A COMPANY in the south that develops cannabis-based medicines today said one of its drugs had been successful in treating multiple sclerosis.

GW Pharmaceuticals said tests had shown that Sativex had significantly improved treatment of spasticity, or spasms and stiffness - one of the most common distressing symptoms of MS.

The group, which has just posted slightly higher half-year losses, said trials of the drug on 189 sufferers of MS had had an impact "over and above" that of the patients' existing treatments.

GW said the UK regulatory approval process for Sativex was making progress as it announced net losses for the six months to March 31 of £6.9m, against £6.7m last time.

Executive chairman Dr Geoffrey Guy said a string of positive trials had left it with no doubts about the value of its cannabis-based drugs.

Sativex is a whole plant medicinal cannabis extract containing tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol, administered by a mouth spray.

Christine Dimelow, 59, pictured above, from Hiltingbury, near Chandler's Ford, is one of thousands of MS sufferers who is hoping to take the prescription medicine if it gains regulatory approval.

She said: "It will be important for me because it promises to help muscle stiffness and pain.

"I'm hoping it will come out; the sooner, the better."

There are 85,000 MS sufferers in the UK, and 2.5 million worldwide.

GW, based at Porton Down Science Park near Salisbury, Wiltshire, said phase three clinical trials of the drug had shown a "statistically significant" improvement over existing treatment of spasticity caused by MS, which is a disease of the central nervous system.

Spasticity occurs in as many as three-quarters of people with MS, according to the MS Society.

It can affect many aspects of daily life, such as walking and sitting, and can range from mild to severe and change over time, often from day to day or hour to hour.

GW said previous phase three trials of Sativex had shown it to reduce pain and sleep disturbance and to improve quality of life.

The drug, which is currently the subject of regulatory applications in both the UK and Canada, has also proved effective in treating patients with neuropathic pain and arthritis.

German drugs group Bayer Healthcare will exclusively market it in the UK and Canada upon approval in both countries.