GW strengthens board with appointment of James Noble

James, aged 47, has extensive experience in the biotech industry and was most recently CEO of Avidex Limited, a private biotech company, which was sold in late 2006 to MediGene AG, of which he will shortly be joining the Supervisory Board. James is also a non-executive director of Albany Capital plc, an AIM-listed investment company, Finsbury Worldwide Pharmaceutical Trust plc, one of the largest investment trusts specialising in healthcare companies, and CuraGen Corporation, a NASDAQ listed biopharmaceutical company.

In 2003, James was a member of the UK government committee on funding the UK biotech industry. From 1997-2001, he held numerous non-executive director positions including PowderJect Pharmaceuticals plc, Oxford GlycoSciences plc (OGS), Advanced Medical Solutions plc, as well as number of other private UK, European and US biotech companies. At PowderJect and OGS, he was a director prior to and following flotation of these companies, and in particular played a key role in the secondary IPO of OGS on NASDAQ, which raised £175m.

Prior to this, James was a director of corporate finance at Kleinwort Benson (1983-90) and Finance Director of British Biotech Plc (1990-7). James started his career at PriceWaterhouse, where he qualified as a chartered accountant.

James’ appointment is part of a corporate governance review process agreed by the Board in recent months to review the proportion of independent non-executive directors. As part of this process, David Mace, who has been a non-executive director for six years, will not be offering himself for re-election at the next Annual General Meeting.

Dr Geoffrey Guy, Chairman, said, “We are very pleased to welcome James to the GW Board as senior independent non-executive director. James has been a prominent member of the UK biotech sector for many years and brings with him extensive experience as a non-executive director which will be of great value to GW.

“I should also like to take this opportunity to thank David Mace, who intends to retire from the Board at the forthcoming AGM. David joined the Board as our first non-executive and has been a committed and valued director over the last six years. I am most grateful to him for his important contribution to the company.”

Enquiries:
GW Pharmaceuticals plc  (26/01/07) +44 (0)20 7831 3113
Dr Geoffrey Guy, Executive Chairman (Thereafter) + 44 1980 557000
Justin Gover, Managing Director 
 
Financial Dynamics  + 44 20 7831 3113
David Yates / Ben Atwell 

Additional Information in relation to James Noble:

On 10 June 1999, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the 'SEC') completed an enquiry relating to two press announcements issued in 1995 and 1996 by British Biotech Plc, of which James Noble was previously Finance Director. The SEC then filed an administrative complaint that those announcements and related periodic reports filed with the SEC were inaccurate and omitted to state material facts necessary to make the statements made therein not misleading. Under a final settlement reached with the SEC in June 1999, British Biotech Plc and three of its then directors including Mr. Noble agreed to the entry of an administrative order to continue to adhere to U.S. securities laws. The settlement involved no admission or denial by either British Biotech Plc or the three former directors of the SEC's allegations.

Mr Noble is, or has been in the 5 years prior to the date of this announcement, a director or partner in the following companies or partnerships:
Avidex Limited
Albany Capital plc
Finsbury Worldwide Pharmaceutical Trust plc
CuraGen Corporation