May 11, 2022 by BioNews Staff Expert Voices: Cannabis use in people with multiple sclerosis In this installment of our āExpert Voicesā series, Multiple Sclerosis News Today asked Thorsten Rudroff, PhD, to answer some of your questions about cannabis use with multiple sclerosis. Rudroff is the director of the Integrative Neurophysiology Laboratory and an associate professor in the Department of Health and Human…
March 23, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Scientists Review State of Cannabis Research in MS Treatment with cannabis-based medications may ease muscle spasms, decrease pain, and aid in sleep for people with multiple sclerosis (MS), but more research is needed to evaluate the potential benefits of cannabis use. That is the finding of a team of U.S. researchers who published a review paper,Ā “…
January 21, 2022 Columns by John Connor The World According to MS Ennui Move along, move along. Nothing to read here. What a great start to a column! Last week, my worries about MS lifted as I was consumed by a glitch in my computer software. Iām pleased to report that Iāve found a whole series of admittedly fiddly workarounds. Iām even…
November 5, 2021 Columns by John Connor On the Healing Powers of THC I have to admit, Iāve wheeled down the THC path a few times before. Yes, I know itās very difficult to stay on the path when under the influence. Luckily, I’ve solved this problem by only imbibing in bed. I say imbibing, because for me, smoking the stuff is…
October 15, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS #ECTRIMS2021 ā Sativex Eases MS Patients’ Spasticity, Spasms in Trials Editorās note: TheĀ Multiple Sclerosis News Today team is providing in-depth coverage of the virtual 37th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), Oct. 13ā15. GoĀ hereĀ to see the latest stories from the conference. Sativex…
October 9, 2020 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Almost Half of US MS Patients Surveyed Report Using Cannabis for Nerve Pain, Sleep In a nationwide survey of cannabis-based therapy use among Americans with multiple sclerosis (MS), almost half of respondents endorsed such products, primarily for nerve-based pain and sleep disturbances, and the perceived benefits for sleep and pain were highly correlated.Ā The reported…
September 23, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Medical Cannabis Lozenges Now Available for MS Patients in Texas People in Texas with multiple sclerosisĀ (MS) and other medical conditions now have access to cannabis-infused lozenges, Surterra TexasĀ announced. Under a Texas Compassionate Use Program, cannabis-containing therapies may be prescribed to help treat various neurological and other disorders, includingĀ terminal cancer, spasticity,…
August 27, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS MMJ International Holdings Manufacturing Cannabis-based Investigational Therapies for MS, Huntington’s MMJ International Holdings, in collaboration with a a specialty pharmaceutical solutions company, has begun manufacturing gelatin capsule medicines based on compounds found in cannabis, The company will investigate these in clinical trials as potential treatments forĀ multiple sclerosisĀ (MS) andĀ Huntingtonās disease. “As MMJ…
August 21, 2020 Columns by John Connor ‘Apocalypse Now’: I Love the Smell of Hashish in the Morning Helicopters were whirling in my brain. Turns out, it was a solitary police one. Though it was another hot night, my wife closed my windows in case of a prowler. I’m on the ground floor, after all. It was a dark moment in my life. Another relapse had struck…
July 10, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD Trial of Cannabis Derivatives in Treating MS Spasticity to Open in Canada The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada and its partner, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), have invested CA$1.5 million to open a clinical trialĀ that will investigate the potential of two cannabis derivatives ā cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) ā in treatingĀ spasticity (muscle stiffness) and other…
May 11, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD MMJ Can Ship Cannabis Products to US for Clinical Testing, Agencies Say MMJ International HoldingsĀ announced that it has been given clearance to ship its cannabis-based products to the U.S. for use in future clinical trials of potential cannabis-based treatment forĀ multiple sclerosis (MS) and Huntingtonās disease. The process was facilitated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement AgencyĀ (DEA), which worked alongside…
March 12, 2020 News by Forest Ray PhD THC:CBD Oral Spray Sativex Provides Consistent Relief for Treatment-resistant MS Spasticity Sativex (nabiximols), a THC:CBD oral spray, consistently relieves the pain and severity of treatment-resistant spasticityĀ in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, according to a recent study. An analysis of theĀ Sativex as Add-on therapy Vs. further optimizedĀ first-line ANTispasticsĀ (SAVANT) study revealed that Sativex, used in…
November 25, 2019 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Immunoadsorption, MS Therapies Approval, Cannabis-based Capsules for Study, Pregnancy and MS Immunoadsorption May Be Superior to Plasma Exchange in Treating Steroid-resistant Relapses in MS Steroids may be an effective treatment for multiple sclerosis relapses, but they have negative side effects. Many people report a metallic taste, while others find it hard to sleep. And long-term use can affect bone…
November 20, 2019 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc MMJ Enters Agreement to Produce Cannabis-based Capsules for Clinical Trials in MS and Huntingtonās MMJ International HoldingsĀ announced that it has entered into an agreement for the production of its proprietary cannabis-based gel capsule ā a product mix of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) ā in compliance with guidelines set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
October 31, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD Medicinal Cannabinoids Not Effective for Mental Disorders, Small Relief on MS Anxiety, Analysis Suggests A joint analysis of 83 studies, involving 3,000 people, concluded that there is “scarce evidence” to say that the use of medicinal cannabinoids ā chemical compounds in the cannabis plant ā is able to improve mental health conditions. However, the use of pharmaceutical tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) may lead to…
