Friday, 26 February 2016
MEMBER for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall today welcomed the NSW Government’s announcement of the third medicinal cannabis clinical trial, which will involve patients suffering from chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
The research team, led by Associate Professor Peter Grimison from the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse Centre and the University of Sydney, will work with patients who have not responded well to traditional anti-nausea and vomiting treatments.
Mr Marshall said that the NSW Government is showing incredible progress on medicinal cannabis research to provide relief to those suffering from a range of serious illnesses.
“Unfortunately, we all know someone who has been touched by cancer, either having the disease themselves or watching a loved one battle through this devastating illness,” Mr Marshall said.
“The third clinical trial will play a critical role in helping us better understand what role medical cannabis can play in providing relief to patients undergoing chemotherapy.
“The trial will commence later this year at the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse Centre in Camperdown. It is expected that a number of leading cancer care sites in NSW will join in the trial.
“People over the age of 18 receiving chemotherapy for cancer who have experienced significant symptoms during their first cycle of treatment will be invited to participate in the trial which will use an oral cannabis-derived pharmaceutical product.”
Mr Marshall said that NSW continues to position itself as a world leader in medicinal cannabis research.
“This trial forms part of the NSW Government’s $21 million commitment to supporting medicinal cannabis reforms, with $9 million dedicated to clinical trials and $12 million for our Centre for Medicinal Cannabis Research and Innovation,” he said.
“This is in addition to our other recent announcements including trials for the terminally ill and children suffering from epilepsy.
“Those trials are well underway and patients are expected to commence using medicinal cannabis products shortly.”
For public enquiries about the trial, please phone 1800 217 257.