Multiple Sclerosis

In April 2005 GW announced its first regulatory approval for Sativex® in Canada for the symptomatic relief of neuropathic pain in adults with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). MS is the leading cause of neurological disability amongst young and middle-aged people in northern industrialized nations. 

MS can result in a wide range of disabling and distressing symptoms including; spasticity (increased muscle tone resulting in stiffness and impaired movement), neuropathic pain, poor bladder control and tremor.

GW Sativex MS Trials
GW has sponsored clinical trials studying the effect of Sativex on symptoms of MS including; spasticity, neuropathic pain and bladder control. In all of these trials, patients remained on their existing medication during the course of the trial.  All symptom relief obtained from Sativex was over and above any effect achieved by the patients' existing treatments. 

All completed trials are listed below, together with associated publications where available:

• Central neuropathic pain

A double-blind, randomised, parallel group, placebo-controlled study of Sativex in central neuropathic pain in multiple sclerosis. (Rog DJ et al. Neurology. 2005;65:812-9).

• Spasticity

A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, parallel group study of Sativex, in subjects with symptoms of spasticity due to multiple sclerosis.

A double-blind, randomised, parallel group study to assess the efficacy, safety and tolerability of cannabis based medicine 1:1 THC:CBD compared with placebo for the treatment of spasticity in patients with multiple sclerosis. (Collin C et al. European Journal of Neurology. 2007;14:290-6).

• Other MS symptoms

A double-blind, randomised, parallel group, placebo-controlled trial of a combination of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) in patients with multiple sclerosis, followed by an open-label assessment and study extension. (Wade DT et al. Multiple Sclerosis. 2004;10:1-8).

A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, parallel group study of cannabis based medicine (CBM) extract in patients suffering detrusor overactivity associated with multiple sclerosis.

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