Khaberni - Researchers stated that an experimental drug extracted from cannabis was safer and more effective in relieving chronic lower back pain compared to other treatments.
In separate reports about the two trials, the treatment with the drug (FIR-01), derived from the cannabis plant and developed by Vertanical, based in Munich, also led to improved sleep disturbances related to pain and enhanced the physical performance and quality of life of the patients.
Dr. Charles Argoff from the Albany Medical College in New York, who contributed to one of the reports, said in a statement, "FIR-01 may change the way we care for patients suffering from chronic lower back pain."
Argoff, who is the former president of the American Academy of Pain Medicine, added, "The results of the phase three studies give hope to millions of people suffering from chronic pain. FIR-01, if approved, could relieve pain effectively while avoiding the major safety challenges of current treatments."
In one of the randomized trials conducted on 820 patients suffering from chronic lower back pain, an improvement with the use of FIR-01 compared to placebo treatment was noted after 12 weeks, and this improvement continued over 12 months of treatment.
The researchers reported in the journal "Nature Medicine" that the group which took FIR-01 reported that their pain was reduced by about three points on a 10-point scale on average.
The researchers added that the group also spoke about a much greater improvement in sleep quality and biological functions compared to the group that received placebo treatments.
A second phase three study, published in the journal "Pain & Therapy", compared the cannabis-derived drug with opioids in 384 patients suffering from chronic lower back pain.
The patients who took FIR-01 talked about a superior ability to reduce pain, lighter constipation, less use of laxatives, and better sleep compared to the patients who were taking opioids.
The researchers noted that the pain reduction with FIR-01 was evident in both trials, especially among patients suffering from severe pain or pain stemming from nerve issues.
