Inhaler offers safe and rapid delivery of THC

On 14 April Solvay Pharmaceuticals announced the results of a Phase I study evaluating the safety and tolerability of pulmonary THC (dronabinol) using a metered dose inhaler. The study, which was presented at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting in Miami, USA, included 27 healthy subjects who received doses between 0.3 and 9.6 mg THC.

The study found the new formulation of inhaled THC provided rapid systemic absorption. All dose levels used in the research were considered safe in healthy young and elderly subjects. Dronabinol currently is available as an oral capsule, marketed under the trade name Marinol (Solvay Pharmaceuticals) and in Germany as dronabinol of the companies THC Pharm and Delta 9 Pharma. Dr. Harold H. Shlevin, president of Solvay Pharmaceuticals, said, "Pulmonary dronabinol has potential application in a variety of conditions, such as the treatment of migraines, nausea, pain management and spasticity in patients with multiple sclerosis."

In mid-2005, Solvay Pharmaceuticals will launch a clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of pulmonary THC delivered with a metered dose inhaler for the acute treatment of a single moderate to severe migraine headache attack.