Women also exhibited a greater placebo response than did men, and “patients with less variability in baseline pain scores may have had greater separation between placebo and the treatment,” Dr. Hunter said. Indeed, 50%-52% of patients with less than 33% variation in baseline scores had a composite response to the gel, versus 27% for the placebo arm.
Evidence from preclinical models suggest that cannabinoids have antinociceptive and antihyperalgesic effects, Dr. Hunter explained at the congress, sponsored by the Osteoarthritis Research Society International. CBD has also been shown to have broad anti-inflammatory effects, and it may even promote osteoclast cell function and decrease bone resorption.
ZYN002 is a synthetic CBD formulated for transdermal delivery using a patented method to enhance its permeation through the skin. According to the manufacturer, Zynerba, it was developed for neuropsychiatric disorders, including fragile X syndrome, adult refractory epilepsy, and developmental and epileptic encephalopathies.