27th Apr 2015 11:09
LONDON (Alliance News) - GW Pharmaceuticals PLC said Monday that the US Patent and Trademark Office has issued a notice of allowance for a patent covering the use of cannabidivarin for the treatment of epilepsy.
Cannabidivarin is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid extracted from the cannabis plant. The patent covers the use of this compound alone or in combination with standard anti-epileptic drugs, and if issued, will provide an exclusivity period to end-March 2031.
GW has completed a phase I clinical trial of its cannabidivarin compound, GWP42006, and expects to begin a phase II study in adult patients with epilepsy in the second quarter of 2015.
"Whilst the primary focus of GW's epilepsy research program remains on Epidiolex in pediatric epilepsy, we believe that cannabidivarin may offer an additional treatment advance in this therapeutic area in the medium and longer term," said Chief Executive Justin Gover in a statement.
Shares in GW Pharmaceuticals are trading up 2.5% at 677.00 pence Monday afternoon.
By Hana Stewart-Smith; [email protected]; @HanaSSAllNews
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