GW Pharmaceuticals and its U.S. Subsidiary Greenwich Biosciences Completes Rolling New Drug Application Submission to U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Epidiolex(R) (cannabidiol) in the Treatment of Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome and Dravet Syndrome
LONDON and CARLSBAD, Calif., Oct. 30, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GW Pharmaceuticals plc (Nasdaq:GWPH) (“GW” or “the Company”), a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing novel therapeutics from its proprietary cannabinoid product platform, along with its U.S. subsidiary Greenwich Biosciences, today announced it has completed the rolling submission of a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Epidiolex® (cannabidiol) as adjunctive treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) and Dravet syndrome, two highly treatment-resistant forms of childhood-onset epilepsy.
GW has received Rare Pediatric Disease and Orphan Drug Designations from the FDA for Epidiolex in the treatment of both LGS and Dravet syndrome. Additionally, GW has received Fast Track Designation from the FDA for Epidiolex for the treatment of Dravet syndrome.
The submission of the Epidiolex NDA is an important milestone for patients with LGS and Dravet syndrome in that a potential new treatment option is within sight for these very difficult to treat and devastating conditions. On behalf of all those patients, clinicians and GW employees who have supported the Epidiolex program, we are pleased to submit this promising therapy for FDA review and we look forward to working with the FDA throughout the review process. This regulatory submission is a demonstration of GW’s commitment to developing innovative cannabinoid-based treatments that have the potential to address significant unmet medical needs.
Justin Gover, CEO of GW Pharmaceuticals
The NDA for Epidiolex is supported by data from three Phase 3 safety and efficacy studies, each of which met their primary endpoint. Epidiolex was generally well tolerated in these trials. The NDA includes safety data on approximately 1,500 patients, with approximately 400 patients on continuous therapy for more than one year. Beyond pivotal safety and efficacy data, the NDA includes a comprehensive clinical pharmacology, pre-clinical and toxicology package. The CMC section of the NDA incorporates the Company’s recently expanded UK manufacturing facilities.
The Company plans to file a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) in Europe for Epidiolex in the near future.
About Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome
The onset of LGS typically occurs between ages of 3 to 5 years and can be caused by a number of conditions, including brain malformations, severe head injuries, central nervous system infections, and genetic neuro-degenerative or metabolic conditions. In up to 30 percent of patients, no cause can be found. Patients with LGS commonly have multiple seizure types including drop and convulsive seizures, which frequently lead to falls and injuries, and non-convulsive seizures. Resistance to anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) is common in patients with LGS. Most children with LGS experience some degree of intellectual impairment, as well as developmental delays and aberrant behaviors.
About Dravet Syndrome
Dravet syndrome is a severe infantile-onset and highly treatment-resistant epileptic encephalopathy frequently associated with genetic mutations in the SCN1A sodium channels. Onset of Dravet syndrome occurs typically during the first year of life in previously healthy and developmentally normal infants. Initial seizures are often body temperature related, severe, and long-lasting. Over time, patients with Dravet syndrome often develop multiple types of seizures, including tonic-clonic, myoclonic, and atypical absences and are prone to bouts of prolonged seizures including status epilepticus, which can be life threatening. Risk of premature death including SUDEP (sudden unexpected death in epilepsy) is elevated in patients with Dravet syndrome. Additionally, the majority will develop moderate to severe intellectual and development disabilities and require lifelong supervision and care. There are currently no FDA-approved treatments and nearly all patients continue to experience seizures and other medical needs throughout their lifetime.
About Epidiolex® (cannabidiol)
Epidiolex, GW’s lead cannabinoid product candidate is a pharmaceutical formulation of purified cannabidiol (CBD), which is in development for the treatment of several rare childhood-onset epilepsy disorders. GW has submitted a New Drug Application with the FDA for Epidiolex as adjunctive treatment for seizures associated with LGS and Dravet syndrome with an expected approval and launch in 2018. To date, GW has received Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA for Epidiolex for the treatment of Dravet syndrome, LGS, Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) and Infantile Spasms (IS). Additionally, GW has received Fast Track Designation from the FDA for the treatment of Dravet syndrome and conditional grant of rare pediatric disease designation by FDA. The Company has also received Orphan Designation from the European Medicines Agency, or EMA, for Epidiolex for the treatment of LGS and Dravet syndrome. GW is currently evaluating additional clinical development programs in other orphan seizure disorders including Phase 3 trials in TSC and IS.
About GW Pharmaceuticals plc and Greenwich Biosciences
Founded in 1998, GW is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing novel therapeutics from its proprietary cannabinoid product platform in a broad range of disease areas. GW, along with its U.S. subsidiary Greenwich Biosciences, is advancing an orphan drug program in the field of childhood epilepsy with a focus on Epidiolex (cannabidiol), for which GW has submitted an NDA to the FDA for the adjunctive treatment of LGS and Dravet syndrome. The Company continues to evaluate Epidiolex in additional epilepsy conditions and currently has ongoing clinical trials in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex and Infantile Spasms. GW commercialized the world’s first plant-derived cannabinoid prescription drug, Sativex® (nabiximols), which is approved for the treatment of spasticity due to multiple sclerosis in 30 countries outside the United States. The Company has a deep pipeline of additional cannabinoid product candidates which includes compounds in Phase 1 and 2 trials for gliobastoma, schizophrenia and epilepsy. For further information, please visit www.gwpharm.com.
