Cesamet

[budman]

<span class=postbold>See Also</span>: Valeant Pharmaceuticals Announces Availability of Complimentary "Managing Chemtherapy Side Effects For Dunnies" Cancer Chemotherapy Resource

<span class=postbold>See Also</span>: Valley reacts to Marijuana pill approval

<span class=postbold>See Also</span>: OK from the FDA for synthetic marijuana drug

Valeant Launches Cesamet Trial

August 26, 2006
The Orange County Business Journal


Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, the Costa Mesa-based drug maker, just launched its Cesamet anti-vomiting drug in the U.S. Now the company wants to know how patients do with it.

Valeant said earlier this month it would explore “the patient benefit in using Cesamet to control chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting” and how it might affect such patients’ quality of life.

The trial will look at 40 patients who are receiving treatment for non-small cell lung cancer, breast cancer or colorectal cancer and who haven’t adequately responded to traditional treatments.

The FDA approved Cesamet to treat nausea associated with chemotherapy in May. Cesamet is a cannabinoid, or synthetic chemical based on tetrahydrocannabinol, the active ingredient in marijuana.

Valeant acquired Cesamet in 2004 from Eli Lilly & Co.

[palmspringsbum]

Synthetic marijuana associated with chemotherapy

TopCancerNews
Published on 12/20/2006


Nabilone, known as Cesamet, a synthetic imitation of an active ingredient found in marijuana, has been shown successful in treating cancer patients experiencing nausea, pain, anxiety and depression, according to University of Toronto researchers who conducted a study on the effectiveness of the synthetic drug.

During the study of 139 participants, a survey was conducted to rate how well the synthetic drug alleviated the adverse side-effects most commonly associated with chemotherapy. According to the study, cancer patients who were prescribed Cesamet indicated less pain, anxiety and depression.

A prescription drug approved for cancer patients who do not respond to traditional anti-nausea treatments, lead investigator Dr. Vincent Maida stated, "This is not a pot pill and has absolutely no street value."

The trouble with the synthetic drug, which is legal, is the stigma attached to marijuana use in general, even on the part of some physicians, who are said to be hesitant to prescribe a version of marijuana even if it is not marijuana. In our modern society, marijuana is sometimes associated with counter-culture populations, addiction and even as a gateway to more addictive drugs.

I would say I just do not get it when it comes to the denial of making cancer treatment for a cancer patient a little easier, but The Scientific American published a brief history of marijuana that brings us from ancient China to the present with, "In 1937 the U.S. Congress, against the advice of the American Medical Association, passed the Marijuana Tax Act, effectively banning use of the drug by making it expensive and difficult to obtain. Ever since, marijuana has remained one of the most controversial drugs in American society. Despite efforts to change its status, it remains federally classified as a Schedule 1 drug, along with heroin and LSD, considered dangerous and without utility."

As anyone who has undergone the grueling ordeal of chemotherapy can tell you, getting high is the last thing on their mind. However, alleviating the debilitating side effects of chemotherapy is critical.