around 40% of cancer
patients could benefit if the trials prove successful. Given that the UK
cancer market was worth $1.4 billion in 2000, the market opportunity is
significant.

Although cannabis use is illegal in the UK, many people suffering from
serious diseases believe it helps them as much as pharmaceutical therapies.
As a result, there is a large movement lobbying for its legalization for
medicinal purposes. GW's unique position leaves it well placed to benefit
from this pressure - it is the only pharmaceutical company focused
exclusively on developing therapeutic products derived from cannabis.

GW is also on course to become the first company in the world to win
regulatory approval for prescription cannabis-based medicines. The company
it is confident of being able to present data to the UK regulatory
authorities in 2003 and, subject to approval, it says it can bring the
first cannabis-based prescription medicine to market in early 2004.

 

 

 

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