The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 275 No 7376 p622
19 November 2005

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Sativex to be available to multiple sclerosis patients

Sativex, GW Pharmaceuticals's cannabinoid oral spray for the relief of spasticity in multiple sclerosis patients, is to be available in the UK under the terms of a special Home Office licence.

The Home Office has given GW Pharmaceuticals permission to import the cannabis-based product into the UK from Canada, where it has a conditional marketing authorisation. Sativex has not yet been granted a marketing authorisation by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, but can be prescribed on a named-patient basis by doctors.

GW Pharmaceuticals is currently conducting phase III clinical trials and intends to apply for UK marketing authorisation next year.