Sativex
From MarijuanaWiki
Sativex is an oromucosal (mouth) spray developed by the UK company GW Pharmaceuticals for multiple sclerosis patients, who can use it to alleviate neuropathic pain and spasticity. Sativex is made by blending pure extracts of cannabis plants. Sativex is formulated to contain two of the main active ingredients of cannabis: tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) in a 1.08:1 ratio, but it also contains everything else that is in the aerial parts (i.e., all but the roots) of the plant.
Approved by Health Canada under a conditional license (NOC/c) for prescription use in April 2005, Sativex is North America's first pharmaceutical version of cannabis (note that cannabis is available by prescription in Canada). Available in the UK as an unlicensed medicine imported from Canada to satisfy its prescription to individual patients (Sativex will remain a Schedule 1 controlled drug in the UK). Available in Catalonia, Spain for 600 patients suffering from multiple sclerosis and a number of other conditions under a compassionate access programme (130 of the patients will be people with multiple sclerosis, a further 130 will be patients with neuropathic pain arising from a range of medical conditions, 40 will be suffering from anorexia and malnutrition caused by AIDS, and the remaining 300 will be cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and suffering from nausea and vomiting.).
In December 2005, GW and the Spanish pharmaceutical company Almirall announced that they have entered into an exclusive agreement for Almirall to market Sativex in Europe (excluding the UK).
In late 2006 GW Pharmaceuticals will begin a Phase III trial in the U.S for cancer patients. The 250 patient, double-blind, randomized placebo controlled study will evaluate the effect of Sativex in relieving average daily pain, reducing the use of breakthrough opioid medications, improving the quality of sleep and relevant aspects of quality of life among other outcome measures.
While no person has ever evidently died from consumption of pure cannabis, an English woman participating in trials of Sativex suffered a death possibly related to the synthetic cannabis or some of the many other drugs she was taking as the time. [1] [2]
Compare dronabinol (marketed as Marinol), a synthetic version of THC.
External links
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