GW Pharma Reports Its Greenwich Biosciences Subsidiary To Present Results Of Survey Highlighting Prevalence Of Cannabis Use Among People With Multiple Sclerosis

GW Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ:GWPH, GW, the Company or the Group))), a world leader in the science, development, and commercialization of cannabinoid prescription medicines, along with U.S. subsidiary Greenwich Biosciences, will present results of a survey conducted in partnership with the North American Research Committee on Multiple Sclerosis (NARCOMS) — the world’s largest voluntary, patient-driven MS registry1 — highlighting the prevalence of cannabis use among people with MS. The survey found nearly one-third of U.S.-based participants had tried THC-containing cannabis for their MS symptoms at least once, with 20 percent reporting cannabis use within the past 30 days.

The survey results will be presented at MSVirtual2020, the joint meeting of the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) and the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS). The NARCOMS Survey abstract (P0439) can be found here. The data will be made available virtually at 9:00 AM EST on Friday, September 11, 2020.

“The use of unapproved, unregulated, THC-containing cannabis by people with MS underscores that these patients’ needs are not being met by existing approved medicines and reinforces the need for a new FDA-regulated option,” said Justin Gover, GW’s Chief Executive Officer. “We continue to advance the clinical development of cannabinoid therapies that meet the rigor of FDA review with the goal of delivering an approved THC-containing treatment to the MS community in the future.” 

The NARCOMS survey, which included more than 3,000 people with MS, found that over 60 percent of respondents reported experiencing spasticity, pain, or sleep problems. Of those surveyed, 1,012 respondents (31 percent) indicated they had used THC-containing cannabis for their MS symptoms at least once: 51 percent reported using cannabis to treat spasticity, 44 percent to treat pain, and 38 percent to support sleep. There were 636 (20 percent) respondents who reported current use of cannabis for their MS, while 376 (11.6 percent) reported prior use.

“Spasticity, pain and sleep issues significantly impact the daily lives and quality of life of people living with MS,” said Dr. Amber Salter, Assistant Professor of Biostatistics at Washington University School of Medicine. “Our data demonstrate that many people have tried cannabis products to manage symptoms, supporting the need for research in this area.”