![]() A sample of those pharmaceutical drugs based on marijuana are listed below with their names, trade names, manufacturers, cannabis-related properties, suggested medical uses, and approval statuses. |
Drugs with chemicals taken directly from the marijuana plant | ||
1. Sativex Manufacturer: GW Pharmaceuticals (GWPH on NASDAQ)
Cannabis-Related Properties Suggested Medical Use Approval Status In the US, Phase III clinical trials started in late 2006 for treatment of pain in cancer patients and were in recruitment in 2013. On Apr. 20, 2011, a US patent was granted for Sativex in cancer pain. As of Apr. 28, 2014, Sativex was still in Phase 3 clinical development to treat pain in cancer patients, and the company expects to see results from the program at the end of 2014. On Apr. 28, 2014, the FDA granted “Fast Track” designation to Sativex for the treatment of pain in patients with advanced cancer. The FDA website says that “Fast track is a process designed to facilitate the development, and expedite the review of drugs to treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need.” GW Pharmaceuticals worked with US licensing partner Otsuka Pharmaceutical to open a Phase III Investigational New Drug application in the United States to treat spasticity due to Multiple Sclerosis on Aug. 14, 2013. On Jan. 8, 2015, GW Pharmaceuticals announced that in the first of three US Phase 3 trials for treatment of pain in patients with advanced cancer, Sativex “did not meet the primary endpoint of demonstrating a statistically significant difference from placebo.” Two additional Phase 3 trials are in progress in 2015. |
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Drugs with synthetic versions of chemicals naturally found in marijuana | ||
2. Dronabinol / Marinol Manufacturer: Unimed Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Solvay Pharmaceuticals
Cannabis-Related Properties Suggested Medical Use Approval Status Approved in Denmark for multiple sclerosis (Sep. 2003). Approved in Canada for AIDS-related anorexia (Apr. 2000) and for nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy (1988). |
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Drugs with chemicals similar to those in marijuana but not found in the plant | ||
3. Nabilone / Cesamet Manufacturer: Valeant Pharmaceuticals International(VRX on NASDAQ) Cannabis-Related Properties Suggested Medical Use Approval Status On May 15, 2006, the FDA approved safety labeling revisions for nabilone (Cesamet 1-mg capsules) to advise of warnings and precautions related to its use, such as its potential to affect the mental state of a patient. On Feb. 22, 2007, Valeant announced the submission of an Investigational New Drug application to test Cesamet as a treatment for chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain. |
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4. Dexanabinol Manufacturer: Solvay Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Abbott Laboratories in 2010; ABT on NASDAQ) Cannabis-Related Properties Suggested Medical Use Approval Status The Phase III clinical trial involving 846 patients was completed in Dec. 2004; Pharmos said the drug failed to show statistically significant improvement in the late-stage clinical trial; A Phase I study to test for the treatment of brain cancer began in Sep. 2012. |
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5. CT-3 (ajulemic acid) Manufacturer: Indevus Pharmaceuticals (IDEV on NASDAQ) Cannabis-Related Properties Suggested Medical Use Approval Status Completed Phase I clinical trials as of July 2002. A Phase II study began in May 2002 in Germany to test its analgesic properties in patients with neuropathic pain. |
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6. Cannabinor (formerly PRS-211,375) Manufacturer: Pharmos (PARS on NASDAQ) Cannabis-Related Properties Suggested Medical Use Approval Status Phase II(a) trials began in the UK in the 2nd quarter of 2006. In Jan. 2007, Pharmos reported that in a Phase 2a experimentally induced pain model, cannabinor failed to meet the primary endpoint of reducing capsaicin-induced pain, but the drug was found to be safe. |
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7. HU 308 Manufacturer: Pharmos (licensed from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem) Cannabis-Related Properties Suggested Medical Use Approval Status Demonstrated efficacy in pre-clinical laboratory studies. |
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8. HU 331 Manufacturer: Cayman Chemical Cannabis-Related Properties Suggested Medical Use Approval Status Demonstrated efficacy in pre-clinical laboratory studies, and has finished pre-clinical toxicology studies. ProCon.org contacted Cayman Chemical by phone on Feb. 15, 2008; According to Cayman Chemical, no current studies were taking place although HU 331 was available for purchase by research institutions. Demonstrated efficacy in pre-clinical laboratory studies. |
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Drugs that do not work like marijuana but use the same brain pathways | ||
9. Rimonabant / Acomplia Manufacturer: Sanofi-Aventis (SNY on NASDAQ)
Cannabis-Related Properties Suggested Medical Use Approval Status In Feb. 2006, the FDA issued an “approvable letter” for Acomplia as a weight loss drug, but also sent a “non-approvable letter” for the drug as a smoking cessation aid. The approvable letter meant that there was a potential for eventual approval, but issues had to be addressed that were not made public. On June 13, 2007, an FDA advisory panel of outside experts unanimously recommended that the regulatory agency not approve the drug for sale in the United States after it was linked with suicidal thoughts. Sanofi-Aventis withdrew its FDA application following the rejection. The drug was approved in June 2006 for use in Europe and marketed in the European Union; approval withdrawn by European Medicines Agency on Jan. 16, 2006 due to potential psychiatric side effects. Sanofi-Aventis then removed from it the market. |
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10. Taranabant / MK-0364 Manufacturer: Merck (MRK on NASDAQ) Cannabis-Related Properties Suggested Medical Use Approval Status Merck started Phase III trials in Jan. 2008 and was expected to submit the drug for FDA approval in 2008. In Oct. 2008, Merck announced that the side effects from taranabant, including depression and anxiety, increased at higher doses, and therefore the company decided to stop development. |