GW Pharma Relocates President, CEO to U.S.

GW Pharmaceuticals, the British-based company developing a range of pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoid medications, has announced the relocation of its CEO and president to the U.S. in anticipation of a future launch into the American marketplace. GW is the creator of Epidiolex, a purified form of CBD-only cannabis strains currently in trials to treat children with rare epileptic conditions. The drug remains within development, but has received fast track approval from the FDA and GW has announced it anticipates completing the development program for the drug this year.

“As Epidiolex nears its final stages of clinical development and as GW prepares for future U.S. launch, the time is right to start building our in-house U.S. commercial infrastructure,” a release issued by the pharmaceutical company stated.

The company’s U.S. operations will be based in Southern California, where GW’s CEO, Justin Gover, and its newest president, Julian Gangolli, will also be based. Gangoli, the former head of Allergan’s North American pharma business, was recently appointed to GW to serve in a similar role. While the company will continue to keep much of its capacity in the U.K., the relocation of its CEO and president demonstrate a confidence that its cannabis-based medication is on its way to Phase III success and FDA approval.

GW is also working to get Sativex, a spray-delivered cannabis-extract, approved for use in the United States. Earlier this year, the drug’s potential FDA approval faced a setback when a late stage clinical trial showed the medication failed to provide pain reduction for cancer patients. Sativex has also received fast track approval from the FDA and is currently available in 15 counties for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Within the U.K., the pharmaceutical company is currently recruiting participants for a study analyzing the effects of Sativex on adults with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

How do you think this will affect the U.S. cannabis industry? Share your thoughts in the comments.