Member Article

LVL Health takes first steps to making cannabis-based medicines available on the NHS

Leading medical cannabis access clinic, LVL Health has launched the UK’s first regulatory approved clinical study using cannabis flower in pre-filled tamper proof cartridges for the treatment of chronic pain for its patients. The study is designed to provide robust data which could lead to the NHS paying for cannabis medication for pain.

LVL Health is taking a pharmaceutical approach that will see it provide one scientifically evaluated cannabis formulation, one dose and one delivery route and only concentrate on treating one disease, being chronic pain.

Chronic pain can have a significant impact on quality of life and there are currently up to 28 million people in the UK living with some form of chronic pain. This number is likely to increase further in line with an ageing population and increase in diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.

While users of cannabis-based medicines have been vocal about its impact in treating chronic pain, especially as an alternative to opioids, there are very few prescriptions on the NHS and patients must instead look to private clinic prescriptions to access treatment. For The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to change its guidelines on the prescription of medical cannabis, robust data from definitive studies is needed. The study will play an important step in accelerating patient access and bridging the evidence gap.

Tony Samios, Managing Director of LVL Health says: “Regulatory bodies such as NICE (National Institute for Care & Excellence) have asked for more scientific data to support the benefits of medical cannabis. We are looking to deliver exactly what has been asked for in this regard.

LVL Health are thrilled to be at the forefront of such an important step that could provide the reliable data and evidence needed to enable medical cannabis access on the NHS for chronic pain patients.

Cannabis-based medical prescriptions on the NHS is a long-term goal, and only through the provision of this kind of data can we hope to move the dial in cannabis prescriptions and make a real impact to the health of patients.“

Dr Sorooshian, who will be running the study at LVL Health says: “This study has great potential to bridge the gap between evidence and progressive change and I am very excited to be part of this.”

LVL Health is supported by partners who are pioneers in the cannabis industry, including Aurora Cannabis Inc., a global leader in medical cannabis, dedicated to helping people improve their health, wellness and lives. Aurora has a deep history of clinical research and a strong focus on producing the highest quality cannabis-based medicines; Grow Pharma – a UK leading supplier of medical cannabis and RYAH Group, Inc, an innovative device and digital care technology company supplying a safe and easy to use inhalation device that will be used to administer the cannabis-based medicine. The device will be connected to a mobile application to capture the data and upload patient health in real time.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Lucie Hayes .