Cannabis can help relieve chronic low back pain, discoveries of major tests

People with chronic backs for can soon have reasons to jump for joy, of course, of course. A large -scale, randomized, double blind and controlled clinical trial has shown that a specifically formulated cannabis extract can considerably mitigate people’s back pain.

The German German pharmaceutical company has developed the extract, named Ver-01 and sponsored the phase III test. People who took the Ver-01 experienced a greater reduction in pain compared to people on a placebo, revealed study researchers. The company has already requested the regulatory approval of its drug in Europe and also plans to obtain approval from the Food and Drug Administration of the United States.

Robust evidence

The test, carried out in several different phases, involved more than 800 adults diagnosed with chronic low back pain. In the first phase, approximately half of the participants were randomized to receive Ver-01 (taken orally daily), while the other half received a control substance. The researchers then followed the participants over a period of 12 weeks.

At the end of the 12 weeks, the Ver-01 group showed a statistically significant improvement in pain compared to the placebo group.

On a scale of 11 points commonly used to assess the pain, people taking Ver-01 saw a drop of 1.9 points on average, for example, for the average fall of 1.4 points observed in the placebo group. People who continued to take the medication after the first phase also experienced a greater reduction in pain over time. And those on Ver-01 also reported a greater improvement in their quality of sleep and their physical functioning, while the drug seemed to be tolerated safely, without sign of dependence or withdrawal.

“In conclusion, this phase 3 study provides solid evidence to support Ver-01’s efficiency and safety in the treatment of (chronic low back pain),” wrote the authors in their article, published Monday in Nature Medicine.

External experts also seem to be enthusiastic about the potential of the drug.

“This is an excellent study. We have long argued that cannabis studies or cannabis substances should provide high evidence: that’s all,” said Jan Vollet, lecturer in neuroscience at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom, in science Media Center. “This is only one test, and we will need additional studies to confirm the results, but it is a good signal that the compound could help patients.”

The future of Ver-01

Many studies have suggested that cannabinoids, primary compounds found in cannabis, can help treat pain. European and Asia countries have also conceded the granting of specific cannabis formulations to treat nervous pain. However, other research has failed to show a coherent cannabis bread effect.

Some of these mixed evidence could be due to the fact that cannabis present in many different strains, each with a different variety or proportion of these compounds. Vertanical and his researchers argue that his extract has the right mixture of cannabinoids and other ingredients to relievely relieve pain. In particular, the extract contains only 5% THC. Although the THC is the ingredient responsible for the “high” of cannabis, the level found in Ver-01 is lower than what is generally in recreational products or the strains available today (often reaching 15% or more).

The reduction in documented pain in this last study is relatively modest. But given the lack of other effective non-opioid options for back pain, the ver-01 could certainly become a widely used alternative treatment, without harmful dependence potential. It is estimated that around 40% of adults in the United States have had back pain in the last three months, while more than 10% of Americans can currently have chronic back pain.

After the initial publication of its phase II data earlier this year, Vertanical has already submitted the approval of Ver-01 in Europe; He also plans to request approval from the United Kingdom. The company is also in talks with the FDA to design a study which, if successful, could convince the American regulator to grant approval.