Looking for participants for study

[Karlin]

As far as I know, the trial happened. But it can take a very long time for results to be published, and in the meantime, they generally are not formally reported. Reporting results in advance of peer-reviewed publication/the formal wrapup and write up of a clinical trial would be very unprofessional for a large drug company and could also open them up to regulatory violations and lawsuits. I will see if I can find out what the current situation is with that RVC trial.

[GraciesMom]

The early results seemed very positive. Gracie is fortunate that she does have mild symptoms and our neuro thinks the early indications on this are positive. Maybe it is expensive drug at this time, but we have to start somewhere to test the options and some of us are in the position to do so. If your dog is very uncomfortable not being on any meds, then definitely do not do it. It is not likely to be available for dogs for a while but would like to be part of research if we can.

[Karlin]

Debra -- Anyone can buy this stuff right now and it isn't a drug per se. The study is not a clinical trial of an experimental drug either–it is an over-the-counter (but very expensive) product anyone can buy. All you have to do is use the website in the Netherlands and they will ship to you. The only reason a separate trial is being suggested, is to get some independent results as the company are making claims based on their own trial but there's no independent verification. If anyone feels their own results are compelling, people can use a credit card and buy from them right now.

Trying to get clarification about a product or pointing out that it is more expensive than the most expensive currently available prescription medication does not mean people do not support a trial. I have already clearly stated that I do support a trial for a whole range of reasons, and I would like to see more research on products and potential medications that fall into the same general area - cannabinoids. Some of us have been trying to see if a trial could be done on some of the cannabis derived products that are beginning to emerge as well. Initially, I had thought that this product was one of those, but only on clarification did I realize that it was the product associated with the study done last year that I read about at the time. I had thought that original in-house study had already been posted up here on the board ages ago as it was circulated around some of the discussion lists back then, but apparently not as I cannot find it in the archives.

[anniemac]

Karlin is correct about being able to get it now. I found a link to it online some time ago about the dogs in the Netherlands. I think there are several articles and some humans are using it. I sent the information to someone that I thought it would benefit previously. I think the breeder would have shipped some if needed (Ella was already deceased). At the time it was something like 12 Cavaliers but it looked promising. I don't know what goes into the study but I think that is why they want to see if there are enough participants before putting much effort into it.

As posted, you can get more information by email provided.

[GraciesMom]

I am not an expert., as you can tell. I would still like to know if something that might be available to us down the road may or may not work better than gabapentin. They may learn something from this study that could be used to configure a different medication down the road, even if not in Gracie's lifetime. I do not plan to order it from the Netherlands, but maybe some participants like it so much and have the money that they would. Because it it pricey now does not mean it always will be. Just my own personal choice to participate since Gracie has mild symptoms. If another drug with good results was being studied and we were eligible, I might consider that too. They have not released the specifics on the study yet and I may bow out when I get that information.

[Kate H]

I asked about the RVC trial, Karlin, because I can remember going to a health meeting, I think spring 2 years ago, and the RVC people said that they would have news for us in the autumn, so as nothing seems to have been said 18 months later, I wondered if there was a glitch. If anything has been made public, I think it would have been reported on the Cavalier Club website, because they were encouraging people to take part in the trial. I suspect the RVC were negotiating with a pharmeceutical company or something to develop the drug or do more trials, and perhaps that fell through. If there is anything new in the pipeline, I hope it won't take the 17 years to produce that is apparently the everage for new human drugs!

Kate, Oliver and Aled

[mommytoClaire]

Debra, I think it's noble that you'd like to participate even if all it's to do is help future pet owners with pain resulting from SM/CM. Of course, the specifics may change your mind.

It does seem that most products when first introduced are higher In price but as demand increases, the price goes down.

Here is a question for those more in the know......is this product sold more as a 'herbal' type med (meaning, you are able to order it on your own directly) because it's manufactured in the Netherlands? And I am assuming it wouldn't be covered under insurance because it's not a 'prescribed' drug by the Veternarian community?

Just learning as I go along.

[patg]

Just to calrify the number of dogs involved it was 12 dogs to begin with but after 2 months of good results with those 12 additional dogs were added to where the total dogs was 70 after 6 months. That is where those numbers came from.