Clinical trials on medical cannabis in the UK could be a step closer thanks to the family campaign

Clinical trials on the use of cannabis for medical purposes in the UK could come together through the family campaign of a boy with epilepsy.

Billy Caldwell, 13, used a Canadian cannabis drug to manage her condition, but it was confiscated at Heathrow Airport last year.

According to Belfast Live, her mother, Charlotte Caldwell, is campaigning for medical cannabis to be available on the NHS.

And now, a meeting with a specialist in child epilepsy at Great Ormond Street Hospital seems to have brought it closer to its goal.

Professor Helen Cross would have recognized that cannabis was helping Billy.

And Charlotte says that discussions are underway on setting up clinical trials in the UK this year.

Charlotte de Castlederg, Tyrone County, said: "Our consultation with Professor Cross has clearly shown that she and her team want to see evidence of optimal use of the right products through clinical trials. We hope we can move forward together now.

"Billy has proven that it works for him and, fortunately, he is doing very well.

"A planned clinical trial in the UK means that other children could have the chance to see if medicinal cannabis is right for them.

"The end result we are hoping for is the NHS's prescription of this incredible herbal drug and the absence of expensive and private prescriptions."

With about 40 types of seizures badociated with epilepsy, it is unlikely that a single drug can be effective against all.

The current trend towards clinical drug trials means that leading UK medical experts will be examining a large number of cannabis-based products in order to gather evidence demonstrating which medicinal cannabis products respond well to various types of drugs. Epilepsy and seizures.

And the expected result is that drugs derived from the cannabis plant would be prescribed by the NHS to children with epilepsy.

A change of law

In July, Interior Minister Sajid Javid responded to Billy Caldwell's plight and promised to reprogram medical marijuana.

He said: "Today, the government is tabling in the House the 2018 drug abuse regulations.

"This regulation reorganizes cannabis products for medical use and will come into effect on November 1, 2018.

"The provisions will apply in England, Wales and Scotland, My officials continue to work closely with the Ministry of Health of Northern Ireland, which has Intend to reflect these legislative changes. "

But rescheduling has not facilitated access to medical cannabis through the NHS in the UK, where expertise in drugs is scarce.

Experts say they need evidence of relevant trials to guide them in prescribing the drug to children, and no trial has yet been established.

However, they seem to be on the right track with the support of Professor Cross, a pediatric neurologist and world authority on children's epilepsy.

Charlotte said, "It seems like I'm about to get an NHS prescription for Billy from the very good Professor Helen Cross of Great Ormond Street Hospital.

"Billy and I had a private consultation on Thursday with Professor Cross, pediatric consultant neurologist at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

"She acknowledged the benefits that medicinal cannabis seemed to have brought to Billy and she will discuss in more detail with Billy's local team in Northern Ireland about providing an NHS prescription for medicinal cannabis." .

"We had a very positive three-hour consultation with Professor Cross during which she explained that since Billy had been using cannabis for medical use for two and a half years, the clinical need could be justified.

"It was the first time she had ever seen a child who had had access to cannabis for medical purposes for two and a half years and was recognized as a pharmaceutical standard – that's what made the difference we were looking for.

"What's going to happen now is that Professor Cross is speaking to Billy's local medical team in Northern Ireland and advising him to support, with his help and supervision, an NHS prescription."

"Well, little guy, we're almost there."

The decisive meeting in London not only gave hope to Charlotte and Billy, she also seems to have opened the door to testing the drug for other UK children.

Charlotte explained, "In the course of our conversation, it is clear that Professor Cross and his team wish to intensify their efforts to obtain evidence of the optional use of the right cannabis drug through clinical trials – and together, we hope to move forward.

"I can not believe Billy and I have had to endure what we've had in recent years and fought against Belfast Trust for Billy's right to an NHS prescription.

"I repeated several times last year at crucial stages of our campaign that it was the first day of our lives. But they turned out to be false starts.

"However, after Professor Cross's incredibly positive approach and statement, I think I can finally say that it is in the days that follow.

"I can not find words to express my relief and sincere thanks to Helen Cross and I look forward to moving clinical trials forward together.

"It's really important because we simply do not have the money to pay around £ 1,000 a month for a private prescription, but it's also very important that we have our local Trust at our side.

"We have not yet pbaded the finish line, but I am more confident than ever before that our trip is about to move to a very good phase. On Thursday, for the first time in 13 years, I came out of a hospital and did not have to fight to get Billy what he needed.

"I was very moved with a lot of tears and I'm sure the people who saw me thought that something bad had happened – but that was good news, the better.

"I shook Billy's hand very hard, the tears blinded me but we kept walking and I told Billy:" Well, little guy, we're almost there. " "

"It took hours to understand this because I spent so much time waking up every morning knowing that every day I was fighting for Billy's life. I know that all other parents who have a child with epilepsy will understand this feeling.

"The past year has been tough, but we have finally announced good news and the opportunity not only to get the NHS prescriptions for Billy, but also to get the trials started and kids like Billy a more positive future. "

An NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson at the Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital said: "We can confirm that Billy Caldwell has come to GOSH for a second opinion with Professor Helen Cross, a recognized expert in the field of health care. infantile epilepsy.

"She will discuss the case with her local team, who badumes primary clinical responsibility for her care, as efforts continue to develop a strong evidence base regarding the use of cannabis for medical purposes."