GW Expands Cannabinoid Research

 

TIDMGWP 
 
RNS Number : 9096T 
GW Pharmaceuticals PLC 
16 June 2009 
 

GW EXPANDS CANNABINOID RESEARCH IN THE FIELD OF DIABETES AND METABOLIC DISEASE 
 
 
"GW Metabolic Research Laboratory" established in conjunction with Professor 
Cawthorne and the Clore Laboratory, University of Buckingham 
 
 
Porton Down, UK, 16 June 2009: GW Pharmaceuticals plc (GWP:AIM) today announces 
that it has entered into an exclusive strategic alliance with Professor Mike 
Cawthorne and the Clore Laboratory, University of Buckingham, focusing on the 
research of cannabinoids, and other phytomedicines, in the field of type 2 
diabetes and metabolic disease. A dedicated section of the Clore Laboratory has 
been named the "GW Metabolic Research Laboratory". 
 
 
Professor Cawthorne is Director of Metabolic Research at the Clore Laboratory, 
University of Buckingham and a recognized world leading authority in the 
research of new treatments for obesity and type 2 diabetes. At SmithKline 
Beecham he was Group Director for diabetes and obesity research and led the 
research team that discovered the multi-billion dollar insulin sensitizer drug, 
rosiglitazone (Avandia ). 
The principal objectives of this strategic alliance are as follows: 
 
 
  *  to provide GW with a dedicated facility for undertaking pre-clinical 
  pharmacologic studies of cannabinoids in the area of metabolic disease 
  *  to provide GW with exclusive access to plant-based therapies under evaluation at 
  the Clore Laboratory 
  *  to support the pharmaceutical development of new GW cannabinoid medicines to 
  address defined aspects of the metabolic syndrome 
  *  to provide expert advice to GW, through Professor Cawthorne, in the metabolic 
  disease area 
 
Dr Geoffrey Guy, GW's Chairman, said, "We are delighted to be expanding our 
relationship with such prominent experts in the field of metabolic research. GW 
has already carried out pre-clinical studies on its cannabinoids in several 
models of diabetes with promising results. We believe strongly that our in-house 
research programme in the field of diabetes and metabolic syndrome offers 
significant commercial potential. This collaboration will allow us to progress 
this research effort to develop a number of potential new cannabinoid product 
candidates in this therapeutic area." 
 
 
Professor Cawthorne, Director of Metabolic Research at the Clore Laboratory, 
University of Buckingham, said, "I am particularly encouraged by the results of 
pre-clinical studies performed to date on GW cannabinoids and see exciting 
potential for the development of new treatments in the field of type 2 diabetes 
and related metabolic disorders. I look forward to working closely with GW on 
the development of new metabolic medicines." 
 
 
GW's Cannabinoid Research in Diabetes and Metabolic Disease 
GW has carried out pre-clinical research on its cannabinoids in several models 
of type 2 diabetes. Results of this research show desirable effects on plasma 
insulin, leptin and adiponectin levels, hormones of particular relevance to the 
development and treatment of diabetes. In addition, these results have shown a 
reduction in total cholesterol with an increase in the proportion of HDL (good) 
cholesterol. 
 
 
GW's two leading cannabinoid candidates in this field are 
delta-9-tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) and cannabidiol (CBD). CBD has shown 
potential beneficial effects in hypercholesterolaemia and non-alcoholic fatty 
liver disease, while THCV has shown desirable effects notably in raising energy 
expenditure. Exploration of the effects of these two cannabinoids in combination 
confirms that a number of the components of the metabolic syndrome can 
potentially be addressed with a single medicine. 
 
 
Both THCV and CBD have now successfully been the subject of Phase I clinical 
trials. GW is preparing to advance a combined THCV:CBD drug candidate into a 
Phase IIa multiple dose study in the treatment of dyslipidaemia and fatty liver 
in Type II diabetic patients. 
 
 
Enquiries: 
 
 
+--------------------------------------------+------------------------------+ 
| GW Pharmaceuticals plc                     |    (Today) + 44 20 7831 3113 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------------------------+ 
| Dr Geoffrey Guy, Chairman                  |       (Thereafter) + 44 1980 | 
|                                            |                       557000 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------------------------+ 
| Justin Gover, Managing Director            |                              | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------------------------+ 
|                                            |                              | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------------------------+ 
| Financial Dynamics                         |            + 44 20 7831 3113 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------------------------+ 
| Ben Atwell / John Dineen                   |                              | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------------------------+ 
|                                            |                              | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------------------------+ 
| Investec Bank plc                          |            + 44 20 7597 4000 | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------------------------+ 
| Patrick Robb                               |                              | 
+--------------------------------------------+------------------------------+ 
 
 
Notes to Editors 
 
 
Professor Mike Cawthorne BSc (Hons), PhD, CBiol, FIBiol 
Professor Cawthorne is Director of Metabolic Research at the Clore Laboratory, 
University of Buckingham, where he leads a group of 15 researchers seeking new 
molecular targets and evaluating pioneering therapies for obesity and type 2 
diabetes.  From 1968 to 1994, Professor Cawthorne was at Beecham and SmithKline 
Beecham latterly as Group Director for diabetes and obesity research.  Apart 
from leading the research team that discovered the billion dollar insulin 
sensitiser drug   rosiglitazone, he led the biological research that identified 
the b3-adrenoceptor as a potential molecular target for thermogenesis and type 2 
diabetes. Professor Cawthorne has published more than 100 papers in 
peer-reviewed journals, is a past Chairman of the Association for the Study of 
Obesity, was founding secretary of the International Association for the Study 
of Obesity and received the 2001 award for drug discovery from the Society of 
Medicines research for the discovery and development of rosiglitazone. 
 
 
About the Clore Laboratory 
The Clore Laboratory was established at the University of Buckingham in 1986 and 
is an internationally recognised metabolic research group. Under its present 
Director, Professor Mike Cawthorne, its aim is to undertake preclinical studies 
from the gene level through to whole body physiology to define new molecular 
targets for the treatment of diabetes, obesity and metabolic disease and to 
design and evaluate pioneering therapeutics. 
 
 
The University of Buckingham was founded in 1976 as an independent University 
and does not rely on Government funding. It has voluntarily submitted itself to 
audit by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education and has come top of 
the National Student Survey in 2006, 2007 and 2008. 
 
 
About GW 
GW was founded in 1998 and listed on the AiM, a market of the London Stock 
Exchange, in June 2001. Operating under license from the UK Home Office, the 
company researches and develops cannabinoid pharmaceutical products for patients 
who suffer from a range of serious ailments, in particular multiple sclerosis 
and cancer pain. GW has assembled a large in-house scientific team with 
expertise in cannabinoid science as well as experience in the development of 
both plant-based prescription pharmaceutical products and medicines containing 
controlled substances. GW occupies a world leading position in cannabinoids and 
has developed an extensive international network of the most prominent 
scientists in the field. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
This information is provided by RNS 
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange 
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