U.S. Approves Marijuana-Based Epilepsy Drug

For the first time The US Food and Drug Administration approved a cannabis-based drug developed by a UK firm for the treatment of childhood epilepsy on Monday.
It is a milestone that could spur more research into a drug that remains illegal under federal law, despite growing legalization for recreational and medical use.
The medication, called Epidiolex has been made by UK biotech company GW Pharmaceuticals, to treat two rare forms of epilepsy, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) and Dravet syndrome, that begin in childhood. GW is now exploring whether its cannabinoid-based treatments can treat other diseases.
Justin Gover, chief executive, said the Food and Drug Administration was expected to approve the treatment for two types of childhood onset epilepsy, perhaps as soon as Wednesday, paving the way for the drug to be launched in the US in the autumn.
It had taken the company “an awful long time to get to where we are . . . but we’ve really built a huge lead”, he said. Mr Gover added: “We’re the world-leaders in cannabinoid science, and I think we expect to stay there for quite some time.”
GW Pharmaceuticals has raised $1bn from US healthcare funds during the past five years to develop Epidiolex, which has been proven in trials to reduce seizures in children.
Its most recent fundraising took place in December when it secured $300m from US investors. The company is currently worth about $4.5bn, he said.
The FDA commissioner, Scott Gottlieb, said: “This approval serves as a reminder that advancing sound development programmes that properly evaluate active ingredients contained in marijuana can lead to important medical therapies. And the FDA is committed to this kind of careful scientific research and drug development.”