In a new study examining the use of nabiximols (also known as Sativex), a spray made from marijuana, “over 80% of assessed patients with severe spasticity at baseline reported a shift into a lower category of spasticity after 12 weeks.”
Published in the journal Therapeutic Advancements in Neurological Disorders, the study was conducted by researchers at the University of Catania (Italy), the Royal Victoria Infirmary (UK), GW Pharmaceuticals (UK and Jazz Pharmaceuticals (Ireland).
“Over 80% of individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience MS-associated spasticity (MSS)”, notes the study. “In many European countries, after failure of first-line treatments, moderate or severe MSS can be treated with nabiximols, a cannabis-based add-on treatment. This post hoc analysis assessed the shift of participants treated with nabiximols from higher (severe or moderate) to lower (moderate or mild/none) spasticity.”
For the study researchers examined data from two randomized controlled trials, and “one large real-world study (consistent with EU label)”. Spasticity severity, measured using the 0-10 numerical rating scale (spasticity NRS), was categorized as none/mild (score <4), moderate (score ⩾4-7), or severe (score ⩾7).
“In the two RCTs, the shift of participants with severe MSS into a lower category was significantly greater at week 12 for those receiving nabiximols versus placebo”, states the study. “In all three studies, over 80% of assessed patients with severe spasticity at baseline reported a shift into a lower category of spasticity after 12 weeks.”
Researchers conclude by stating that “A meaningful proportion of MSS patients treated with nabiximols shifted to a lower category of spasticity severity, typically maintained to the end of the 12-week study period.”
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