The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 274 No 7355 p786
25 June 2005

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Cannabis spray available on prescription in Canada

Sativex, the oral spray containing a combination of two cannabis extracts, is now available on prescription in Canada for the relief of neuropathic pain in adults with multiple sclerosis.

Sativex has not been granted a licence in the UK. The Medicines Commission has turned down an appeal by GW Pharmaceuticals, the product’s manufacturer, which objected to Committee on Safety of Medicines advice not to grant the product a licence. The CSM was not satisfied with the efficacy of Sativex in the indication sought. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency says that the proposed clinical indications for Sativex in the UK differ from those in Canada and the Canadian regulatory authority system allows for “conditional licensing”, for which there is no current UK equivalent.