Greenwich Biosciences to Share Results of Cannabis Use Survey Conducted with the North American Research Committee on Multipl...
September 10 2020 - 4:00PM
GW Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ: GWPH, GW, the Company or the
Group), a world leader in the science, development, and
commercialization of cannabinoid prescription medicines, along with
U.S. subsidiary Greenwich Biosciences, will present results of a
survey conducted in partnership with the North American Research
Committee on Multiple Sclerosis (NARCOMS) -- the world’s largest
voluntary, patient-driven MS registry1 -- highlighting the
prevalence of cannabis use among people with MS. The survey found
nearly one-third of U.S.-based participants had tried
THC-containing cannabis for their MS symptoms at least once, with
20 percent reporting cannabis use within the past 30 days.
The survey results will be presented at
MSVirtual2020, the joint meeting of the Americas Committee for
Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) and the
European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis
(ECTRIMS). The NARCOMS Survey abstract (P0439) can be found here.
The data will be made available virtually at 9:00 AM EST on Friday,
September 11, 2020.
“The use of unapproved, unregulated,
THC-containing cannabis by people with MS underscores that these
patients’ needs are not being met by existing approved medicines
and reinforces the need for a new FDA-regulated option,” said
Justin Gover, GW’s Chief Executive Officer. “We continue to advance
the clinical development of cannabinoid therapies that meet the
rigor of FDA review with the goal of delivering an approved
THC-containing treatment to the MS community in the
future.”
The NARCOMS survey, which included more than
3,000 people with MS, found that over 60 percent of respondents
reported experiencing spasticity, pain, or sleep problems. Of those
surveyed, 1,012 respondents (31 percent) indicated they had used
THC-containing cannabis for their MS symptoms at least once: 51
percent reported using cannabis to treat spasticity, 44 percent to
treat pain, and 38 percent to support sleep. There were 636 (20
percent) respondents who reported current use of cannabis for their
MS, while 376 (11.6 percent) reported prior use.
“Spasticity, pain and sleep issues significantly impact the
daily lives and quality of life of people living with MS,” said Dr.
Amber Salter, Assistant Professor of Biostatistics at Washington
University School of Medicine. “Our data demonstrate that many
people have tried cannabis products to manage symptoms, supporting
the need for research in this area.”
About the Cannabis Use Among People with
MS: A 2020 NARCOMS Survey
The objective of the 2020 NARCOMS survey was to
evaluate the contemporary prevalence of cannabis use among persons
with MS, and demographic factors associated with cannabis use for
MS symptom management. The online survey results included 3,249
respondents, the majority of whom were female (78.5 percent) and
Caucasian (88.5 percent). Respondents had an average age of 61
years and median disability level using Patient Determined Disease
Steps (PDDS) scale of 3 (Gait Disability), with the 25th to 75th
percentile ranging from 1 (Mild Disability) to 6 (Bilaterial
Support). The average age of respondents at the onset of MS
symptoms was 31 years.
About NARCOMS
The NARCOMS Global Patient Registry uses the
power of patient experience to improve clinical care and quality of
life for persons with multiple sclerosis and their families by
developing collaboration among centers of excellence and
researchers in MS throughout the world. NARCOMS’ focus is on
creating and maintaining a database of individuals’ experience with
MS and making that information available, to researchers in the MS
community.
About GW Pharmaceuticals plc and
Greenwich Biosciences, Inc.
Founded in 1998, GW is a biopharmaceutical
company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing
novel therapeutics from its proprietary cannabinoid product
platform in a broad range of disease areas. The Company’s lead
product, EPIDIOLEX® (cannabidiol) oral solution is commercialized
in the U.S. by its U.S. subsidiary Greenwich Biosciences for the
treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome
(LGS), Dravet syndrome or tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) in
patients one year of age and older. This product has received
approval in the European Union under the tradename EPIDYOLEX® for
the adjunctive treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut
syndrome (LGS) or Dravet syndrome in conjunction with clobazam in
patients two years and older and is under EMA review for the
treatment of TSC. The Company is also carrying out a Phase 3 trial
in Rett syndrome and has a deep pipeline of additional cannabinoid
product candidates, including nabiximols, for which the Company is
advancing multiple late-stage clinical programs in order to seek
FDA approval in the treatment of spasticity associated with
multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury, as well as for the
treatment of PTSD. The Company has additional cannabinoid product
candidates in Phase 2 trials for autism and schizophrenia. For
further information, please visit www.gwpharm.com.
About NabiximolsNabiximols is
expected to enter pivotal Phase 3 development in the United States
in the second half of 2020. The U.S. commercial rights are owned by
GW. GW anticipates developing multiple indications for nabiximols
with an initial target indication for the treatment of MS
spasticity, to be followed by Spinal Cord Injury spasticity and
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD.
Nabiximols is a complex botanical medicine
formulated from extracts of the cannabis plant that contains the
principal cannabinoids THC and CBD and also contains minor
constituents, including other cannabinoid and non-cannabinoid plant
components, such as terpenes, sterols, and triglycerides. The
product is administered as an oral spray.
Nabiximols is known as Sativex® outside of the
United States and is indicated in numerous countries as a treatment
for symptom improvement in adult patients with moderate to severe
spasticity due to multiple sclerosis (MS) who have not responded
adequately to other anti-spasticity medication and who demonstrate
clinically significant improvement in spasticity related symptoms
during an initial trial of therapy.2 These approvals were based on
multiple pivotal trials conducted in Europe.3 Sativex is currently
not approved for any indication in the U.S.
Enquiries:
GW Pharmaceuticals plc |
|
Stephen Schultz, VP Investor Relations (U.S.) |
917 280 2424 / 401 500 6570 |
|
|
U.S. Media Enquiries: |
|
Sam Brown Inc. Healthcare Communications |
|
Christy Curran |
615 414 8668 |
Mike Beyer |
312 961 2502 |
_____________________
1 ClinicalTrials.gov, NARCOMS Registry: A Multiple Sclerosis
Registry https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01018537 Accessed
August 22, 2020.2 Sativex Oralmucosal Spray, SmPC,
https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/602.3 Markova et al,
International Journal of Neuroscience 2019; Novotna et al, European
Journal of Neurology 2011; Collin et al, European Journal of
Neurology 2007About Nabiximols
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