There has been previous research that cannabis is beneficial for those with neurological disorders like epilepsy. A new marijuana-deprived drug by GW Pharmaceuticals called Epidiolex was found to successfully treat a severe and rare form of epilepsy.

The experimental drug made with extracts from marijuana is intended for a severe and rare form of epilepsy in children called the Dravet syndrome. This type of epilepsy begins in infancy with seizures that are triggered by fever or hot temperatures.

First of Four Epilepsy Trials

The recent study on GW's Epidiolex for Dravet Syndrome is the first of four epilepsy trials. The company announced that the results of their clinical trials showed that there was a reduction of convulsive seizures by nearly 40 percent compared to the placebo that was only 13 percent.

"The results of this Epidiolex pivotal trial are important and exciting as they represent the first placebo-controlled evidence to support the safety and efficacy of pharmaceutical cannabidiol in children with Dravet syndrome, one of the most severe and difficult-to-treat types of epilepsy," Dr. Orrin Devinsky of New York University Langone Medical Center's Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, said in a statement.

Dr. Devinsky adds that their data on the clinical trials backs up Epidolex's ability to deliver "clinically important reductions in seizure frequency together with an acceptable safety and tolerability profile." They hope that this will give the epilepsy community a suitable treatment for patients with Dravet syndrome.

The successful outcome of their trials would mean that Epidiolex could be the first drug to treat patients suffering from Dravet syndrome. Reuters reports that GW Pharmaceuticals is planning to meet with the US Food and Drug Administration for the approval of the drug. The company also stated that they can meet the demand for the drug.

"In anticipation of today's positive news and the prospect of filing for regulatory approval in the U.S. and elsewhere, subsequently hopefully to launch the drug, we have been scaling our production process," said GW Pharma CEO Justin Gover to CNBC.

The drug, which is in syrup form, is currently also being tested in another type of rare epilepsy called Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. It is also planned to be tested for tuberous sclerosis complex.

GW Pharmaceuticals Shares Increase in Value

The value of the company has doubled since the announcement of the success of the clinical trials. According to the Guardian, the shares of the company have increased by 123% to 481.75p.

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