The TGA has approved GW Pharma’s Epidyolex® (cannabidiol) as an adjunctive therapy for seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome or Dravet syndrome for patients over 2 years of age.
Epidyolex® was developed by GW Pharma in partnership with Chiesi Australia and is already approved in the US and EU. The product is subject to additional monitoring under the TGA’s Black Triangle Scheme, which encourages the reporting of adverse events associated with new prescription medicines.
This is the second medicinal cannabis product to have been approved by the TGA, and the first since 2012, when Emerge Health’s Sativex® was first registered for the treatment of spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis.
TGA’s September approval of Epidyolex® follows PBAC’s August 2020 deferral of its decision regarding the pre-approval PBS listing of Epidyolex® for the same indications, to enable further consultation with stakeholders.
Naomi Pearce
CEO, Executive Lawyer (AU, NZ), Patent Attorney (AU, NZ) & Trade Mark Attorney (AU)
Naomi is the CEO and Founder of Pearce IP, and is one of ANZ’s leading IP practitioners. Naomi is a market leading, strategic, commercially astute, patent lawyer, patent attorney and trade mark attorney, with over 29 years’ experience, and a background in molecular biology/biochemistry.
Ranked in virtually every notable legal directory, highly regarded by peers and clients, Naomi is renowned for her successful and elegant IP/legal strategies focussing on complex/multijurisdictional litigation, global FTO, and strategic advice. Among other awards, Naomi is the 2026 Lexology Client Choice Winner for Patents, the 2024 Lawyers Weekly Women in Law “Executive of the Year”, the 2023 Lawyers Weekly “IP Partner of the Year”, the 2022 Lexology Client Choice Winner for Life Sciences, the 2022 Asia Pacific Women in Business Law “Patent Lawyer of the Year”, and the 2021 Lawyers Weekly Women in Law “Partner of the Year”. Ranked in Chambers Asia Pacific, Chambers Global, IAM Patent 1000, IAM Strategy 300, is a MIP “Patent Star”, and is recognised as a WIPR Leader for patents and trade marks.
Pearce IP is the premier life sciences focussed firm in ANZ. Commencing in 2017. Pearce IP is the 2025 Australasian Lawyer and NZ Lawyer 5-Star Employer of Choice & “Standout Winner” for Inclusion and Culture (<100 employees). In 2021, Pearce IP was the Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards IP Team of the Year.