Studies show that cannabis reduces cancer pain. Picture Getty
Weed Week: New studies confirm cannabis alleviates cancer pain, cuts need for opioids, and improves sleep
Health & Biotech
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- Studies confirm that cannabis relieves pain in cancer patients
- In addition, cannabis also improves sleep and cognitive function in cancer patients
- We take a look at the biggest movers in ASX weed stocks over the past week
It’s now official.
Two new studies have further confirmed that medical cannabis helps relieve cancer pain, or side effects from cancer treatment.
One study, published in the journal MJ Supportive & Palliative Care, involved 358 adult cancer patients enrolled in a cannabis trial at the Quebec Medical College.
The patients were being treated for a variety of different cancers – with the primary complaint being pain (72%), and others experiencing various symptoms such as nausea, anorexia, weight loss, anxiety and insomnia.
The participants were assigned into three groups – high THC dosage, high CBD dosage, and a balanced blend of THC and CBD.
The cannabis was ingested orally, through inhalation or a combination of the two. Patients were monitored and assessed every three months for a full year.
The results found that pain levels for all three groups dropped significantly after 3, 6 and 9 months, but slightly worsening after 12 months.
Results also showed that patients in the balanced THC-CBD group reported the most pain relief, with many able to reduce their use of opioids.
Better sleep and brain function
A second study, conducted by researchers at University of Colorado Boulder, involved 25 cancer patients being treated by oncologists at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus.
In this study, patients’ pain levels were assessed at the start of the study; and they were asked to select from a cannabis dispensary full of random chocolates, gummies, tinctures and baked goods containing different ratios of THC and CBD.
After just two weeks of regular use, patients reported less pain, better sleep, and were able to think more clearly.
The study found that patients who used edibles rich in THC got high initially, and their cognition decreased. But after a few more days of consumption, they reported less pain, better sleep and cognitive function.
Meanwhile, patients who ingested edibles high in CBD reported bigger improvements in sleep quality and pain intensity than those ingesting high-THC.
To ASX Weed Stocks ….
Let’s take a look at ASX weed stocks, sorted by winners over the past week.
| Code | Company | Price | % Year | % Six Month | % Month | % Week | Market Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVE | Avecho Biotech Ltd | 0.55 | -67.65 | -38.89 | -8.33 | 37.50 | $10,108,281.39 |
| VIT | Vitura Health Ltd | 36.00 | 26.32 | -59.55 | 1.41 | 22.03 | $211,482,186.98 |
| IDT | IDT Australia Ltd | 9.10 | -35.00 | -9.00 | 33.82 | 19.74 | $22,151,747.53 |
| HGV | Hygrovest Limited | 6.00 | -1.64 | -14.29 | -9.09 | 17.65 | $13,797,239.10 |
| ZLD | Zelira Therapeutics | 100.00 | -34.21 | -14.53 | 3.63 | 6.95 | $10,779,797.25 |
| BOD | BOD Science Ltd | 6.40 | -56.76 | -32.63 | 4.92 | 6.67 | $9,799,775.55 |
| LGP | Little Green Pharma | 17.50 | -56.25 | -16.67 | -5.41 | 6.06 | $52,302,220.08 |
| NTI | Neurotech Intl | 5.40 | 8.00 | -37.93 | -5.26 | 5.88 | $47,191,112.03 |
| CAN | Cann Group Ltd | 16.00 | -55.56 | -31.18 | 10.34 | 3.23 | $64,043,902.73 |
| BOT | Botanix Pharma Ltd | 8.40 | 9.09 | 33.33 | -16.00 | 2.44 | $109,671,907.97 |
| CTV | Colortv Limited | 0.80 | -68.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | $1,236,985.07 |
| WOA | Wide Open Agricultur | 32.50 | -52.21 | 12.07 | 80.56 | 0.00 | $42,016,576.23 |
| RGI | Roto-Gro Intl Ltd | 22.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1900.00 | 0.00 | $4,333,920.14 |
| IRX | Inhalerx Limited | 4.50 | -51.61 | -23.73 | -10.00 | 0.00 | $8,539,513.07 |
| CPH | Creso Pharma Ltd | 1.00 | -82.76 | -65.52 | 0.00 | 0.00 | $21,370,406.95 |
| MXC | Mgc Pharmaceuticals | 0.80 | -65.22 | -38.46 | -20.00 | 0.00 | $25,588,151.28 |
| AC8 | Auscann Grp Hlgs Ltd | 4.00 | -38.46 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | $17,621,884.40 |
| DTZ | Dotz Nano Ltd | 20.00 | -41.18 | -31.03 | -9.09 | 0.00 | $101,503,372.08 |
