Multiple sclerosis patients in the UK will soon be able to obtain an unlicensed, cannabis-based pain-relief medicine on prescription.
The Home Office has allowed the drug Sativex, produced under licence in Canada, to be imported for specific patients in exceptional cases. For patients to be treated on the NHS, local health trusts would have to agree to fund the 4-a-day treatment.
Sativex comes in the form of an oral spray and contains tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol, two substances also present in cannabis. It is made by GW Pharmaceuticals, which has been seeking a UK-licence for the drug since 2003. A recent study showed that patients who had use Sativex felt less pain and slept better than those given a placebo.
Mike ODonovan, chief executive of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, said: "This is a move in the right direction. Many people do not find available treatments effective and will now have the opportunity to try a new drug, which could significantly improve their quality of life. We hope very much it will not be long before it is licenced for NHS prescription."
Posted: 15th November 2005
