 | Sativex: GW signs cannabis medicine distribution deal with Bayer |
 GW Pharmaceuticals, the UK research company who have successfully conducted clinical trials of their cannabis spray medicine, Sativex, have signed a deal with German drug company Bayer to market and distribute Sativex in the UK.
Bayer also has an option to market the drug in the rest of Europe as well as Canada, Australia and New Zealand. So if the government here allows it, the whole plant extract under the tongue spray could be in pharmacies soon.
Patients groups in New Zealand welcomed the move.
To make it happen, it is important that people email the Minister of Health, aking@ministers.govt.nz and tell her to look at the evidence from Britain and allow Sativex to be prescribed here.
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GW signs cannabis deal
The Guardian
Thursday May 22, 2003
Mark Milner
GW Pharmaceuticals, the UK research and development group, has teamed up with German company Bayer to market the former's cannabis-based drug, Sativex, in the UK.
The deal, worth up to £25m, marks the first significant income earned by the UK group, which commands a market capitalisation of some £230m.
Sativex, which is sprayed into the mouth, is used to provide pain relief for multiple sclerosis sufferers and may be developed to alleviate cancer-related pain.
The deal announced yesterday only covers the UK, where the government has already indicated it is ready to change the rules governing the use of cannabis to allow doctors to prescribe Sativex. However, Bayer also has an option to market the drug in the rest of Europe as well as Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
"Bayer is a very good pharmaceutical company which is highly respected around the world.
"That's what we want from a partner," said GW Pharmaceuticals' executive chairman, Geoffrey Guy.
The US is not included in the deal. Mr Guy indicated his company would take a cautious approach, which could mean several years before it attempts a foray into America.
The US may be the biggest market, but it is also one of the most difficult for a small company to enter, he argues.
"It may be an enticing market but we will be very careful. You can lose your shirt trying to get into the US."
Bayer, which is wrestling with lawsuits following the recall of its cholesterol-lowering drug, Baycol, in August 2001, said it regarded the market for Sativex as a significant one.
"For a special kind of patient it is a very, very useful drug -for example for patients with severe pain," said a spokeswoman.
She said the two companies hoped to have final approval for the drug by the end of the year. Once that was achieved, she expected that the drug would become available very quickly, she added.
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