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GW Pharma releases positive data on cannabidiol-based Phase III trial

pharmafile | September 28, 2016 | News story | Research and Development Epidiolex, GW Pharmaceuticals, Marijuana, Medical marijuana, cannabis 

GW Pharmaceuticals’ Epidiolex is designed to treat seizures in a rare form of epilepsy called Lennox-Gaustaut Syndrome. GW pharmaceuticals published results that showed patients taking a 20mg dose of Epidiolex saw their seizures drop on average 42% compared with 17% of those taking a placebo. Patients taking a 10mg dose were also found to experience a 37% drop against the 17% drop in the placebo group.

The news saw GW Pharmaceutical shares soar 26% to just over $124 a share, as of now. This is based on analysts predicting that, assuming approval, revenue for Epidiolex would be approximately $260 million for 2018, $570 million for 2019 before rising to $895 million by 2020.

The stumbling block on the way to approval is whether the FDA will take the step to bring a drug derived from cannabis to market. This would be the first such drug on the market and mean that it would also force the FDA to declare a medicinal use for cannabis, meaning it could no longer be listed as a schedule 1 drug. However, with this being the third positive Phase III trial, it seems that all the signs are positive for GW Pharmaceutical to gain approval for Epidiolex.

Ben Hargreaves

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