a study of the safety and tolerability of gwp42006 in healthy subjects

Conditions: Epilepsy

Summary: the primary objective of this study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of single ascending (increasing) and multiple doses of gwp42006 compared with placebo.

this is a single-centre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group dose escalation, safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic (pk) study of single escalating and multiple doses of gwp42006 in healthy volunteers. the study consists of 5 single dosing occasions, and a five day repeated dose period. part 1 single dosing: four parallel groups of 11 subjects will participate in the oral single dosing, dose escalation study phase. in each group, subjects will be randomly assigned so that eight subjects receive active and three subjects receive placebo. it is planned for groups 1 and 2, that a staggered 'sentinel' dose design will be used, with two sub-groups: * the first will comprise of one placebo and one active subject. * in the second, seven subjects will receive active and two will receive placebo after a review of the 24 h post-dose safety data of the first group. sentinel subject dosing will be performed in higher-dose groups if there is no measurable plasma gwp42006 in group 1 or 2. one group within the single dosing part (group 3/dose level 3) will then receive an intravenous administration of 5 mg gwp42006 to allow assessment of bioavailability. there will be a minimum of seven days between doses. up to three further groups may be added for further evaluations, e.g. to assess additional dose levels or food effect. the need for additional groups will be based on a review of the safety, tolerability and pk data by the safety advisory committee. dose escalation: the planned dose levels are 25 mg (group 1/dose level 1), 75 mg (group 2/dose level 2), 200 mg (group 3/dose level 3) and 400 mg (group 4/dose level 4), with a maximum dose of 800 mg. administration of each successive dose will be dependent on safety, tolerability and pk data of previous doses. part 2 multiple dosing: the doses and dose regimens assessed in part 2 will be selected based upon the safety, and pk data from part 1 of the study. it is planned that one group of 11 subjects will participate in the multiple dose phase, and subjects will be randomly assigned so that eight subjects receive active and three receive matching placebo. each subject will receive the selected dose of gwp42006 or placebo once, twice or three times daily for a total of five days, with the final dose administered on the morning of day 5. up to two further groups may be added for further evaluations, e.g. to assess a different dose level or a different dosing frequency. as for single dosing, the decision to include further groups will be taken based on safety, tolerability and pk data. all further groups would be added on blinded information.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * healthy females of non-childbearing potential or healthy males * age 18 to 65 years, inclusive * body mass index of 18 to 30 kg/m2 inclusive or, if outside the range, considered not clinically significant by the investigator * must have no clinically significant abnormal findings on physical examination, vital signs, electrocardiogram, medical history, or clinical laboratory results during screening or day -1 (admission) * must be willing and able to communicate and participate in the whole study * must provide written informed consent * must be willing to allow his or her primary care practitioner and consultant, if appropriate, to be notified of participation in the study * must agree to use an adequate method of contraception: two or more of the following methods are acceptable and must include at least one barrier method: * surgical sterilisation (i.e. bilateral tubal ligation, hysterectomy for female partners; vasectomy for males) * placement of an intrauterine device or intrauterine system * hormonal contraception (implantable, patch, oral) * barrier methods (for male subjects, this must be a condom; for female subjects, either their partner's use of a condom or the subject's use of an occlusive cap \[diaphragm or cervical/vault caps\] with spermicidal foam/gel/film/cream/suppository). * alternatively, true abstinence is acceptable when it is in line with the subject's preferred and usual lifestyle. exclusion criteria: * participation in a clinical research study/receiving an investigational medicinal product within the 3 months prior to screening * subjects who are study site employees, or immediate family members of a study site or sponsor employee * subjects who have previously been randomised in this study * history of any drug or alcohol abuse in the past 2 years, or current habituation to any medications or illegal drugs * regular alcohol consumption in males \>21 units per week and females \>14 units per week (1 unit = 0.5 pint beer, 25 ml of 40% spirit or a 125 ml glass of wine) * tobacco product use in the previous 6 months. a breath carbon monoxide reading of greater than 10 ppm at screening * subjects who do not have suitable veins for multiple venepunctures/cannulation as assessed by the investigator at screening * clinically significant abnormal clinical chemistry, haematology or urinalysis as judged by the investigator * positive drugs of abuse test result * positive hepatitis b surface antigen, hepatitis c virus antibody or human immunodeficiency virus-1 and -2 results * history of clinically relevant physical abnormalities, medical conditions or clinical laboratory test results e.g. cardiovascular, renal, hepatic, pulmonary, haematological, endocrinological, neurological, psychiatric, chronic respiratory or gastrointestinal disease as judged by the investigator * clinically relevant symptoms or a clinically significant illness in the 4 weeks prior to screening * known cardiovascular condition or history of a cardiovascular condition or clinically relevant abnormalities in the 12-lead electrocardiogram measured at screening * subject has a postural drop of 20 mmhg or more in systolic blood pressure at screening, with features of postural hypotension, in the opinion of the investigator * concurrent cardiovascular conditions, which will, in the investigators opinion, interfere with the ability to read their electrocardiograms * current use or past use of recreational or medicinal cannabis, or cannabinoid based medications (including sativex) within the 3 months prior to study entry and is unwilling to abstain for the duration for the study * serious adverse reaction or serious hypersensitivity to any drug or the formulation excipients (e.g. cannabinoids, sesame oil) * presence or history of clinically significant allergy requiring treatment as judged by the investigator. hayfever is allowed unless it is active * donation or loss of greater than 500 ml of blood within the previous 3 months * unwilling to abstain from donation of blood during the planned study * subjects who are taking, or have taken, any prescribed or over-the-counter drug (other than 4 g per day paracetamol and hormone replacement therapy) or herbal remedies in the 14 days before investigational medicinal product administration * travel outside the country of residence planned during the study * failure to satisfy the investigator of fitness to participate for any other reason

Keywords: safety tolerability assessment of potential adverse events assessment of potential laboratory abnormalities