Sativex Fails Clinical Trials, but Hope Remains
Excitement has been brewing for a new cannabis-derived oral spray Sativex for the past several months, but the new drug may not be released to patients suffering certain ailments anytime soon due to the results of recent tests. Having been developed by the United Kingdom-based firm GW Pharmaceuticals Sativex was intended to treat the symptoms of multiple sclerosis, but is also being tested to relieve pain in cancer patients.
While the drug has been approved for managing the spasticity caused by MS, phase three trials show the drug to be thus far ineffective for managing pain in cancer patients. Experimental participants in the trial were given the drug, while controls were only sprayed with a placebo and only statistically insignificant differences in pain management was reported between both groups.
Despite this set back GW Pharmaceuticals chief executive Justin Gover remains optimistic. “Although we missed the primary endpoint in this trial, based upon the positive data seen in the Phase 2 program, we remain confident in the ability for Sativex to relieve cancer pain in this patient population,” Gover was quoted as saying in response to the release of the phase three results.
Even if Sativex doesn’t pass follow-up trials there’s still a bright future potentially in-store for the drug as well as patients seeking its use. First off, GW has already passed the biggest hurdle, that hurdle being the legal restrictions placed on growing cannabis in the UK although there are several restrictions being applied to the firm.
For instance, only Bayer is permitted to market the drug in the EU as well as approved countries elsewhere, and can only do so for a limited time period. Having stated that Sativex is likely to be available in many developed countries including EU members like Spain and is being fast tracked by the FDA in the United States.
As previously mentioned Sativex has been approved to treat the symptoms of multiple sclerosis, and has been approved for use of testing in over a dozen countries. In fact, previous studies suggest some degree, if a variable amount, of effectiveness with regards to managing spasticity caused by MS. Furthermore, nabiximols, the active ingredient in Sativex, has also been shown to alleviate other forms of pain, as well as treat overactive bladders, and may even be marketed as a potential for of treatment for those suffering from arthritis.
