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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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US hopes for cannabis painkiller
Richard Irving The Times
Thursday 20 Jan 2005 GW PHARMACEUTICALS, the drug company developing a range of medicines from cannabis, hopes to begin trials of Sativex, its painkiller, in America by the end of the year. The group, which is seeking to become the first company to launch a prescription drug made from a plant extract, is to seek approval from United States regulators to begin trials. GW is testing versions of the cannabis spray among cancer patients and people suffering from acute pain as a result of nerve damage. It is already close to launching a version of Sativex in Canada, where the medicine has been approved to help to alleviate muscle spasms in multiple sclerosis patients. However, GW is keen to press on with development of its oral spray after long delays in securing UK approval. Last year, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency raised 46 issues over the drug's safety and efficacy. Geoffrey Guy, GW's chairman, said that the company had resolved all but one issue and would now seek a ruling from the Medicines Committee, a senior advisory panel to the agency, over the last point. The dispute centres on whether the results of a recent trial are statistically relevant. If the Medicines Committee rules against GW, it will have to conduct new trials, the results of which will not be available until next year. Mr Guy said that he was confident that he could provide enough data to satisfy the committee's concerns. GW reported a UKP13.7 million loss for last year, against a loss of UKP8.1 million the year before. The company's shares rose by 3p to 120.5p. -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.7.1 - Release Date: 19/01/2005 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.300 / Virus Database: 265.7.1 - Release Date: 19/01/2005
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