The following research study conducted in Israel could be significant for Univec. Doctor Dalton has indicated in the past that some form of inhaler might be available for treating asthma.
Eur J Pain
2020 May 23
doi: 10.1002/ejp.1605.
The Pharmacokinetics, Efficacy, and Safety of a Novel Selective-Dose Cannabis Inhaler in Patients With Chronic Pain: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial
Abstract
Background: Precise cannabis treatment dosing remains a major challenge, leading to physicians' reluctance to prescribe medical cannabis.
Objective : To test the pharmacokinetics, analgesic effect, cognitive performance, and safety effects of an innovative medical device that enables the delivery of inhaled therapeutic doses of Δ9 -Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in patients with chronic pain.
Methods : In a randomized, 3-arms, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial, 27 patients received a single inhalation of Δ9 -THC: 0.5mg, 1mg, or a placebo. Δ9 -THC plasma levels were measured at baseline and up to 150-minutes post-inhalation. Pain intensity and safety parameters were recorded on a 10-cm visual analogue scale (VAS) at pre-defined time points. Cognitive performance was evaluated using the selective sub-tests of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB).
Results : Following inhalation of 0.5mg or 1mg, Δ9-THC plasma Cmax±SD were 14.3±7.7 and 33.8±25.7 ng/ml. Tmax ±SD were 3.7±1.4 and 4.4±2.1 minutes, and AUC0→infinity ±SD were 300±144 and 769±331 ng*min/ml respectively. Both doses, but not the placebo, demonstrated a significant reduction in pain intensity compared with baseline and remained stable for 150-minutes. The 1mg dose showed a significant pain decrease compared to the placebo. Adverse events were mostly mild and resolved spontaneously. There was no evidence of consistent impairments in cognitive performance.
Conclusion : This feasibility trial demonstrated that a metered-dose cannabis inhaler delivered precise and low THC doses, produced a dose-dependent and safe analgesic effect in patients with neuropathic pain/ complex-regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Thus, it enables individualization of medical cannabis regimens that can be evaluated pharmacokinetically and pharmacodynamically by accepted pharmaceutical models.
Keywords : 1. Selective metered-dose cannabis inhaler; 2. Δ9-THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol); 3. Randomized controlled trial; 4. Neuropsychological testing; 5. Placebo; 6. Complex-regional pain syndrome (CRPS); 7. Neuropathic pain.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32445190/
Eur J Pain
2020 May 23
doi: 10.1002/ejp.1605.
The Pharmacokinetics, Efficacy, and Safety of a Novel Selective-Dose Cannabis Inhaler in Patients With Chronic Pain: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial
Abstract
Background: Precise cannabis treatment dosing remains a major challenge, leading to physicians' reluctance to prescribe medical cannabis.
Objective : To test the pharmacokinetics, analgesic effect, cognitive performance, and safety effects of an innovative medical device that enables the delivery of inhaled therapeutic doses of Δ9 -Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in patients with chronic pain.
Methods : In a randomized, 3-arms, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial, 27 patients received a single inhalation of Δ9 -THC: 0.5mg, 1mg, or a placebo. Δ9 -THC plasma levels were measured at baseline and up to 150-minutes post-inhalation. Pain intensity and safety parameters were recorded on a 10-cm visual analogue scale (VAS) at pre-defined time points. Cognitive performance was evaluated using the selective sub-tests of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB).
Results : Following inhalation of 0.5mg or 1mg, Δ9-THC plasma Cmax±SD were 14.3±7.7 and 33.8±25.7 ng/ml. Tmax ±SD were 3.7±1.4 and 4.4±2.1 minutes, and AUC0→infinity ±SD were 300±144 and 769±331 ng*min/ml respectively. Both doses, but not the placebo, demonstrated a significant reduction in pain intensity compared with baseline and remained stable for 150-minutes. The 1mg dose showed a significant pain decrease compared to the placebo. Adverse events were mostly mild and resolved spontaneously. There was no evidence of consistent impairments in cognitive performance.
Conclusion : This feasibility trial demonstrated that a metered-dose cannabis inhaler delivered precise and low THC doses, produced a dose-dependent and safe analgesic effect in patients with neuropathic pain/ complex-regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Thus, it enables individualization of medical cannabis regimens that can be evaluated pharmacokinetically and pharmacodynamically by accepted pharmaceutical models.
Keywords : 1. Selective metered-dose cannabis inhaler; 2. Δ9-THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol); 3. Randomized controlled trial; 4. Neuropsychological testing; 5. Placebo; 6. Complex-regional pain syndrome (CRPS); 7. Neuropathic pain.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32445190/
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