Iacm-Bulletin Of 4 July 2010

[peanutbutter]

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IACM-Bulletin of 4 July 2010

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* UK: Sativex now available in pharmacies

 

1.

 

UK: Sativex now available in pharmacies

 

According to a press release by GW Pharmaceuticals the

cannabis extract Sativex is now available in the UK. It is a liquid

whole plant extract sprayed into the mouth and used for the

treatment of spasticity due to multiple sclerosis. Each spray is

containing 2.7 mg THC (dronabinol) and 2.5 mg CBD

(cannabidiol). Sativex is manufactured by GW at an undisclosed

location in the UK. The medicine is being marketed in the UK

by Bayer Schering Pharma. According to a press release by

Bayer the price for a 10 ml vial is 125 British Pounds (about

150 Euros, about 185 US Dollars).

 

Each vial of Sativex contains approximately 51 sprays, which

means that a vial contains about 138 mg THC. One milligram of

THC would costs about 1.10 Euros (about 1.35 US Dollars).

The price of Marinol (THC) in the USA depends on package

size and is about 2.20 US Dollars per mg (1.80 Euros). The

price of THC (dronabinol) in Germany is about 0.80 Euros per

mg. The price of 1 gram of cannabis extract of the German

company THC Pharm with 400 mg THC, made available to

patients with an exemption to use cannabis in Germany is 100

Euros, making 1 mg costing 0.25 Euros. The price of THC in

the cannabis variety Bedrocan (19 per cent THC, 9 Euros per

gram) sold in Dutch pharmacies is about 0.05 Euros/mg.

 

More at:

- http://www.gwpharm.com

- http://www.gwpharm.com/uploads/sativexconsrelease16.6.10.pdf

 

(Sources: Press release by GW Pharmaceuticals of 21 June

2010, press release by Bayer Schering Pharma of 21 June

2010, personal communications and internet sources).

 

2.

 

News in brief

 

***World: Cannabis use

According to the world report on drugs by the United Nations

Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) cannabis remains the

world's most widely produced and used illicit substance: it is

grown in almost all countries of the world, and is smoked by

130-190 million people at least once a year. Afghanistan is now

the world's leading producer of cannabis resin (as well as

opium). (Source: Press release by UNODC of 23 June 2010)

 

***Economy/UK: GW Pharmaceuticals

The British company GW Pharmaceuticals and the Japanese

company Otsuka Pharmaceutical have signed a three year

extension to their global cannabinoid research collaboration. This

collaboration was originally signed in July 2007 with a three year

term, and the collaboration will now extend to the end of June

2013. Under the research collaboration agreement, GW and

Otsuka Pharmaceutical research a range of GW cannabinoids as

potential new drug candidates in the field of Central Nervous

System (CNS) disorders and oncology. (Source: Press release

by GW Pharmaceuticals of 30 June 2010)

 

***Science: Nerve cell formation

According to animal research with mice by scientists from

Germany, Switzerland and Mexico CBD (cannabidiol) increases

the formation of new nerve cells in adults, while THC had no

effect. (Source: Wolf SA, et al. Cell Commun Signal

2010;8(1):12.)

 

***Science: Odour

According to results of a working group of German and Italian

scientists the endocannabinoid 2-AG is involved in the sensitivity

to odour in frogs (Xenopus laevis). Hunger renders nerve cells

responsible for odour more sensitive. (Source: Breunig E, et al. J

Neurosci 2010;30(26):8965-73.)

 

***Science: Transplantation

Scientists from the University of South Carolina in Columbia,

USA, suggest that cannabinoids may be useful to prevent

transplant rejection. They note that the "psychotropic properties

of CB1 agonists limit their clinical use, but CB2 agonists may

offer a new avenue to selectively target immune cells involved in

allograft rejection." (Source: Nagarkatti M, et al. Trends

Pharmacol Sci. 2010 Jun 28. [in press])

 

***Science: Inflammation

According to research at the University of Aberdeen, UK, the

plant cannabinoid THCV (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabivarin)

reduced signs of inflammation in a mouse model of inflammation

and pain. This effect was partly mediated by cannabinoid

receptors. (Source: Bolognini D, et al. Br J Pharmacol

2010;160(3):677-87.)

