Medical cannabis as a driver of development and innovation for Pfizer
Pfizer paid a whopping $6.7 billion for Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. as part of its deal to acquire the company. Arena - which offers a variety of multi-stage clinical trials, including an oral cannabinoid drug for gastrointestinal disorders - will sell all of its stock to Pfizer for $100 per share, which it will pay in cash until it reaches the $6.7 billion they agreed to.
For Pfizer, this will perfectly complement its capabilities and expertise in the field of inflammation and immunology as it is itself in the process of developing potential therapies for patients with immuno-inflammatory diseases. This acquisition will strengthen Arena's research and development capabilities to accelerate the clinical development of etrasimod, which is being tested as a specific treatment for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. This agreement is therefore of key importance because of its role in advancing the research agenda for medical cannabis.
Specific evidence on the safety and efficacy of medical cannabis for patients and physicians
In recent years, cannabis research has grown significantly, even outside of formal clinical trials and studies. NORML has published a compilation of 45 studies in the scientific journal "Clinical Applications for Cannabis & Cannabinoids" highlighting the multitude of studies examining the effects of cannabis on conditions such as autism, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, migraines, diabetes etc. Therefore, NORML confirms its position in favour of evidence-based cannabis regulations and what is certain is that this research paves the way for future clinical trials.
