Cancer - being one of the most deadly diseases in the world, it has been once again put to the spotlight as UK-based GW Pharmaceuticals have recently announced "positive top-line results" from Phase 2 of their clinical study. The researchers said that they have combined tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) in an entourage effect to treat patients with Glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. More than just attacking the brain, Glioblastoma has also been considered as an extremely difficult disease to overcome which most people live about 15 months after radiation therapy and chemotherapy; but that is very likely about to change because of marijuana.
Cannabis Sheds Light In Glioblastoma
According to reports revealed by Inverse, a new treatment incorporating weed's active compounds has allegedly been shown to generate incredibly successful results. GW Pharmaceuticals has explained that THC and CBD are different types of cannabinoids, which is the psychoactive chemical that is found in cannabis. In conducting their study, researchers have found that those people who were treated with THC and CBD along with temozolomide, which is a chemotherapy drug had an 83 percent one-year survival rate.
Furthermore, in one of his statements revealed by Weedhorn, principal investigator and Professor of Oncology, Susan Short, Ph.D., has claimed that the cannabinoid medicine was generally well tolerated. It was also found that those in the cannabis-treated group also lived well beyond 18 months on average compared to the placebo group who averaged living only 12 months. She adds that these promising results are of particular interest as the pharmacology of the THC:CBD products which, in turn, appears to be distinct from existing oncology medications and may offer a unique and possibly synergistic option for future glioma treatment.
GW Pharmaceuticals On The Use Of Marijuana
Meanwhile, in an announcement made by Justin Gover, GW's CEO, he said that the results reinforce the potential role of cannabinoids in the field of oncology and has claimed that it could potentially serve as a catalyst for the acceleration of GW's oncology research interests over the coming months. Ultimately, the US Food and Drug Administration said that they have already assigned an 'Orphan Drug Designation', which is said to be a status assigned to certain drugs that are intended to be effective treatments for specific conditions that also come with tax reductions. However, as of the press time, the FDA has not approved cannabis for use in treating cancer despite the American Cancer Society and cancer.gov reporting small studies has shown cannabis can cause the death of certain types of cancer.
