MEMBER for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall has today welcomed the State Government’s announcement that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed with GW Pharmaceuticals to progress a major new research program for cannabis-based medicines in children with severe, drug resistant paediatric epilepsy.
Mr Marshall said that many children were suffering across the state and that this announcement would provide hope for those families.
“I’m proud that the government is showing incredible progress on this issue,” he said.
“NSW is the first state in Australia to provide legal and safe access to cannabis-based medicinesfor children suffering from drug resistant epilepsy.”
Mr Marshall said the MOU would facilitate:
- A world first, phase 2 clinical trial in children for GW’s novel product containing the cannabinoid cannibidivarin (CBDV);
- A compassionate access scheme for EpidiolexÒ, GW’s product containing cannabidiol (CBD) which is currently in late stage trials in paediatric epilepsy in the United States;
- Provision for NSW to host additional Phase 3 clinical trials of EpidiolexÒ in children with treatment-resistant epilepsy;
- A phase 4 clinical trial of EpidiolexÒ based on phase 3 studies
The MOU, between the NSW Government and GW Pharmaceuticals, comes as part of the NSW Government’s $21 million commitment to support clinical trials and establish the NSW Centre for Medicinal Cannabis Research and Innovation.
More information about medicinal cannabis in NSW is available at www.health.nsw.gov.au/cannabis or the Cannabis Trials Help Line on 1800 217 257.
MEDIA: Adam Marshall 0429 440 054 or 02 6772 5552