GW wins okay for pivotal cannabis drug study

[Thom Little]

GW Pharmaceuticals Plc has won approval from U.S. regulators to conduct a pivotal Phase III study into its cannabis-based medicine Sativex as a treatment for cancer pain, the British drug company said on Wednesday.

GW expects to start testing the product, which is sprayed into the mouth, in U.S. patients with advanced cancer later this year and said it was raising $15 million in a discounted share placing to help fund the trial while it seeks a U.S. partner.

The U.S. randomized clinical trial will involve 250 people and is likely to last between 24 and 36 months, suggesting Sativex will not be ready for launch in the U.S. marketplace until toward the end of the decade.


http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=healthNews&storyID=2006-01-04T163303Z_01_KWA416446_RTRUKOC_0_US-GW.xml

[merwin]

1. If they legalize that and don't legalize marijuana, then the message is

clear.

The drug companies own the government.

[katinmn]

2. Pharma cos stand to make a fortune off their product

You can bet they have put big bucks into opposing legalization of medical marijuana. Hell with those in chronic pain. They can wait.

Would be easy enough to match up votes with political contributions.

[stepnw1f]

3. Excellent Point (nt)

[tkmorris]

5. Pretty sure that ship already sailed my friend

Big Pharma has been dictating drug policy in this country for years.

[mom cat]

15. Big surprise.

[Felix Mala]

4. One more way to make electorate forget about his failures...

Evidently the Rove Plan to save Bushie has many subtle facets.

[Ezlivin]

6. I'll be studying cannabis tonight

And it'll be compassionate, all right.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

7. Be sure to study it thoroughly. n/t

[slampoet]

13. Uh I think the term is "kind" ....

[RagingInMiami]

8. Is that a can of Binaca in your pocket

Or are you just happy to see me?

[Marnieworld]

9. How do sign up for the study?

All in the name of science of course. :evilgrin:

[InsultComicDog]

10. GW? I thought you meant as in GW Bush n/t

[wicket]

12. LOL, beat me to it!

:P

[Delphinus]

14. Those were my exact words when I clicked on your thread.

"Who's GW? The boy king?" :)

[wicket]

11. For a second there I thought you meant GW as in George W.

Heh :D