Radius Health has acquired a cannabidiol (CBD) compound and is preparing a PWS clinical trial using it. Radius Health believes that the drug has potential to reduce hyperphagia and improve anxiety symptoms in PWS. The news is of special interest to the PWS community since a previous clinical trial on the compound had to be cut short.
You may recall a clinical trial to evaluate a cannabidiol (CBD) compound in individuals with PWS, which was initiated by the company Insys in 2018. Unfortunately, Insys had to file bankruptcy before the PWS trial was completed. This was particularly unfortunate because there has been a lot in interest in the PWS community about the potential of CBD to reduce anxiety and impact hunger in PWS.
Now, Radius Health has acquired the CBD compound that Insys was previously evaluating in PWS and believes that the drug has potential to reduce hyperphagia and improve anxiety symptoms in PWS.
Product Has No THC
An attractive feature of this CBD product is that it is made in the laboratory and thus does not have any THC in it. THC is the component, present at varying levels in many CBD preparations, that has been associated with hallucinations/delusions and that some studies suggest may increase the risk of future psychiatric problems; obviously a concern for those with PWS.
Radius is preparing to launch a Phase 2/3 clinical trial in PWS, which will look for beneficial effects, and also evaluate the safety profile of the compound in PWS. Their letter to the community with additional details is printed below.
You can also read their news release here.
We look forward to sharing more information about this clinical trial as it becomes available.
