Pomerantz Law Firm Announces the Filing of a Class Action Against GW Pharmaceuticals plc and Certain Officers – GWPH

NEW YORK, Jan. 21, 2016 -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against GW Pharmaceuticals plc (“GW Pharmaceuticals” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ:GWPH) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, Southern District of New York, and docketed under 16-cv-00472, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons or entities who purchased GW Pharmaceuticals securities between December 4, 2014 and January 8, 2016 inclusive (the “Class Period”).  This class action seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”).  

If you are a shareholder who purchased GW Pharmaceuticals securities during the Class Period, you have until March 21, 2016 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class.  A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll free, ext. 9980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased.

GW Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company.  Together with its subsidiaries, GW Pharmaceuticals engages in discovering, developing, and commercializing cannabinoid prescription medicines.

The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company’s business, operational and compliance policies. Specifically, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) the Company lacked effective internal financial controls; (ii) the Company lacked effective controls over completeness and valuation of clinical trial accruals; and (iii) as a result of the foregoing, Defendants’ statements about GW Pharmaceuticals’ business, operations, and prospects were false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. 

On January 10, 2016, The Sunday Times reported that GW Pharmaceuticals had disclosed in its annual report for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015 (the “FY 2015 20-F”), filed with the SEC the previous month, that its internal financial controls were not effective as of September 30, 2015, and further disclosed that management had determined that it lacked effective controls over the completeness and valuation of clinical trial accruals.  Specifically, the 2015 20‑F reported that management lacked sufficiently precise controls: (1) to evaluate the completeness and accuracy of the calculation of clinical trial accruals due to the incorrect allocation of expenditure to clinical studies; or (2) to ensure completeness of clinical trial accruals in connection with contractual progress payment liabilities.

On this news, GW Pharmaceuticals stock fell $3.55, or nearly 6%, to close at $56.31 per share on January 11, 2016.

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Florida, and Los Angeles, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 70 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com

CONTACT:
Robert S. Willoughby
Pomerantz LLP
[email protected]