Cannabis-based medicines: what are they?

While research into the possibilities of cannabis and its therapeutic virtues is beginning to multiply, not all countries make the same cannabis-based medicines available. Whether or not they can be marketed depends on the country in question.

Cannabis-based medicines are generally defined as pharmaceutical-grade substances available on prescription and containing at least one active ingredient derived from cannabis. The generic term « medical marijuana »The term "drug" is most often used to group together these different medications.

Here is an exhaustive list at the time of writing.

Sativex

The Sativex is a mouth spray composed of natural plant extracts: it contains THC and CBD. It is used to treat neuropathic pain and spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis. It can also be used to treat cancer-related pain.

The drug was developed and patented by GW Pharmaceuticals in the 2000s, then marketed by laboratories Bayer and Almirral and launched in the UK on June 21, 2010. It has since been authorized in a number of countries - 22 in all, including 18 in Europe. It is the only cannabis-based medicine authorized in France. It is not marketed in France, however, and must be imported from abroad.

Despite ongoing clinical trials, the drug has not (yet) been approved for use in the USA, as the statistical difference between administration of the drug and a placebo is not significant enough. It is the only drug based on natural, rather than synthetic, cannabis extracts, but its cost is a deterrent.

Epidiolex

Epiodiolex comes in oil form and is 98% composed of CBD. It has been proven effective in the treatment of severe epilepsy such as Dravet and Lennow-Gastaut syndrome. Patients using it have reported far less frequent seizures, and the drug, as CBD oil, has been the subject of numerous claims by patients without access to the product. These include the cases of two little English boys whose mothers campaigned successfully for prescription access to CBD oil.

It was designed by GW Pharmaceuticals and has been recently approved by the FDA.

It is marketed under the name Epidyolex in Europe and is reimbursed in France.

Dronabinol (Marinol)

The Marinol is composed of synthetic THC and is administered in 2.5, 5 or 10 mg capsules. It is used to treat nausea and vomiting in chemotherapy patients, to stimulate appetite in AIDS patients and as an analgesic to relieve neuropathic pain in multiple sclerosis.

It was designed by Unimed Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Solvacy Pharmaceuticals. It has been approved for use in the USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. It is also authorized in most Western European countries, but access to it is subject to special restrictions in most of them.

Nabinole / Cesamet

Nabinole is composed of synthetic cannabinoids similar to THC. It is used in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

It was designed by Valeant Pharmaceuticals International and approved by the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) in 1985, then withdrawn from the market before being re-approved in 2006. It is also approved in the UK, Australia, Canada and Mexico, and in Western Europe under certain conditions.

Dexanabinol

Dexanabinol is made up of non-psychotropic synthetic cannabinoids (i.e. not analogous to THC), which are not found directly in the plant in the same form, but act on the same receptors.

It was developed by Solvay Pharmaceuticals, which was subsequently acquired by Abbott Laboratories in 2010. It is used as a neuroprotectant to recover memory and other brain functions after traumatic brain injury. It also qualifies as a potential cancer treatment.

It is still undergoing clinical trials and is not yet approved anywhere. As are CT-3 (ajumelic acid) designed by Indevus Pharmaceuticals, Cannabinor and HU 308 designed by Pharmos, and HU 311 designed as an anti-cancer treatment by Cayman Chemical.

Bedrocan

The case of Bedrocan The Dutch laboratory sells cannabis flower directly to pharmacies as a medicine. It is used to treat the variety of symptoms mentioned above and is authorized in all countries that have legalized the medical use of cannabis in flower form. It markets 5 varieties of cannabis:

• the BedrocanTHC 22% | CBD <1.0% | Sativa
• Bedrobinol: THC 13.5% | CBD <1.0% | Sativa
• Bediol: THC 6.3% | CBD 8% | Sativa
• Bedica: THC 14% | CBD <1.0 | Indica
• Bedrolite: THC <1.0% | CBD 9% | Sativa