cannabisnews.com: Cannabis Painkiller Hope for Cancer Patients 





Cannabis Painkiller Hope for Cancer Patients 
Posted by CN Staff on January 19, 2005 at 08:33:56 PT
By David Winning, PA City Staff 
Source: Scotsman UK
Cancer patients in severe pain were today offered hope that their suffering could be relieved by a new drug derived from cannabis. GW Pharmaceuticals said clinical trials of its Sativex oral spray had shown that it was statistically superior to placebo in relieving pain.The drug was tested on 177 cancer patients in final trials and was found to improve their pain by a third in approximately 40% of cases.
Shares rose 2% after the preliminary findings of the trials were announced alongside GW’s annual results, which showed losses widening to £15.7 million during the year to September 30 from £9.6 million a year ago.Sativex is a whole plant medicinal cannabis extract containing tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol.It has received preliminary approval in Canada for easing the pain of patients with multiple sclerosis, while trials have also shown the drug to be effective in treating arthritis sufferers.But efforts to get Sativex approved in the UK suffered a setback at the start of December when regulators demanded further tests, causing the company to lose almost a quarter of its value.GW, which grows cannabis plants at a secret location, said it was determined to prove the efficacy of Sativex and should know in the summer whether it has secured UK approval.Executive chairman Dr Geoffrey Guy said the raft of positive clinical data and the imminent approval of Sativex in Canada meant there was “good reason to be excited about the year ahead”.“We expect 2005 to be the year of our first product launch, a time of restored momentum, as well as a financial turning point as we start to generate commercial revenues from product sales,” he said.German drugs group Bayer Healthcare will exclusively market the medicine once it gains final approval.Source: Scotsman (UK)Author: David Winning, PA City Staff Published: January 19, 2005Copyright: The Scotsman Publications Ltd 2005Contact: Letters_ts scotsman.comWebsite: http://www.scotsman.com/Related Articles & Web Site:GW Pharmaceuticalshttp://www.gwpharm.com/Canada Approves Cannabis Drug http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20055.shtmlGW Cannabis Drug on Path To Approval http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20051.shtmlCanada To Approve UK Cannabis Drughttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20050.shtml 
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #7 posted by dongenero on January 19, 2005 at 11:00:34 PT
Dr. Russo
Congratulations and thank you Dr. Russo and your associates. This certainly must have been a difficult path for you to take. It obviously took very strong conviction on your part.
I think I can speak for most everyone here, in recognizing the significant efforts you have made toward this cause.
Thanks again.If this and the impending approval in Canada and the U.K. doesn't expose the schedule 1 lie, what will?
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #6 posted by Hope on January 19, 2005 at 10:52:56 PT
Dr. Russo
What FoM said and also, I'm so happy you are with us. Thank you.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #5 posted by FoM on January 19, 2005 at 10:42:52 PT
Dr. Russo
I am so happy for you. I know how hard you've work and appreciate all you do and have done.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #4 posted by Ethan Russo MD on January 19, 2005 at 10:35:41 PT
PDF of GWP Press Release
http://production.investis.com/gwp/pressreleases/currentpress/2005-01-19a/2005-01-19a.pdf(Paste entire URL into browser)
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by Ethan Russo MD on January 19, 2005 at 10:34:01 PT
GWP Webcast
http://www.gwpharm.co.uk/investors_presentations.asp(TOP ONE)
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by schmeff on January 19, 2005 at 10:18:35 PT
Psssst....McHalf-free, Johnny Pee...
...cannabis is medicine. Catch a clue!"German drugs group Bayer Healthcare will exclusively market the MEDICINE once it gains final approval."
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by potpal on January 19, 2005 at 09:22:22 PT
Cannabis in Europe...
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/370/poland.shtml 
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment