Could cannabis treat skin cancer?

The University of Canberra (UC) and Cann Pharmaceutical are teaming up on a million-dollar, medical-grade cannabis therapy trial for melanoma patients.

The two-year research project aims to produce a novel combination therapy treatment program for Australians living with melanoma. The identified strains of cannabis at the centre of the research have been developed by Cann Pharmaceutical and will be coupled with the current standard care for melanoma patients.

The research will be led by UC Professor Sudha Rao, who believes the project will help better inform the efficacy of medical cannabis-based treatments for melanoma. She noted, “When you consider that melanoma is the third most common cancer in Australia and New Zealand, and almost 1800 people will die as a result of this cancer this year, we need to work harder at finding effective treatments.”

UC Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Frances Shannon said the university is “incredibly excited to take a leading research role into the application of medicinal cannabis for Australian patients”.

“The support of Cann Pharmaceutical Australia, providing access to their medical-grade cannabis strains and funding worth $1 million, is critical to taking this work from laboratory testing to clinical trials,” she added.

The project is expected to commence the initial clinical trial phase in 2017.

Image caption: Andrew McCrea, managing director of Cann Pharmaceutical Australia, and Professor Frances Shannon, acting vice-chancellor of the University of Canberra, sign the research agreement. Image credit: Kim Pham.