GW Pharmaceuticals Announces Preliminary Results of Phase 2a Study for its Pipeline Compound GWP42006
-Study did not meet its primary endpoint-
-Company remains committed to continued development of GWP42006 for autism spectrum disorders and will continue to explore the product’s potential within the field of epilepsy-
LONDON and CARLSBAD, Calif., Feb. 21, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GW Pharmaceuticals plc (Nasdaq:GWPH) (“GW,” “the Company” or “the Group”), a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing novel therapeutics from its proprietary cannabinoid product platform, today announced that a Phase 2a proof of concept study of a pipeline compound GWP42006 in adult patients with focal seizures did not meet its primary endpoint. GWP42006 is also being developed within the field of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) which will represent an increased therapeutic focus for ongoing development of this pipeline compound.
GWP42006 trial in focal seizures
The Phase 2a placebo-controlled study evaluated the efficacy and safety of GWP42006, which features cannabidivarin (CBDV) as the primary cannabinoid molecule, as add-on therapy in 162 adult patients with inadequately controlled focal seizures. The trial was conducted outside the United States, primarily in Eastern Europe. In the trial’s preliminary top-line results, both active and placebo arms showed similar reductions in focal seizures of approximately 40 percent. The extent of this placebo response is substantially greater than that seen in published studies of other treatments in similar patient populations and the Company is now working to understand the potential reasons for this result. In the trial, GWP42006 was generally well tolerated. More patients in the active group (73 percent) experienced treatment emergent adverse events compared to the placebo group (48 percent). A majority of the GWP42006 patients experienced adverse events of mild or moderate severity. The incidence of serious adverse events was low (3.7 percent on active compared to 1.2 percent on placebo).
GWP42006 has shown anti-epileptic properties across a range of in vitro and in vivo models of epilepsy. GW will continue to explore potential development opportunities for this compound in the field of epilepsy.
GWP42006 progress in Autism Spectrum Disorders
In parallel with this study, GW has been evaluating GWP42006 in both general and syndromic pre-clinical models of ASD yielding promising signals on cognitive and social endpoints as well as repetitive behavior. These include both genetically determined abnormalities of neurobehavioral, and chemically-induced models, and include Rett syndrome and Fragile X among others. GW will continue to advance various clinical initiatives within the field of ASD, including a physician-led expanded access IND in 10 patients with autism as well as both open-label and Phase 2 placebo-controlled trials in Rett syndrome, a condition for which GWP42006 has received Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA. Open label data from the expanded access IND are expected later in 2018.
GW’s R&D focus has evolved in the last few years towards pediatric neurology where we have generated significant positive clinical data. Whilst the results of this adult focal seizure study for GWP42006 are disappointing, we remain committed to advancing this pipeline compound to address unmet needs in the field of autism spectrum disorders, in which a promising body of pre-clinical data has already been generated, as well as continuing to explore the product’s potential within the field of epilepsy.
Justin Gover, GW’s Chief Executive Officer
The company’s top priority in 2018 remains Epidiolex, for which we have generated compelling positive data in three Phase 3 trials, and which is currently under regulatory review in the U.S. and Europe. We are very excited at the prospect of launching this potential breakthrough treatment later this year in the U.S., whilst continuing to progress our broad and innovative cannabinoid pipeline.
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-onset epilepsy with a focus on Epidiolex (cannabidiol), for which GW has submitted regulatory applications in the U.S. and Europe for the adjunctive treatment of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. The Company continues to evaluate Epidiolex in additional rare 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 numerous countries outside the United States and for which the company is now planning a US Phase 3 trial. The Company has a deep pipeline of additional cannabinoid product candidates which includes compounds in Phase 1 and 2 trials for epilepsy, gliobastoma, and schizophrenia. For further information, please visit www.gwpharm.com.
