NEW YORK, May 1, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:NDAQ) announced today that trading of GW Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:GWPH), a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing novel therapeutics from its cannabinoid product platform, commenced on The NASDAQ Stock Market on May 1, 2013.
GW is a biopharmaceutical company at the forefront of plant-derived cannabinoid therapeutics. In its 14 years of operations, the company has established a world leading position in the development of prescription cannabinoid medicines through its proven drug discovery and development processes, intellectual property portfolio and regulatory and manufacturing expertise. GW commercialized the world's first plant-derived cannabinoid prescription drug, Sativex®, which is approved for the treatment of spasticity due to multiple sclerosis in 20 countries outside of the United States. Sativex is also in Phase III clinical development for the treatment of cancer pain, the lead indication for the U.S. market and the company anticipates top-line results from the first of two Phase 3 trials will be available in mid-2014. GW has a deep pipeline of additional cannabinoid product candidates, including two distinct compounds, GWP42004 and GWP42003, in Phase 2 clinical development for Type 2 diabetes and ulcerative colitis, respectively.
"Through its product Sativex and broad pipeline, GW Pharmaceuticals has established itself as the world leader in cannabinoid science," said Nelson Griggs, Senior Vice President, NASDAQ OMX. "GW truly exemplifies the type of groundbreaking and innovative pharmaceutical company that partners with NASDAQ and we are proud to welcome them on our exchange."
Since its inception, NASDAQ OMX has consistently been the exchange of choice for progressive and cutting-edge health care and pharmaceutical companies like GW Pharmaceuticals. NASDAQ is currently home to more than 420 healthcare companies representing 73 percent of all U.S. listed companies in the sector, including industry-leading pharmaceutical companies such as Amgen Inc, Gilead Sciences Inc., Celgene Corp. and Biogen Idec Inc.
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