Researchers hope that if results show promise, CBD could someday potentially reduce or negate the use of drugs such as antipsychotics and antidepressants

Canadian LP giant Tilray has announced its involvement in a new Australian pilot study that explores the viability of a large-scale, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial of the use of a cannabis-derived compound for the treatment of aggressive behavioural problems in children with Intellectual Disabilities.

Led by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) in Melbourne, Australia, the study includes 10 participants between the ages of eight and 16 who have a diagnosis of Intellectual Disability.

The “single site, double-blind, parallel group, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study” will compare the results of administering CBD versus a placebo in the reduction of Severe Behavioural Problems.

Participants are given a placebo or Tilray’s C100 oral solution on a randomized basis. The solution contains cannabidiol (CBD), a psychoactive but non-intoxicating cannabinoid derived from the cannabis plant and often used in the treatment of afflictions such as anxiety, inflammation, and pain.

Researchers hope that if results show promise, CBD could someday potentially reduce or negate the use of drugs such as antipsychotics and antidepressants, which can have serious side effects–especially in pediatric patients.

“We are committed to increasing the scientific understanding of cannabinoid-based medicine as a treatment for pediatric patients with intellectual disability and associated severe behavioral problems through this study,” Associate Professor Daryl Efron, MCRI senior researcher and pediatrician, said in a statement.

Tilray supplied the cannabis product to MCRI via its Good Manufacturing Practices facility in Nanaimo, B.C. earlier this year.

“We are committed to advancing cannabinoid-based science to further understand the potential benefits of medical cannabis as a treatment option among these critical patient populations,” said Philippe Lucas, VP of Global Patient Research and Access at Tilray. “There is a serious need for more clinical data in our field, and we are proud to support research like this around the world.”

The results of the trial are set to be published by 2020.