First UK patients receive MGC Pharma’s CannEpil product

MGC Pharmaceuticals’ Investigational Medicinal Product (IMP) CannEpil has been successfully imported and received by its first patients in the United Kingdom.

CannEpil is a high-CBD, low-THC formulation, delivered by an oral mucosal solution and is part of the company’s clinical development program for patients suffering from refractory epilepsy (also known as drug-resistant epilepsy).

The company provided CannEpil to the I AM Billy Foundation through the NHS’s Refractory Epilepsy Specialist Clinical Advisory Service (RESCAS) currently the only route in the UK for patients to receive public funding for cannabis-based treatments of refractory epilepsy.

“The fulfilment of the first UK patient to receive CannEpil undergoing the RESCAS process demonstrates the commitment of MGC Pharma to improve patient access to effective epilepsy treatment,” MGC Pharmaceuticals (ASX:MXC) MD and CEO Roby Zomer said.

Huge unmet need in the UK

Currently, around 25,000 people in the UK are being treated with medical cannabis for conditions including chronic pain, epilepsy, and Parkinson’s disease, however, the vast majority of prescriptions have been issued through expensive private healthcare schemes with patients struggling to get access to the medicines via the NHS.

“We know there is a huge unmet need for epilepsy treatment, and we are pleased to be partnering with I AM Billy Foundation on this important work,” Zomer said

“With our combined knowledge, expertise, and capabilities, our aim is to facilitate patient access to the highest-quality cannabis-based medicinal products for patients.”

The company has also delivered CannEpil to its first patient in the UK via the Named Patient Request program, which Zomer said was like breaking the glass ceiling in the country, because on the General Medical Council the company will have access to over 108,000 doctors who can prescribe CannEpil.

And when you consider there are over 600,000 patients with Epilepsy in the UK compared to 25,000 cannabis users, the reasoning behind the company’s move into the pharma lane – and the bigger market – becomes clear.

“MGC Pharma is making significant progress in its mission to widen access to effective refractory epilepsy treatment and breaking the glass ceiling of such products to support unmet medical needs in the United Kingdom and Ireland, with other key territories hopefully to shortly follow this lead,” he said.

This article was developed in collaboration with MGC Pharmaceuticals Limited, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.