Clinical Research
Kensana conducts real-world evidence studies to build our understanding of the impact of cannabinoid treatments. Real-world evidence supports medical decision-making and supports treatment efficacy from randomized trials. By building on the de-identified clinical data within our partner organisations, we are able to answer indication-specific questions to provide valuable cohort analyses.
Chronic Pain Cohort Study
Patient outcomes have been recorded to assess the impact of cannabinoid medicines for chronic pain. 84 patients (55 females, 29 males) with a chronic pain condition were assessed for changes in pain and impact of pain on life between baseline and 1-6 months after treatment onset.
Significant reduction in pain scores (equivalent to ~1 point on VAS pain scale)
Significant reduction on impact of pain on life for 5 of 7 assessment areas (general wellbeing, mood, relationship with people, sleep and enjoyment of life). A reduction was also seen (but not significant) for the other assessment areas (walking, work).
No change was recorded for depression, anxiety and stress (DASS21) measures, possibly due to the low baseline scores for this patient cohort.
Of this patient cohort, 23 patients were assessed for changes at three timepoints (baseline, ~4.5 months, and ~8 months after treatment onset). These patients showed a continued reduction in pain scores and impact of pain on life.
An average reduction of 2 points on VAS pain scale were recorded.
Continued reduction on impact of pain on life for all 7 assessment areas (general wellbeing, mood, walking, work, relationship with people, sleep and enjoyment of life).
Opioid Reduction Study
An analysis of patients within the chronic pain cohort study was undertaken on the impact of cannabinoid medicines on their morphine equivalent use. These showed a patient-led change in daily opioid uses, dependant on their opioid starting dose.
60% of patients on “high” opioid doses (more than 90 mg/day) recorded a reduction in doses (average 67 mg/day).
40% of patients on “mid” opioid doses (50-90 mg/day) recorded a reduction in doses (average 34 mg/day).
60% of patients on “low” opioid doses (less than 50 mg/day) recorded a reduction in doses (average 16 mg/day).
Anxiety Cohort Study
Cannabidiol, the most common non-psychoactive cannabinoid within cannabis, has a promising role in the management of anxiety disorders. As with many conditions, the use of real-world evidence to support clinical trials to determine appropriate dosing strategies.
Data is currently being collected.
Epilepsy Cohort Study
A significant portion of patients with epilepsy have been deemed to have treatment-resistant epilepsy. Traditional antiepileptic drugs can fail to bring seizure remission, meanwhile have undesirable side effect profiles. Cannabidiol and other cannabinoids are showing considerable impact on seizure control for an increasing number of epilepsy classifications.
Data is currently being collected.