Cannabinoid Interactions With Central and Peripheral Pain Mechanisms in Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Summary

This clinical trial is being done to better understand how daily treatment with Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), Cannabidiol (CBD), or the combination of CBD plus THC affects knee osteoarthritis pain and other related symptoms.

Consented participants will have a screening period and visit (up to 30 days to treatment start). If participants pass the screening phase, they will be randomly assigned to take one of the investigational study drugs. For this study, participants will not know when or if they are taking CBD, THC, THC plus CBD, and when or if taking placebo.

Clinical pain will be assessed at multiple times throughout the study, and eligibility will be re-assessed at two weeks into the treatment period. It is possible that subjects will not be able to participate in the study after 14 days of of treatment. The treatment period will take approximately 16 weeks and then a follow-up period for approximately 2 weeks. In addition to treatment, participants will have clinical assessments, blood draws, questionnaires, daily pain diaries, sensory testing, as well as have functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging (fcMRI).

Conditions

• Osteoarthritis, Knee
• Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Interventions

DRUG

Placebo

Placebo drug will be taken similarly to the THC and CBD and be matched to keep the trial blinded. In the event that 2.5 mg capsules of dronabinal capsules become unavailable, an equivalent product will be issued to participants and the comparator and placebo arms will be correspondingly adjusted to preserve blinding. If a participant's dose is not well-tolerated, the participant may initiate dose reductions with the study team. Participants will be instructed to eat a meal or snack greater than one hour after taking study drug.

DRUG

Cannabidiol (CBD)

Epidiolex doses will be 0.37 milliliter (mL) for seven days of treatment and then 0.75 mL two times a day (b.i.d) for the remaining days of this treatment. In the event that 2.5 mg capsules of dronabinal capsules become unavailable, an equivalent product will be issued to participants and the comparator and placebo arms will be correspondingly adjusted to preserve blinding. If a participant's dose is not well-tolerated, the participant may initiate dose reductions with the study team. Participants will be instructed to eat a meal or snack greater than one hour after taking study drug.

DRUG

Tetrahydrocannabinol (Marinol® or generic equivalent (e.g., dronabinol)

Dronabinol Capsules doses will be 2.5 mg b.i.d. for seven days of treatment and then 5 mg b.i.d. for the remaining days of this treatment. In the event that 2.5 mg capsules of dronabinal capsules become unavailable, an equivalent product will be issued to participants and the comparator and placebo arms will be correspondingly adjusted to preserve blinding. If a participant's dose is not well-tolerated, the participant may initiate dose reductions with the study team. Participants will be instructed to eat a meal or snack greater than one hour after taking study drug.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

  collaborator NIH

• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

  collaborator NIH

• Steven E Harte, PhD

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Steve Harte, PhD · University of Michigan

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

FACTORIAL

Eligibility

Min Age

21 Years

Max Age

75 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-02-22

Primary Completion

2026-10-22

Completion

2026-10-31

FDA Drug

Yes

Countries

• United States

Study Locations