Pubdate: Tue, 15 Mar 2016
Source: Washington Post (DC)
Copyright: 2016 The Washington Post Company
Contact:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/491

TRIAL OF EPILEPSY DRUG IS CALLED A SUCCESS

An experimental cannabisbased drug has successfully treated children 
with a rare form of severe epilepsy in a keenly anticipated clinical 
trial, an announcement that sent shares of GW Pharmaceuticals soaring 
on Monday.

The study of GW's Epidiolex for the treatment of Dravet syndrome is 
the first of four final stage Phase III epilepsy trials that the 
company hopes will confirm the therapeutic benefits of cannabinoids, 
the active ingredients found in marijuana. Results are expected this year.

GWs aid Monday that the 120patient trial showed children taking the 
syrup-based medicine achieved a median reduction in monthly 
convulsive seizures of 39 percent compared with a reduction on 
placebo of 13 percent. The difference was highly statistically significant.

"This shows that cannabinoids can produce compelling and clinical 
important data and represent a highly promising new class of 
medications, hopefully in a range of conditions," chief executive 
Justin Gover told Reuters. GW will now request a meeting with the 
Food and Drug Administration to discuss its plans to seek regulatory 
approval for treating Dravet, which currently has no approved therapies.

- - Reuters
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom