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Sapphire Medical Clinics presents new data at the International Cannabinoid Research Society Symposium on the Cannabinoids (ICRS2021)

Published: 21/06/2021

Key data presented at ICRS2021

  • An Update of the General Clinical Outcome Measures across Patient Groups in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry
  • Exploring Quality of Life Outcomes of Chronic Pain Patients from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry
  • UK Medical Cannabis Registry: An analysis of Clinical Outcomes of Medicinal Cannabis Therapy for Anxiety
  • Analysis of Palliative Care Patients from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry: Initial Experience and Outcomes

Sapphire Medical Clinics (“Sapphire Medical”), a multi-award-winning medical cannabis clinic, will present six abstracts focused on the latest research on cannabinoids based on data from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry (the “Registry”) during the 31st Annual International Cannabinoid Research Society Symposium on the Cannabinoids (“ICRS2021”), which commences Monday 21 June 2021.

During ICRS2021, Sapphire Medical will present data from patients treated with medical cannabis. Across all patients, findings are reported in health-related quality of life as well as within specific conditions such as pain, anxiety and palliative care. Analysis was performed on consistently captured data from the Registry during routine clinical care at Sapphire Medical Clinics with medical cannabis.

The analysis of patient-reported outcome measures following treatment with cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) in a study covering patients with all conditions found statistically significant improvements in anxiety, sleep, and general quality of life at one, three and six months following treatment, compared to baseline assessment.

An Update of the General Clinical Outcome Measures across patient groups in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry
The study analysed clinical outcomes of the first 312 patients enrolled in the Registry and found that CBMPs were well tolerated with an adverse event incidence of 39 per 100 patients which compares favourably to opioid painkillers such as morphine or codeine.

Exploring Quality of Life Outcomes of Chronic Pain Patients from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry
Focused analysis of 190 patients with chronic pain demonstrated improved measures of pain severity and interference at one, three and six months. This suggests a disease specific improvement in health-related quality of life in the studied population. This is supported by pre-clinical research demonstrating the action of cannabinoids, which are the major constituent chemicals in the cannabis plant, on human pain receptors. In addition, these patients also reported improvement in sleep, anxiety levels and general quality of life.

UK Medical Cannabis Registry: An analysis of Clinical Outcomes of Medicinal Cannabis Therapy for Anxiety
The effects of medical cannabis are much reported yet there has been a paucity of randomised controlled trials in anxiety disorders. A focused analysis of patients from the Registry with generalised anxiety disorder helps supplement the burgeoning evidence of the effects of medical cannabis in anxiety. A significant reduction in reported anxiety was seen at one, three and six months compared to assessment prior to initiation of medical cannabis therapy. These patients also reported improved sleep and general quality of life.

Analysis of Palliative Care Patients from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry: Initial Experience and Outcomes
The final exploratory analysis of palliative care patients confirmed safety in administering CBMPs in this cohort and a disease specific analysis can now take place using these data to guide the parameters of a larger study.

The data presented builds on the first international peer reviewed analysis of the first UK medical cannabis patients published last month in Neuropsychopharmacology Reports. Analysis now includes medium-term safety data on CBMPs determining a low incidence of adverse effects in the short and medium-term across all patients, including those with anxiety and chronic pain.

Dr Simon Erridge, Head of Research and Access at Sapphire Medical Clinics, commented: “Randomised controlled trials are still required in the use of CBMPs as treatment to assess clinical benefit but our contribution to the evidence base via Real World Evidence is crucial in bridging the gap between research and access. As UK’s first Care Quality Commission (CQC) and Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) registered medical cannabis clinic, we are dedicated to improving appropriate medical cannabis access for patients by building essential evidence.”

Patient Laura Drummond is prescribed medical cannabis for a persistent pain condition fibromyalgia. Laura commented on being part of the Registry: “I’ve been a medical cannabis patient at Sapphire Medical Clinics for over a year now and love the idea of contributing to the Registry and growing evidence which no doubt will help many others in the future.”

Real World Evidence is acknowledged to form an important part in the evaluation of new medicines and Sapphire Medical is at the forefront of the global development of these data with the establishment of the UK Medical Cannabis Registry which is a comprehensive, prospective registry, open to all UK patients, and designed to collate outcomes on medical cannabis prescribing. The Registry records patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs), clinical effectiveness measures, and adverse event (side effect) datasets which are remotely administered to patients through an online web‐based platform at specified intervals. The aim of the Registry is to expand Sapphire Medical’s understanding of Medical Cannabis in the UK by collecting and analysing clinical data. This forms part of Sapphire’s Real-World Evidence platform which now includes over 2,500 patients.

Footnotes:

In February 2023, Sapphire Medical Clinics were informed that Health Improvement Scotland would no longer regulate virtual healthcare services who have their headquarters outside of Scotland. Sapphire Medical Clinics still retains an address at One Allan Park, Stirling and continues to be regulated by the Care Quality Commission.

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