Nabiximols
Nabiximols (USAN, trade name Sativex) is a specific Cannabis extract that was approved in 2010 as a botanical drug in the United Kingdom. Nabiximols is sold as a mouth spray intended to alleviate neuropathic pain, spasticity, overactive bladder, and other symptoms of multiple sclerosis; it was developed by the UK company GW Pharmaceuticals. In 2019, it was proposed that following application of the spray, nabiximols is washed away from the oral mucosa by the saliva flow and ingested into the stomach, with subsequent absorption from the gastro-intestinal tract. Nabiximols is a combination drug standardized in composition, formulation, and dose. Its principal active components are the cannabinoids: tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Each spray delivers a dose of 2.7 mg THC and 2.5 mg CBD.
Chemical structures of tetrahydrocannabinol (top) and cannabidiol (bottom) | |
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| Tetrahydrocannabinol | Cannabinoid |
| Cannabidiol | Cannabinoid |
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| Trade names | Sativex |
| Routes of administration | Oromucosal spray |
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In 2003, GW Pharmaceuticals partnered with Bayer to market the drug under the brand name Sativex. In 2011, GW licensed the rights to commercialise nabiximols to Novartis for Asia (excluding China and Japan), Africa and the Middle East (excluding Israel).