Synthetic CBD Drug Approved in Europe for Certain Illnesses

GW Pharmaceuticals announced that the European Commission (EC) has approved the marketing authorization for EPIDYOLEX®, a synthetic form of cannabidiol (CBD), for use as adjunctive therapy of seizures associated with Lennox‑Gastaut syndrome (LGS) or Dravet syndrome, in conjunction with clobazam, for patients 2 years of age and older. The approval paves the way for the launch of the medicine across Europe.

“The approval of EPIDYOLEX^® marks a significant milestone, offering patients and their families the first in a new class of epilepsy medicines and the first and only EMA-approved CBD medicine to treat two severe and life-threatening forms of childhood-onset epilepsy,” said Justin Gover, GW’s Chief Executive Officer.

When added to other anti-epileptic therapies, EPIDYOLEX^® significantly reduced the frequency of seizures in patients with LGS and Dravet syndrome. The most common adverse reactions that occurred in patients treated with the medicine were somnolence, decreased appetite, diarrhoea, pyrexia, fatigue and vomiting. GW’s development programme represents the only well-controlled clinical evaluation of a cannabinoid medication for patients with LGS and Dravet syndrome.

“LGS and Dravet syndrome are two of the most severe and difficult-to-treat forms of childhood-onset epilepsy, with few patients achieving adequate seizure control,” said Professor Elinor Ben-Menachem, University of Goteborg, Sahlgren Academy and Hospital in Sweden. “The EMA approval of EPIDYOLEX^® will bring hope to patients and families, with the potential to better control seizures and improve quality of life.”

The EC decision is valid in all 28 countries of the European Union, alongside Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

GW’s cannabidiol oral solution was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2018 under the trade name EPIDIOLEX^® for the treatment of seizures associated with LGS or Dravet syndrome in patients two years of age or older.