IASP: Sativex' effective in neuropathic pain

UK drug developer GW Pharmaceuticals says that data from a study conducted by the USA-based International Association of the Study of Pain shows that Sativex, its cannabinoid spray medicine, successfully treats peripheral neuropathic pain.

The reported study was a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled assessment that recruited 125 patients. Results from the five-week program showed that Sativex was significantly superior to placebo in reducing pain, specifically improving neuropathic pain scale composite and pain disability index scores. The drug also conferred benefits in dynamic and punctate allodynia, and sleep disturbance. Sativex had a good tolerability profile and had not been associated with any treatment-related serious adverse events.

GW said that trial was part of its wider clinical development program, which aims to gain regulatory approval for Sativex in neuropathic pain and other indications, and added that further assessments are planned. Thus far, however, the drug has only been cleared by Canadian authorities for cancer pain (Marketletter August 13).