Clarification re media comment

The story covered a decision by certain Primary Care Trusts (PCT) in a region of the UK that they were not paying for Sativex prescriptions. GW wishes to clarify that this decision was made last year, prior to the approval of Sativex when Sativex was only available on a “named patient” basis. At that time, Sativex was not approved in the UK.

Under the UK named patient programme, which was in place prior to approval, over 90% of PCTs in the UK paid for Sativex on the NHS. GW hopes that in light of formal regulatory approval in late June 2010, such policies would continue for the vast majority of PCTs.

It is inevitable under the PCT system in the UK that certain localities will adopt different policies towards medicines and Sativex is no different in this respect to any other medicine. The issue of PCT policies towards adoption of new medicines is one which GW’s UK marketing partner, Bayer Schering Pharma, is accustomed to addressing and one that is common to the launch of all new medicines in the UK.  There are 151 PCTs in England alone.

GW recognises and supports the efforts of people with Multiple Sclerosis, and their patient organisations such as the MS Society and MS Trust, to access Sativex. There is a clear unmet need that Sativex seeks to address and Sativex has the potential to make a meaningful difference to patients’ quality of life.

In the short time since the launch of Sativex, GW confirms NHS prescriptions are being written around the UK and that it and its partner, Bayer Schering Pharma, are both pleased with progress to date.