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UK: Cannabis spray helps most patients

Reuters

Monday 10 Sep 2001

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LONDON (Reuters) - A British company developing the world's first
cannabis-based medicines says its under-the-tongue spray has delivered
significant benefit for 77 percent of chronic pain sufferers in clinical
trials.

GW Pharmaceuticals, which grows its cannabis in secret glasshouses in
southern England, tested the new drug against placebo on patients suffering
from multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injury.

It found that 41 out of the first 53 patients enrolled in the Phase I and
II studies derived statistically significant benefit, including reduced
pain, improved sleep and overall symptom relief.

Side effects, including headaches and nausea, were "predictable and
generally well tolerated", it added.

Some patients did become intoxicated -- as the best known effect of
cannabis kicked in -- but generally the ability to control dosage with the
spray mechanism allowed users to strike a balance between reducing pain and
getting high.

Results of trials at three centres were presented at the American Academy
of Pain Management in Arlington, Virginia.

Dr William Notcutt of James Paget Hospital in Great Yarmouth had last week
outlined promising results from one of the studies at a scientific meeting
in Scotland.

GW also announced that Britain's Medicines Control Agency had approved the
extended use of its cannabis-based medicines from 12 to 24 months of
treatment, following the submission of safety data.

GW, which floated in London in June but has seen its shares fall by more
than 40 percent on uncertainties about whether cannabis will ever become a
mainstream medicine, said the results were very encouraging.

"The half-term report is -- so far, so good," said Executive Chairman
Geoffrey Guy.

Although the use of cannabis is illegal in most countries, patients with
diseases such as cancer and multiple sclerosis have been lobbying to use
cannabis for medicinal purposes.

The company is already undertaking final Phase III study and aims to file
for regulatory approval of its spray in 2003, with the aim of bringing the
first prescription medicine made from cannabis extracts to the market early
in 2004.

 

 

 

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