| MDC | Medlab Clinical Ltd | 660.00 | -58.10 | -34.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | $15,071,113.20 |
| EVE | EVE Health Group Ltd | 0.10 | 20.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | $5,274,482.66 |
| CGB | Cann Global Limited | 2.10 | -25.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | $5,436,344.70 |
| RNO | Rhinomed Ltd | 8.00 | -62.79 | -33.33 | -11.11 | -1.23 | $22,857,575.52 |
| WNX | Wellnex Life Ltd | 6.35 | -36.50 | -18.59 | -5.22 | -2.31 | $26,064,308.97 |
| ALA | Arovella Therapeutic | 7.70 | 108.11 | 201.96 | 60.42 | -2.53 | $58,254,162.81 |
| EOF | Ecofibre Limited | 18.00 | -55.56 | -21.74 | 0.00 | -2.70 | $64,604,691.94 |
| IHL | Incannex Healthcare | 11.00 | -71.05 | -56.00 | -18.52 | -4.35 | $166,636,087.49 |
| ECS | ECS Botanics Holding | 1.90 | -24.00 | -20.83 | 0.00 | -5.00 | $21,027,882.67 |
| EXL | Elixinol Wellness | 1.90 | -56.82 | -34.48 | -20.83 | -5.00 | $7,504,183.51 |
| AGH | Althea Group | 5.20 | -62.86 | -24.64 | 10.64 | -7.14 | $19,076,259.35 |
| EMD | Emyria Limited | 15.50 | -47.46 | -22.50 | -18.42 | -8.82 | $45,210,810.29 |
| WFL | Wellfully Limited | 0.90 | -88.89 | -58.14 | -40.00 | -10.00 | $4,436,497.24 |
| EPN | Epsilon Healthcare | 1.70 | -48.48 | -48.48 | -17.07 | -10.53 | $5,106,018.19 |
| LV1 | Live Verdure Ltd | 14.50 | -35.56 | -3.33 | 0.00 | -14.71 | $12,290,063.12 |
| TSN | The Sust Nutri Grp | 1.30 | -91.88 | -90.71 | -23.53 | -18.75 | $1,829,917.70 |
| SCU | Stemcell United Ltd | 0.40 | -69.62 | -69.62 | -20.00 | -20.00 | $5,138,919.12 |
| ROO | Roots Sustainable | 0.60 | -90.91 | -75.00 | -57.14 | -33.33 | $773,540.21 |
Avecho surged after telling the market that its pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial is ready to commence.
The study will be the largest of its kind in Australia, to test Avecho’s proprietary CBD soft-gel capsule for the treatment of insomnia.
Avecho also said it was expanding the study to key commercial and research partnerships with up to seven clinical trials in 2023, including internationally recognised work currently underway with the Lambert Initiative.
Vitura rose after announcing that Canadian-based PharmAla Biotech (CSE:MDMA) and itself have established a 50:50 joint venture, called Cortexa, which aims to become the leading supplier of psychedelics for research and therapeutic use in Australia.
This comes after the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) announced that as from 1 July, it will permit the prescribing of MDMA for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, and psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression.
The JV is expected to generate revenues from the outset, with all sale orders for MDMA and psilocybin by PharmAla for supply into Australia being transferred to Cortexa.
In Q3, IDT has delivered another set of improved sales results as it executes on its turnaround strategy.
Sales in the quarter jumped 26% on pcp to $2.1m, and were up +168% from Q1.
The company’s Specialty Orals Division is driving most of the increase, due to growth in medicinal cannabis and the opening of the psychedelics market.
The company says regulatory changes in FY24 is expected to provide additional tailwind for the Specialty Orals division.
For the quarter, LGP saw continued strong growth in flower sales in Australia, while making its first shipments to leading German distributors from its Danish facility.
The company’s quarterly cash receipts were $6.7 million, and unaudited revenue was around $20 million for the full financial year.
During the quarter, LGP forged a strategic psychedelics partnership with Australian health insurance fund, HIF.
Cash in bank at quarter end was $12.4 million, prior to the Canopy loan repayment.
NTI has just announced the completion of patient recruitment for the Phase I/II clinical trial of NTI164.
The trial is studying the effect of the drug on children diagnosed with Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS), and Paediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS).
A total of 15 paediatric patients have now commenced treatment with NTI164.
Neurotech anticipates the top-line results of the NTIPANS1 trial will be available in Q3 of this year.
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