Cannabis treatment for epilepsy will be a reality in 5 years
Two clinical trials are being conducted with new cannabis-derived drugs to treat patients with epilepsy at the Epilepsy Unit of Vall d'Hebron Hospital in Barcelona.
The trials are being conducted on children and adults with epilepsy resistant to current drugs and should be ready within the next five years.
Manuel Toledo, a researcher at the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) and member of the Epilepsy Unit, explained the current status of the trials:
- One of the trials is in phase III where the efficacy and safety of the treatment is being evaluated, and it is expected that the drug to treat epilepsy in children will be on the market in one or two years.
- The other clinical trial is in Phase II, providing preliminary information on the drug's efficacy and dose-response relationship. This trial is expected to lead to commercialization in about four to five years and is intended for adult patients with epilepsy.
Toledo explains that the medications tested in the trials were made with specific components of cannabis cultivated by a pharmaceutical company in the UK specifically for this purpose. These cannabinoids are produced under highly controlled conditions and using non-standard pesticides to prevent toxicity.
Toledo states that: “If we achieve good results, these medications will be an interesting therapeutic alternative and a step towards improvement for epilepsy patients.”.
And remember that there are currently about 20 medications to control epileptic seizures, and this number will increase with cannabis derivatives.
It should be noted that in recent years the Epilepsy Unit of Vall d'Hebron has participated in several clinical trials with various drugs for the treatment of epilepsy and is a leader internationally in patient recruitment.
Fountain: Redaccionmedica.com