After announcing their plans to carry out the largest medical Cannabis trial in Europe, Drug Science has now released the details on how to apply. The trial will be open for patients across the UK who suffer from a range of conditions and illnesses.
Drug Science is aiming to recruit 20,000 patients by the end of 2021, in order to demonstrate the medical potential of the Cannabis plant and it’s compounds. Once completed, the study will be the largest body of evidence currently available in Europe.
The research will span a number of conditions and illnesses that are common across the UK and the rest of the world. Patients with one or more of these conditions may apply to take part in Project TWENTY21:
- Anxiety Disorder
- Chronic Pain
- Epilepsy
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Substance Use Disorder (as a harm reduction strategy)
- Tourette’s Syndrome
Researchers hope that the findings will demonstrate the effectiveness and tolerability of Cannabis medicines, for a range of conditions. They will also aim to support prescribers across the UK to feel more confident about prescribing medical Cannabis.
Medical Cannabis was legalised in the UK over a year ago but has seen few prescriptions. This is due to both a lack of funding and deficient availability of UK-sourced evidence. It is hoped that the medical Cannabis trial will succeed in filling this gap in supportive evidence.
Drug Science said of their medical Cannabis trial:
“Project TWENTY21 will enrol 20,000 patients by the end of 2021 … with an aim to demonstrate to policymakers that medical cannabis should be as widely available, and affordable, as other approved medicines for patients who would benefit from them.”
Patients will be selected based on whether they suffer from one or more of the mentioned conditions. The study will initially be targeting patients for whom alternative treatments have failed. Positive outcomes of the study would, as a result, make a powerful case for NHS funding of medical Cannabis, in the future.
Treatment for Project TWENTY21 will be provided from a network of specialist clinics across the UK. Visit the Drug Science website to learn more about how to apply.