 

***Science: Colitis

According to research of the University of Hertfordshire, UK,

with a rat model of colitis both THC and CBD proved to be

beneficial. These beneficial effects of both cannabinoids were

additive. (Source: Jamontt JM, et al. Br J Pharmacol

2010;160(3):712-23.)

 

***Science: Natural inhibitor of FAAH

Scientists at the University of Umea, Sweden, investigated the

ability of flavonoids to inhibit FAAH (fatty acid amide

hydrolase), the enzyme that degrades the endocannabinoid

anandamide. Of the compounds tested, biochanin A was

adjudged to be the most promising. This flavonoid is highly

present in clover (Trifolium pratense). (Source: Thors L, et al. Br

J Pharmacol 2010;160(3):549-60.)

 

***Science: Risk of death

Australian researchers reviewed the literature on the question

whether cannabis use increases the risk of death. They

concluded that there is "insufficient evidence, particularly

because of the low number of studies, to assess whether the all-

cause mortality rate is elevated among cannabis users in the

general population." (Source: Calabria B, et al. Drug Alcohol

Rev 2010;29(3):318-30.)

 

***Science: Sepsis

The effects of CBD (cannabidiol) in a rat model of sepsis were

investigated by a Brazilian working group. CBD reduced

mortality by decreasing oxidative stress in peripheral organs such

as liver and kidneys and in the brain. (Source: Cassol-Jr OJ, et

al. Brain Res 2010 Jun 15. [in press])

 

International Association for Cannabinoid Medicines (IACM)

Am Mildenweg 6

D-59602 Ruethen

Germany

Phone: +49 (0)2952-9708571

Fax: +49 (0)2952-902651

Email: info@cannabis-med.org

http://www.cannabis-med.org

[lkline300]

good stuff, thanx.....................

[bobandtorey]

--------------------------------------------------------

IACM-Bulletin of 4 July 2010

--------------------------------------------------------

 

* UK: Sativex now available in pharmacies

 

1.

 

UK: Sativex now available in pharmacies

 

According to a press release by GW Pharmaceuticals the

cannabis extract Sativex is now available in the UK. It is a liquid

whole plant extract sprayed into the mouth and used for the

treatment of spasticity due to multiple sclerosis. Each spray is

containing 2.7 mg THC (dronabinol) and 2.5 mg CBD

(cannabidiol). Sativex is manufactured by GW at an undisclosed

location in the UK. The medicine is being marketed in the UK

by Bayer Schering Pharma. According to a press release by

Bayer the price for a 10 ml vial is 125 British Pounds (about

150 Euros, about 185 US Dollars).

 

Each vial of Sativex contains approximately 51 sprays, which

means that a vial contains about 138 mg THC. One milligram of

THC would costs about 1.10 Euros (about 1.35 US Dollars).

The price of Marinol (THC) in the USA depends on package

size and is about 2.20 US Dollars per mg (1.80 Euros). The

price of THC (dronabinol) in Germany is about 0.80 Euros per

mg. The price of 1 gram of cannabis extract of the German

company THC Pharm with 400 mg THC, made available to

patients with an exemption to use cannabis in Germany is 100

Euros, making 1 mg costing 0.25 Euros. The price of THC in

the cannabis variety Bedrocan (19 per cent THC, 9 Euros per

gram) sold in Dutch pharmacies is about 0.05 Euros/mg.

 

More at:

- http://www.gwpharm.com

- http://www.gwpharm.c...ease16.6.10.pdf

 

(Sources: Press release by GW Pharmaceuticals of 21 June

2010, press release by Bayer Schering Pharma of 21 June

2010, personal communications and internet sources).

 

2.

