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UK: Company hails cannabis drug 'success'

The Guardian

Monday 21 Jun 2004

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A company that develops cannabis-based medicines today said one of its
drugs had been successful in treating multiple sclerosis, as it posted
slightly higher half-year losses.

GW Pharmaceuticals said tests had shown Sativex, a whole plant medicinal
cannabis extract containing tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol taken
through a mouth spray had significantly improved treatment of spasticity,
or spasms and stiffness.

GW, based in Salisbury, Wiltshire, said phase three clinical trials of the
drug had shown a "statistically significant" improvement over existing
treatment of spasticity caused by MS. The group said trials of the drug on
189 sufferers of MS had an impact "over and above" that of the patients'
existing treatments.

Spasticity occurs in as many as three-quarters of people with MS, according
to the MS Society. It can affect many aspects of daily life, such as
walking and sitting. It can range from mild to severe and change over time,
often from day to day or hour to hour.

GW said the UK regulatory approval process for Sativex was making progress,
as it announced net losses for the six months to March 31 of UKP6.9m,
against UKP6.7m last time.

The company's executive chairman, Dr Geoffrey Guy, said a string of
positive trials had left it with no doubts about the value of its
cannabis-based drugs.

"I'm confident our continuing focus on the lead research programmes will
ensure GW remains well placed to deliver excellent value growth in the
coming years," Dr Guy said.

GW said previous phase three trials of Sativex had shown it to reduce pain
and sleep disturbance and to improve quality of life.

The drug, currently the subject of regulatory applications in both the UK
and Canada, has also proved effective in treating patients with neuropathic
pain and arthritis.

The German drugs group Bayer Healthcare will exclusively market it in the
UK and Canada upon regulatory approval.

GW said it had not altered its expectations of approval for Sativex and
that the drug could offer therapeutic relief for sufferers of a range of
medical conditions.

The company added that there would be some reduction in its staff as a
result of a decision to expand more slowly into new areas, although it did
not give figures.

"We believe the result will be to accelerate timescales to profitability
while achieving research and development progress," it said.

 

 

 

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