Pain is reduced by almost half with cannabis-based medicines – report finds

11-Mar-2024 - Last updated on 11-Mar-2024 at 10:14 GMT

On March 7, Celadon Pharmaceuticals plc, a leading UK-based pharmaceutical company specializing in cannabis-based medicines, unveiled promising findings from an early economic analysis of its chronic pain clinical trial, dubbed CANPAIN.

The analysis, conducted by York Health Economic Consulting (YHEC), revealed compelling insights into the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of Celadon's cannabis-based medicines in treating chronic pain.

According to the report, patients enrolled in the feasibility study experienced a remarkable 49.6% reduction in pain scores within the first month of using cannabis-based medicines. This significant reduction was sustained throughout the three-month duration of the study, indicating the potential for long-term pain management.

Furthermore, participants reported a notable improvement in their quality of sleep, with mean quality of sleep scores increasing by 1.6 points (p=0.01). Importantly, there was also a reduction in the use of opioids and associated medications among the patient cohort.

Alleviating non-cancer chronic pain

The economic framework recommended by the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) was employed to assess the cost-effectiveness of integrating cannabis-based medicines into the Standard of Care. The analysis demonstrated that this approach could deliver cost savings to the National Health Service (NHS) while improving patients' quality-adjusted life years.

The background to these findings traces back to October 2018 when NICE issued a call for evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of cannabis-based medicines. In response, Celadon initiated plans for the CANPAIN clinical trial, which gained approval from the NHS Research Ethics Committee in August 2023 for a sample size of up to 5,000 patients.

Following the completion of the feasibility study, Celadon commissioned YHEC to conduct an independent review of the data and construct an early economic model. These findings serve as a testament to the safety, tolerability, and effectiveness of Celadon's cannabis-based medicines in alleviating non-cancer chronic pain.

Support NHS prescriptions of cannabis-based medicines

James Short, CEO of Celadon Pharmaceuticals Plc, is proud of the promising results, he said: "We are incredibly proud to announce these highly encouraging results, which show just how beneficial cannabis-based medicines could be to millions of patients across the UK, whose needs are currently going unmet."

Short emphasized the broader impact of this research, noting the potential expansion of patient pools beyond initial estimates. He encouraged industry colleagues to gather clinical data to support NHS prescriptions of cannabis-based medicines.

Celadon's commitment to advancing healthcare solutions and improving patients' quality of life underscores its anticipation for the forthcoming CANPAIN trial. This trial, involving up to 5,000 patients, holds the promise of providing a proven and cost-effective alternative for managing chronic pain, potentially revolutionizing prescriptions in the UK healthcare landscape.

The unmet needs of millions of patients

The data generated from the CANPAIN trial presents a significant step forward in addressing the unmet needs of millions of patients living with chronic pain in the UK. It offers a ray of hope for those seeking alternatives to current treatments, particularly opioids.

Celadon Pharmaceuticals Plc remains steadfast in its mission to deliver innovative healthcare solutions and looks forward to collaborating with NICE, the NHS, and private health insurers to ensure the accessibility of cannabis-based medicine treatments for those in need.