 

News in brief

 

***World: Cannabis use

According to the world report on drugs by the United Nations

Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) cannabis remains the

world's most widely produced and used illicit substance: it is

grown in almost all countries of the world, and is smoked by

130-190 million people at least once a year. Afghanistan is now

the world's leading producer of cannabis resin (as well as

opium). (Source: Press release by UNODC of 23 June 2010)

 

***Economy/UK: GW Pharmaceuticals

The British company GW Pharmaceuticals and the Japanese

company Otsuka Pharmaceutical have signed a three year

extension to their global cannabinoid research collaboration. This

collaboration was originally signed in July 2007 with a three year

term, and the collaboration will now extend to the end of June

2013. Under the research collaboration agreement, GW and

Otsuka Pharmaceutical research a range of GW cannabinoids as

potential new drug candidates in the field of Central Nervous

System (CNS) disorders and oncology. (Source: Press release

by GW Pharmaceuticals of 30 June 2010)

 

***Science: Nerve cell formation

According to animal research with mice by scientists from

Germany, Switzerland and Mexico CBD (cannabidiol) increases

the formation of new nerve cells in adults, while THC had no

effect. (Source: Wolf SA, et al. Cell Commun Signal

2010;8(1):12.)

 

***Science: Odour

According to results of a working group of German and Italian

scientists the endocannabinoid 2-AG is involved in the sensitivity

to odour in frogs (Xenopus laevis). Hunger renders nerve cells

responsible for odour more sensitive. (Source: Breunig E, et al. J

Neurosci 2010;30(26):8965-73.)

 

***Science: Transplantation

Scientists from the University of South Carolina in Columbia,

USA, suggest that cannabinoids may be useful to prevent

transplant rejection. They note that the "psychotropic properties

of CB1 agonists limit their clinical use, but CB2 agonists may

offer a new avenue to selectively target immune cells involved in

allograft rejection." (Source: Nagarkatti M, et al. Trends

Pharmacol Sci. 2010 Jun 28. [in press])

 

***Science: Inflammation

According to research at the University of Aberdeen, UK, the

plant cannabinoid THCV (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabivarin)

reduced signs of inflammation in a mouse model of inflammation

and pain. This effect was partly mediated by cannabinoid

receptors. (Source: Bolognini D, et al. Br J Pharmacol

2010;160(3):677-87.)

 

***Science: Colitis

According to research of the University of Hertfordshire, UK,

with a rat model of colitis both THC and CBD proved to be

beneficial. These beneficial effects of both cannabinoids were

additive. (Source: Jamontt JM, et al. Br J Pharmacol

2010;160(3):712-23.)

 

***Science: Natural inhibitor of FAAH

Scientists at the University of Umea, Sweden, investigated the

ability of flavonoids to inhibit FAAH (fatty acid amide

hydrolase), the enzyme that degrades the endocannabinoid

anandamide. Of the compounds tested, biochanin A was

adjudged to be the most promising. This flavonoid is highly

present in clover (Trifolium pratense). (Source: Thors L, et al. Br

J Pharmacol 2010;160(3):549-60.)

 

***Science: Risk of death

Australian researchers reviewed the literature on the question

whether cannabis use increases the risk of death. They

concluded that there is "insufficient evidence, particularly

because of the low number of studies, to assess whether the all-

cause mortality rate is elevated among cannabis users in the

general population." (Source: Calabria B, et al. Drug Alcohol

Rev 2010;29(3):318-30.)

 

***Science: Sepsis

The effects of CBD (cannabidiol) in a rat model of sepsis were

investigated by a Brazilian working group. CBD reduced

mortality by decreasing oxidative stress in peripheral organs such

as liver and kidneys and in the brain. (Source: Cassol-Jr OJ, et

al. Brain Res 2010 Jun 15. [in press])

 

International Association for Cannabinoid Medicines (IACM)

Am Mildenweg 6

D-59602 Ruethen

Germany

Phone: +49 (0)2952-9708571

Fax: +49 (0)2952-902651

Email: info@cannabis-med.org

http://www.cannabis-med.org

 

thanks do you think are MDCH can use this for us in are state:goodjob: and then you can start makeing it for the state