Irish patients to get cannabis-derived epilepsy drug free on health service

The Irish government has confirmed that a new cannabis-derived epilepsy treatment will be covered by the country’s health service.

CannEpil, an experimental drug derived from cannabis, is a high CBD, low THC treatment for drug resistant epilepsy.

Ireland has had a limited medical cannabis programme since 2019, but in January announced provision for its delivery and funding through its inclusion in the national health service (the HSE).

Today’s announcement means patients who are prescribed the MGC Pharmaceuticals treatment will have the cost fully covered by the health service.

Treatment-resistant – or refractory – epilepsy affects approximately 33 percent of adults and 20-25 percent of children already suffering from epilepsy.

In Ireland, around nine out of 1,000 people over the age of five have a form of epilepsy, an estimated 37,000 people nationally.

Roby Zomer, co-founder and managing director of MGC Pharma, said: “This is a key moment for MGC Pharma and for the Irish patients who can now receive cannabis-based treatments covered by the National Health Insurance.

“Furthermore, this is a critical moment in the roll out of CannEpil both in Ireland and worldwide.

“Our goal is to improve the lives of people who suffer with refractory epilepsy and other indications, and by making CannEpil available free to access for patients in Ireland, this will now be the case.

“Combined with record monthly sales in May for our leading phytocannabinoid derived medicines, the company continues to deliver on its goal of building a strong and sustainable global bio-pharma business.

“With further clinical trials of CannEpil under way, we hope to be able increase the supply and availability of the medicine in the most affordable way to epilepsy sufferers globally in the near future.”

CannEpil is already being prescribed in Australia and the UK in the treatment epilepsy.

The news from Ireland will bolster the positive financial mood music around the company after May saw its best monthly revenue to date (more than A$360,000) for its medical cannabis programme.