Our commitment
Striving for a brighter future for patients
Many people across the globe, suffering from a variety of illnesses, can find that current treatments are not effective for them and may spend years trying all options to eventually be told there’s nothing else available. Our aim is to make this reality a memory.
At GW Pharmaceuticals we passionately believe in the therapeutic potential of cannabis-based medicines helping to bring valuable new treatment options to patients in need of them most. Read on to discover the therapy areas we are currently focusing on.
How we are using cannabinoids
To define the future of cannabis-based
With more than 60 Phase 2/3 clinical trials and 100+ publications in leading journals, our scientists are the world leaders in cannabinoid science and medicine.1,2
Find out more about our areas of focus
Therapy areasTherapy areas
Epilepsy
Approximately 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, making it one of the most common neurological diseases globally.3 Some people who receive a diagnosis of epilepsy will have this diagnosis refined to an epilepsy syndrome, which can be much more difficult to treat.
We are committed to helping such people by researching and developing cannabis-based medicines for conditions including Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, Dravet syndrome and Tuberous Sclerosis Complex.
Autism Spectrum Disorders
We are working with investigators to gain clinical experience in the use of different cannabis-based medicines for the treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) and we have a number of ongoing initiatives to evaluate a range of cannabinoids in pre-clinical models of ASD, including an assessment of the effect of cannabinoids on cognitive and behavioural function in animals. These animal models include Fragile X syndrome.
Glioma
We are evaluating a product in the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a particularly aggressive brain tumour, which is considered a rare disease by the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
Gliomas are tumours that develop from glial cells in the brain. There is currently a lack of consensus on treatment for people with high-grade glioma and prognosis is not positive for many patients. The median survival for patients with GBM is approximately 1 year.4
Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (NHIE)
NHIE is a type of brain injury caused during birth, resulting from deprivation of oxygen. Hypoxic damage can occur to most of the infant’s organs, but brain damage is the most serious and least likely to heal and can result in both mental and physical disabilities.5
We are developing a product for the treatment of NHIE and have already received Orphan Drug Designation from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), and Fast Track Designation from the FDA.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disease that affects more than 21 million people worldwide, causing disruptions in thinking and language, as well as hallucinations (e.g. hearing voices).6
We have worked with clinicians across Europe to conduct trials in schizophrenia and are now analysing the data to fully understand the next steps, with future research likely to be focused on children.
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Data on file (Total number of phase 2-3 clinical trails – >60) – VV-MED-12270.
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Data on file (Number of peer reviewed publications – >100) – VV-MED-12883.
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World Health Organisation. Epilepsy. June 2019. Available at: http://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/epilepsy. Accessed: Nov 2020.
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National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE). Carmustine implants and temozolomide for the treatment of newly diagnosed high grade glioma. Technology Assessment 121.
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Birth Injury Guide. Infant Hypoxic Ischaemic Encephalopathy (HIE). Accessed: Nov 2020.
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World Health Organisation (WHO). Mental Health: Schizophrenia. Available at: http://www.who.int/mental_health/management/schizophrenia/en/. Accessed: Nov 2020.