August 14, 2019 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD US Agency Asked to OK Cannabinoid Shipments from Canada to Support Studies in MS, MMJ Announces MMJ International Holdings, a pharmaceutical company whose focus is plant-derived cannabis products for therapeutic purposes, has requested permission to ship tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) from Canada to the U.S. to be used in upcoming clinical trials for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and Huntington’s disease. MMJ-001…
August 8, 2019 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD Medical Marijuana Now Available to MS and Other Patients in Louisiana Medical cannabis products, jointly developed by GB Sciences Louisiana (GBSL) and the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center‘s (LSU AgCenter)Ā Therapeutic Cannabis Program, are now available for purchase by qualified patients with illnesses that includeĀ multiple sclerosis (MS) at nine state-licensed pharmacies. The decision, announced by the Louisiana Department…
December 14, 2018 News by Santiago Gisler MS Patients Report Beneficial Effects of Cannabis With Few Side Effects, Survey Shows Many multiple sclerosis (MS) patients report that cannabis has beneficial effects on their symptoms with minimal side effects, according to a survey that also showed that varying effects on health may be due to differences in how users consume cannabis. Findings from the survey were reported in the…
September 4, 2018 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Spasticity Scales May Not Be Sufficiently Informative of Sativex Benefits in MS Patients, Small Study Suggests Spasticity scales may be insufficient to reflect the actual benefits of Sativex (nabiximols) treatment on spasticity symptoms in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a small case series study. The results support the need to conduct a more extensive and functional examination to clarify treatment responses and help…
June 25, 2018 News by Vijaya Iyer, PhD Axim Biotech Given Patent for Method of Making Medical Cannabis Compound Axim BiotechĀ announced that its way of extracting and purifying THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) ā an active compound in medical cannabis ā has been approved to receive a patent. The notice of allowance for patient No.Ā 15/146668Ā came in letter from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Axim said in…
June 13, 2018 News by Patricia Silva, PhD MMJ Bioscience Files Request with FDA to Open Phase 2 Study of Medical Cannabis in Progressive MS MMJ Bioscience, which specializes in medical cannabis products, has filed a request with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to open Phase 2 clinical trials evaluating the companyās THC/CBD pharmaceutical compounds as possible treatments for symptoms ofĀ multiple sclerosis (MS). THC refers to the tetrahydrocannabinol compound, part of the…
June 7, 2018 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc #CMSC2018 ā Pharmacist Discusses Advances, Challenges in Cannabinoids Research to Treat MS Several studies have demonstrated the therapeutic potential of cannabis and its derivate products to manage the symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurodegenerative diseases. But there is still much to be done to enhance their use and accessibility to patients who may benefit from these therapies, according to…
May 22, 2018 News by Diogo Pinto Sativex Can Improve Driving Ability of MS Patients, Study Says Sativex, a cannabis-based anti-spasticity medicine commercialized as oromucosal spray by GW Pharmaceuticals, improves the driving ability of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to researchers. The findings were published in the journal Brain and Behavior, in a study titled āThe influence of THC:CBD oromucosal spray…
February 15, 2018 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Clinicians Who Prescribe Cannabis Should ‘Start Low and Go Slow,’ Study Advises Use of medicinal cannabis may pose risks as it may trigger psychiatric problems, but also because it lacks standardized chemical composition, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. With the legalization of cannabis in some states for medicinal and recreational proposes, additional pressure…
November 21, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD Oral Cannabidiol, PTL101, Meets Goals of Phase 1 Study as Possible Spasticity Treatment Results of aĀ Phase 1 clinical trial in healthy volunteers show thatĀ PTL101, an oral cannabidiol compound, is a safe and effectively delivered potential treatment ofĀ spasticity inĀ multiple sclerosis (MS)Ā and for conditions like epilepsy,Ā Harvest One CannabisĀ announced. These findings were published in the journalĀ Clinical Pharmacology in Drug Development, in the study…
August 17, 2017 Columns by Ed Tobias Is Medical Marijuana Right for My MS? The state where I live has legalized medical marijuana (MMJ) and it’s getting ready to open state-licensed marijuana dispensaries. So, I’ve been thinking about using MMJ to treat some of my MS symptoms. How can MMJ help MS patients? A 2012 study by researchers at the University…
June 20, 2017 News by Patricia Silva, PhD AXIM Obtains More Financing for Its Cannabinoid Therapies for MS and Bowel Diseases AXIM BiotechnologiesĀ has secured an additional $4 million in institutional financing to advance clinical trials of itsĀ cannabinoid therapies forĀ multiple sclerosis (MS) andĀ irritable bowel syndrome. Some of the trials involve a chewing-gum therapy delivery system.Ā The financing will let the company continue developing a patented chewing-gum-delivered therapy for pain andĀ spasticity. AXIM…
February 16, 2017 News by Joana Fernandes, PhD Researchers Test Medical Cannabis as Treatment for MS-Linked Neuropathic Pain Canadian researchers are testing mice to see if cannabinoid oil products ā a common medical marijuana treatment ā could help alleviate the neuropathic painĀ thatĀ often afflictsĀ patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The preclinical study, āIdentifying the molecular mechanisms involved in supressing multiple sclerosis induced neuropathic pain following cannabinoid treatment in…
August 16, 2016 News by Charles Moore Earth Life Sciences Acquiring Maker of Medicinal Cannabis Oil Treatments for MS Earth Life SciencesĀ (ELS), aĀ venture capital and management firm based in Quebec, announced that it is partnering with a cannabis oil-based nutraceutical company, with an agreement in place to acquire that company and establish a new division. The resulting entity will beĀ an organic medical marijuana oils (CBD) producer that willĀ develop products…