GW Pharma posts strong results with Sativex

UK cannabinoid-based drugmaker GW Pharmaceuticals says that the results of a clinical study of Sativex in the treatment of cancer pain have been published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. The authors of the paper conclude that 'this study shows that Sativex is efficacious for relief of pain in patients with advanced cancer pain not fully relieved by strong opioids.' Preliminary results from this study have previously been announced by GW.

The clinical study forms part of the ongoing development plan for Sativex in cancer pain, which represents the lead target indication for Sativex in the USA. A follow up Phase II/III cancer pain study is currently being carried out in collaboration with Japan's Otsuka Pharmaceutical,, GW's US licensing partner for Sativex, with results due in Spring 2010.

The published multinational randomized placebo-controlled study included 177 patients with advanced cancer who had failed to gain adequate pain relief despite the use of strong opioids. This study compared the efficacy of Sativex (which comprises two cannabinoid extracts in which CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol) are the primary actives), a THC only extract formulation, and placebo.