GW shares get buzz from cannabis

GW Pharmaceuticals yesterday saw its cannabis-based pain-relief medicine approved in another 10 European countries, sending its shares up nearly 2 per cent.

Sativex, which is approved for use by MS sufferers and is being tested to see whether it could help cancer patients, is already on pharmacy shelves in the UK, Spain, Germany and Denmark, and being prepared for sale in Italy, Sweden, Austria and Czech Republic.

Now GW Pharma said it has received recommendation for approval in another 10 countries — Belgium, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal and Slovakia. Their launches are expected to start at the end of this year.