A cannabis-based treatment for epilepsy in children is being developed by Cambridge UK medical technology business GW Pharmaceuticals and a leading US university in an initiative backed by the State of Georgia.
GW has joined forces with Georgia Regents University Augusta (GRU) to study GWs investigational cannabidiol (CBD) product Epidiolex in the treatment of children with medication-resistant epilepsies.
Georgia Governor Nathan Deal has pledged his support for clinical research that would investigate the use of CBD, a non-psychoactive component of the cannabis plant, and develop rigorous data that will inform and expand the scientific communitys understanding of potential treatments for difficult-to-treat forms of childhood epilepsies.
Deals commitment to this research has led to the GW-GRU collaboration. Full details of the collaboration will be finalised in the coming months so research can start later this year.
Governor Deal said: I have learned the stories of brave Georgia families desperately seeking treatment for their childrens debilitating condition. As governor, it is my responsibility to address the needs of and protect our state's most vulnerable citizens, especially when they are suffering.
Im grateful to Georgia Regents University and GW Pharmaceuticals for their leadership on this venture and Im confident that this public-partnership will deliver relief and improve quality of life for these children and their families.
GW is a world leader in the development of prescription cannabinoid medicines, and conducts scientific research in accordance with US federal law with permission from the FDA and the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
The FDA has already authorised, physician-sponsored Investigational New Drug programs with Epidiolex at 12 sites around the US involving over 300 children. In parallel, GW is progressing a company-sponsored formal development program for Epidiolex that is focused on the treatment of two rare and severe forms of childhood epilepsy, Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
GW chairman Dr Geoffrey Guy said: We are pleased that the State of Georgia has selected GW as their partner in this research programme and we look forward to working together to commence this important research.
Georgia Regents University has the experience, expertise, and infrastructure to implement this research in accordance with the highest scientific and regulatory standards.
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Georgia backs Cambridge epilepsy treatment