Marijuana-derived drug approved for cancer pain

Marijuana-derived drug approved for cancer pain


Last Updated: Tuesday, August 7, 2007 | 5:39 PM ET
CBC News


Sativex, a marijuana-derived mouth spray already used to treat pain in patients with multiple sclerosis, has been approved by Health Canada as a pain-reliever for patients with advanced cancer.

Sativex, made by the pharmaceutical firm Bayer Inc., is composed of THC, a key compound in marijuana, and cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in marijuana.




Sativex is composed of THC, a key compound in marijuana, and cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in marijuana.Sativex is composed of THC, a key compound in marijuana, and cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in marijuana.
(CBC)



Health Canada announced Tuesday that Sativex can now be used by adult cancer patients who experience moderate to severe pain during the highest tolerated dose of strong opioid therapy for persistent pain.

The federal agency told CBCNews.ca that it had approved Sativex with conditions under its Notice of Compliance with Conditions (NOC/c) policy, meaning further studies of the product are needed.

Products in this category have demonstrated promising benefits, are of high quality and possess an acceptable safety profile based on a benefit/risk assessment for approved use, according to Health Canada.

In 2005, Health Canada approved Sativex for the treatment of neuropathic pain in adults with multiple sclerosis, also under the NOC/c policy.
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Sativex is believed to act via cannabinoid receptors that are distributed throughout the central nervous system and in immune cells. These receptors are distributed throughout the pain pathways of the nervous system, and their activation is known to reduce pain.

"Cannabinoids have an important role in treating complex cancer pain, particularly neuropathic pain, and demonstrate a positive effect with current treatment options," Dr. Lawrence Librach, the director of the Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care at Toronto's Mount Sinai Hospital, said in a Health Canada release.

http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2007/08/07/sativex-marijuana.html?ref=rss


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