United Kingdom: a newborn baby takes part in a CBD clinical trial

A British baby born in March in a Norwich hospital is currently taking part in a clinical trial of a cannabis-derived drug, in what appears to be a world first.

The study is a first step towards the possible prescription of a cannabis-derived medicine to help babies at risk of seizures and brain damage. It will determine whether the drug, composed of CBD and supplied by GW Pharmaceuticals, is safe and effective in reducing brain damage in babies with neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).

His mother, Chelsea Parodi explained was approached after the complicated birth of her son to take part in this study: «I consulted my mother and my brother, who is training to be an ambulance driver. It was difficult, but I wanted to do everything I could to help my baby. Oscar was hospitalized for nine days and monitored 24/7.»

She also declared that her son was «doing very well».

Professor Paul Clarke, a neonatologist at Norwich Hospital, said there was a lot of excitement surrounding the study. «This is the first time a cannabis-derived medicine has been tested intravenously in human babies. We hope it will be good for preventing seizures and protecting the brains of newborns with HIE.»

A second child born in April is also part of the trial. The children were given a standard hypothermia treatment, in which the whole body was cooled to 33.5°C, as well as a single dose of the study drug or placebo, followed by certain tests to measure drug levels in the blood.

The trial, in which the drug is administered intravenously at one-thirtieth of the usual dose, involves other neonatal intensive care units in the UK and elsewhere in Europe. It is expected to last one year.