Cannabis-oil medicine wins approval

Ac anna bidiol(CBD) medicine has been approved for use on the NHS to treat two rare forms of epilepsy.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has approved E pi dyol ex for Lenn ox-Gastau t syndrome and Dr a vet syndrome – types of epilepsy that can have a severe impact on children.

The decision means patients aged two and over can access the medicine via the NHS if their doctor recommends it. Physicians in England have been able to prescribe the cannabis-based solution since January.

Health secretary Jeane Freeman said: “We welcome the decision to approve Epidyolex for the treatment of LennoxGas taut syndrome–a rare type of epilepsy that presents in early childhood – and the additional support this will give families living with children suffering from this condition.

“Together with the approval of Epidyolex in combination with c lob az am, which was also accepted for the treatment of Dr a vet syndrome, these medicines will improve the quality of life for patients and their families.”

The charity Epilepsy Connections said it helped to give input to the SMC as part of its patient and clinician engagement (PACE) process for the CBD therapy.

The medicines are part of 14 approved by SMC, including a drug for breast cancer patients called Perjeta.