Australia’s Little Green Pharma and Southern Cross University are partnering for a study on treating fibromyalgia syndrome with medical cannabis.

Fibromyalgia is chronic condition accompanied by symptoms including widespread pain in the muscles and bones. Its impacts can be anything from uncomfortable to debilitating for sufferers and conventional medications such as opioids are accompanied by risks of their own, such as dependence.

Some new research to get under way here in Australia will study the efficacy and safety of medicinal cannabis in relieving fibromyalgia pain and other symptoms.

Western Australia’s Little Green Pharma (ASX:LGP) has announced it is to provide funding for a three-year PhD Scholarship and research supervision in relation to a Southern Cross University study. The project, which kicks off with  literature review and a survey, will also include a Phase 2 randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

The medication used in the trial will be provided by Little Green Pharma – its LGP Classic 10:10 medicinal cannabis oil that contains 10 mg of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and 10 mg of cannabidiol (CBD) per millilitre. The company will also be providing the placebo, which will be an oil-based product similar in texture and smell.

“FMS is a debilitating disease and knowing that LGP is doing its part to assist in a clinical trial into the effectiveness of medicinal cannabis in treating FMS sufferers goes to the heart of our goal of providing a cost-effective therapy to enhance the quality of life of patients,” said Little Green Pharma Head of Research and Innovation Dr Leon Warne

Fibromyalgia syndrome affects approximately 2.7% of the global population. If cannabis is found to be effective in managing it, many millions of people could potentially benefit.

The clinical trial is to be carried out at Griffith University’s Clinical Trial Unit with clinicians from the Gold Coast University Hospital and private practice. Patients are to be recruited from the public and private sectors via clinician referral.

Results from the research will be published in peer-reviewed scientific publications and conferences over the duration of the project.