| GW Pharmaceuticals Limited | |
| Type: | Subsidiary |
| Industry: | Pharmaceutical industry |
| Location Country: | United Kingdom |
| Location: | Cambridge |
| Key People: | Justin Gover (CEO) |
| Parent: | Jazz Pharmaceuticals |
| Revenue: | $527 million (2020) |
| Net Income: | -$58 million (2020) |
| Assets: | $939 million (2020) |
| Equity: | $741 million (2020) |
| Num Employees: | 1,161 (2020) |
| Footnotes: | [1] |
GW Pharmaceuticals Limited[2] is a British pharmaceutics company known for its multiple sclerosis treatment product nabiximols (brand name, Sativex) which was the first natural cannabis plant derivative to gain market approval in any country.[3] Another cannabis-based product, Epidiolex, was approved for treatment of epilepsy by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2018.[4] It is a subsidiary of Jazz Pharmaceuticals.
GW Pharmaceuticals was founded in 1998 by doctors Geoffrey Guy and Brian Whittle. That year, they obtained a cultivation license from the United Kingdom Home Office and the MHRA, allowing the company to cultivate, possess and supply cannabis to conduct scientific research concerning medical cannabis.[5]
Later in 1998, GW Pharmaceuticals entered into a contract with Hortapharm B.V., a cannabis research and development corporation based in Amsterdam.[6] [7]
In 2001, GW Pharmaceuticals listed on the Alternative Investment Market, the junior market of the London Stock Exchange.[8] In May 2013, the company became dual-listed on the NASDAQ and AIM.[9]
In 2014, the company made a deal with New York to develop clinical trials using cannabidiol (CBD) to treat children who suffer from seizures and other medical complications.[10]
In May 2021, Jazz Pharmaceuticals acquired the company.[11] [12]
See main article: Nabiximols. Nabiximols (trade name Sativex) is a botanical drug that is a cannabis extract, administered as a mouth spray; it was approved in the UK in 2010 as a treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients to alleviate neuropathic pain, spasticity, overactive bladder, and other symptoms.[13]
Nabiximols is made with two unknown Cannabis strains, and is extracted with ethanol and carbon dioxide.[14]
In 2020, GW Pharmaceuticals concluded a partnership with Bayer for the distribution of Sativex in the UK.[15] It has an estimated annual production of 100 tons of medicinal cannabis.[16]
See main article: Epidiolex. In 2015, GW Pharmaceutical initiated Phase 3 clinical trials of cannabidiol oral solution for treatment of two rare disease in children – Dravet syndrome and Lennox–Gastaut syndrome.[17] In August 2015, GW received FDA Fast Track Development Program designation from the US Food and Drug Administration for use of the drug candidate to treat newborns with epilepsy.[18]
The drug, under the brand name Epidiolex, was given US Food and Drug Administration approval in June 2018.[19] [20] It was subsequently given European EMA approval in September 2019 under the brand name Epidyolex.[21] [22]