Clinical Study On Diabetic Nerve Pain And Cannabis

Diabetic nerve pain patients in Pennsylvania registered for the state’s medical cannabis program have been invited to join a study.

Diabetic neuropathy is a form of nerve damage that can occur in diabetes patients. The condition can range from  numbness or tingling in the extremities, or a burning, sharp, or aching pain. An estimated 47% of patients with diabetes in the USA have some form of peripheral neuropathy.

Clinical research organization Affinity Bio Partners last week announced it had launched a clinical study in Pennsylvania for registered medical cannabis patients suffering from diabetic nerve pain. However, Affinity Bio Partners didn’t offer anything in the way of detail in its announcement as to what the study involves specifically. Serena Group was also mentioned as being involved in the study, but no luck there either in terms of additional details at this point in time.

All that is provided is a phone number – 724-859-6200 – and email address – research.pgh@serenagroups.com “to check enrollment eligibility at no cost.”

“I am so excited to be working on this clinical study with Dr. Bryan Doner and the Serena Group,” said  Affinity Bio Partners CEO Christina DiArcangelo. “The future of medical cannabis and cannabinoids as medical treatments are dependent upon properly performed clinical studies. It is time for companies to invest their money into performing clinical studies that prove safety and efficacy regarding their products.”

Diabetes is a major problem in the USA (and in many other countries). Approximately 10.5% of the U.S. population is estimated to have the condition according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – and many aren’t aware.

There has been some previous research on the use of cannabis for potentially managing various aspects of the condition – including diabetic neuropathy.

In 2015, a small study by University of California researchers looked at inhaled cannabis effects, with each participant exposed to 4 single dosing sessions of placebo or to low to high THC doses. The study demonstrated a dose-dependent reduction in diabetic peripheral neuropathy pain in patients with treatment-resistant pain.

More recently, a study involving CBD (cannabidiol) reported statistically and clinically significant pain reduction in patients suffering painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (pDPN) of the feet from baseline as compared with placebo.

There has also been suggestion cannabis in various forms may assist with other aspects of diabetes, such as stabilising blood sugar, suppressing some arterial inflammation and lowering blood pressure – but much more research needs to be done.