Medical cannabis trial for chemo patients

NSW Premier Mike Baird and Minister for Medical Research Pru Goward today announced the third medicinal cannabis clinical trial, which will involve patients with chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

The research team is led by Associate Professor Peter Grimison from the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse and the University of Sydney. The trial will involve patients who have not responded well to traditional anti-nausea and vomiting treatments.

“Medicinal cannabis has the potential to be of incredible benefit to many and our clinical trials will help us provide relief to those suffering from a range of serious illnesses,” Mr Baird said.

“Everyone knows someone who has been affected by cancer and this third trial will assess what role medicinal cannabis can play in controlling nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing chemotherapy,” Mr Baird said.

Ms Goward said this trial comes as part of the NSW Government’s $21 million commitment to support medicinal cannabis reforms.

“Other recent announcements include trials for the terminally ill and children suffering from epilepsy,” Ms Goward said.

“Those trials are well progressed and patients are expected to begin using medicinal cannabis products shortly.”

An oral cannabis-derived capsule will be used in the trial, containing Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD) developed and supplied by Tilray, a Canadian medicinal cannabis company. The trial will commence later this year with patient enrolment expected by mid-2016, once ethics approval is given.

The NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre at the University of Sydney will coordinate the research, which will be conducted in collaboration with cannabis experts from the Lambert Initiative at the University of Sydney. Treatment units in Sydney and rural areas are also likely to be involved.

For public enquiries about the trial, please call 1800 217 257.

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