Pubdate: Fri, 14 Jun 2002
Source: Guardian, The (UK)
Contact:  2002 Guardian Newspapers Limited
Website: http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardian/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/175
Author: Terry MacAlister
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?323 (GW Pharmaceuticals)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

SPRAY IN TRIALS TO TREAT HEROIN ADDICTS 

GW Pharmaceuticals, the small British company at the forefront of developing
cannabis medicines, is to have its innovative drug-dispensing equipment used
in trials with registered heroin addicts. 

The National Addiction Centre, with the approval of the Home Office, is to
use GW's advanced dispensing system in trials with 30,000 registered
patients receiving methadone and diamorphine. 

The GW device allows users to take approved opiates via a spray under the
tongue rather than having to inject them using needles. The ADS device
electronically controls the amount of drugs dispensed to users at any one
time and, therefore, reduces the amount of supervision needed at medical
centres. 

"We are looking for a major increase in safety and effectiveness of
treatment alongside a dramatic increase in the number of patients being
treated - without any increase in the cost per patient," said John Strang,
director of the National Addiction Centre. 

GW's chairman, Geoffrey Guy, said he hoped to meet a target to provide its
dispenser to 60,000 addicts within three years. There are estimated to be
250,000 regular heroin users in Britain but only 30,000 are receiving
methadone prescriptions and many of these are being handed out in large
weekly instalments. This method is thought to be responsible for a growing
number of deaths by overdose. 

Meanwhile, GW is planning to increase the number of trials it is running to
discover the medical benefits of cannabis from seven to nine. 

Later this year it could have nearly 1,000 patients trialling cannabis-based
treatments for multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury and cancer pain. It
will submit its findings for approval early next year and hopes to obtain a
licence soon after, while similar moves are afoot in mainland Europe and
Canada. 

To meet the growing needs of its trials, the company has signed a contract
with an unnamed third party to produce 60 tonnes of cannabis a year. GW
already grows 30 tonnes under greenhouses in secret locations in the south
of England. 

GW reported a loss in line with its budget of UKP5.3m for the six months to
March 31, compared with a UKP2m deficit for the same period last year.
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MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk