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Back PainPhase 2CBDNCT05066308

Cannabidiol for Reduction of Brain Neuroinflammation

A Phase 2 study testing CBD in people with Back Pain and Depressive Symptoms, run by Massachusetts General Hospital at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

This study will investigate whether cannabidiol (CBD), the primary centrally and peripherally active non-intoxicating compound in the cannabis plant, exerts anti-neuroinflammatory effects in patients with chronic low back pain (cLBP) with or without mild-to-moderate depression. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 75 years
Conditions the study is for
Back Pain, Depressive Symptoms
What is being tested?
CBD
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
69 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
4 Jan 2022to 1 May 2026
Phase
Phase 2
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 75 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Age ≥ 18 and ≤ 75;
  • The ability to give written, informed consent;
  • Fluency in English;
  • Average worst daily pain of at least 4 on a 0-10 scale of pain intensity, during a typical day. Pain needs to be present for at least 50% of days during a typical week;
  • On a stable pain treatment (pharmacological or otherwise) for the previous four weeks;
  • Diagnosis of chronic low back pain, ongoing for at least 6 months prior to enrollment.
  • High or mixed affinity binding to [11C]PBR28 identified by the Ala147Thr TSPO polymorphism in the TSPO gene (rs6971)

Who cannot join

  • Outpatient surgery within 2 weeks and inpatient surgery within 1 month of the time of scanning (this timeframe may be extended if they are not fully recovered from the surgery);
  • Elevated baseline transaminase (ALT and AST) levels above 3 times the Upper Limit of Normal (ULN), accompanied by elevations in bilirubin above 2 times the ULN;
  • Any interventional pain procedures within 6 weeks prior to scanning procedure or at any point during study enrollment;
  • Surgical intervention or introduction/change in opioid regimen at any point during study enrollment;
  • Contraindications to fMRI scanning and PET scanning (including presence of a cardiac pacemaker or pacemaker wires, metallic particles in the body, vascular clips in the head or previous neurosurgery, prosthetic heart valves, claustrophobia);
  • Implanted spinal cord stimulator (SCS) for pain treatment;
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  • Any history of neurological illness or major medical illness, unless clearly resolved without long-term consequences;
  • Current or past history of major psychiatric illness (PTSD, depression, and anxiety are exclusion criteria only if the conditions were so severe as to require hospitalization in the past year);
  • Harmful alcohol drinking as indicated by an AUDIT score ≥ 16;
  • Pregnancy or breast feeding;
  • History of head trauma requiring hospitalization;
  • Major cardiac event within the past 10 years;
  • Regular use of recreational drugs in the past 3 months;
  • Use of cannabis-containing products, such as products containing THC or over the-counter or dispensary CBD, for 2 weeks prior to starting the study medication and during the 4 weeks of taking the study medication;
  • Use of immunosuppressive medications, such as prednisone, TNF medications within 2 weeks of the visit;
  • Current bacterial or viral infection likely affecting the central nervous system;
  • Epilepsy;
  • Use of the medications valproate and clobazam, which may increase risk of hepatic AEs;
  • Safety concerns related to use of any of the following medications will be discussed on an individualized basis with a physician:
  • Strong and moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors including boceprevir, cobicistat, conivaptan, danoprevir, elvitegravir, ritonavir, indinavir, itraconazole, ketoconazole, lopinavir, paritaprevir and ombitasvir and/or dasabuvir, posaconazole, saquinavir and telaprevir, tipranavir, clarithromycin, diltiazem, idelalisib, nefazodone, nelfinavir, troleandomycin, voriconazole, aprepitant, cimetidine, ciprofloxacin, clotrimazole, crizotinib, cyclosporine, dronedarone, erythromycin, fluconazole, fluvoxamine, imatinib, tofisopam, disulfiram, and verapamil;
  • Strong and moderate inhibitors of CYP2C19 including fluoxetine and ticlopidine;
  • Sensitive and moderately sensitive substrates of CYP2C19 including clobazam, lansoprazole, omeprazole, S-mephenytoin, and rabeprazole;
  • Sensitive and moderately sensitive substrates of CYP1A2 including alosetron, duloxetine, ramelteon, tasimelteon, theophylline, tizanidine, pirfenidone, and ramosetron;
  • Sensitive and moderately sensitive substrates of CYP2B6 including bupropion and efavirenz;
  • Sensitive and moderately sensitive substrates of CYP2C8 including repaglinide, montelukast, pioglitazone, and rosiglitazone;
  • Sensitive and moderately sensitive substrates of CYP2C9 including tolbutamide, celecoxib, glimepiride, and warfarin;
  • Sensitive and moderately sensitive substrates of UGT1A9 including diflunisal, propofol, and fenofibrate;
  • Sensitive and moderately sensitive substrates of UGT2B7 including, gemfibrozil, lamotrigine, and morphine;
  • CNS depressants including all antipsychotics, benzodiazepines (except for alprazolam, clonazepam, and lorazepam, which have low binding affinity to TSPO44-48), and non-benzodiazepine sleep aids that have a known unsafe reaction with CBD;
  • Use of opioids ≥ 30 mg morphine equivalents on average per month;
  • Actively suicidal, history of suicide attempt or an aborted attempt within the last 5 years, or engagement in non-suicidal self-injurious behavior within the last year;
  • Allergy to sesame oil, and any other ingredients of EPIDIOLEX;
  • Any other contraindications to CBD administration noted by the study physician;
  • Any significant change in drug use and pain treatment from screening visit;
  • In the opinion of the investigators, unable to safely participate in this study and/or provide reliable data (e.g., unable to reliably rate pain; unlikely to remain still during the imaging procedures, etc).

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Massachusetts General Hospital

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02114

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Evaluation of Cannabidiol for Reduction of Brain Neuroinflammation

This study will investigate whether cannabidiol (CBD), the primary centrally and peripherally active non-intoxicating compound in the cannabis plant, exerts anti-neuroinflammatory effects in patients with chronic low back pain (cLBP) with or without mild-to-moderate depression.

Read the detailed description

This is a randomized, double-blind, 2-arm mechanistic trial that seeks to assess the effects of CBD and placebo in patients with cLBP with and without mild-to-moderate depression, using integrated positron emission tomography / magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) scans. The use of integrated PET/MRI will make it possible to simultaneously evaluate neuroinflammation (using [11C]PBR28, a second-generation radioligand for TSPO) and striatal function (using the Monetary Incentive Delay task, a validated fMRI task that probes behavioral and neural responses to rewards and losses).

Being tested
CBD, Placebo
Keywords
back pain, depression, depressive symptoms, cannabis, cannabidiol
Medical subject headings
Back Pain, Depression, Marijuana Abuse

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • CBDDrug

    Also called Epidiolex

    Epidiolex, an agent within the anti-epileptic drug class, will be used. Epidiolex, Greenwich Biosciences Inc.'s CBD formulation, is a 100 mg/mL purified oral solution, dissolved in the excipients sesame oil and anhydrous ethanol with added sweetener (sucralose) and strawberry flavoring. The drug is formulated from extracts prepared from Cannabis sativa L. plants that have a defined chemical profile and contain consistent levels of CBD as the principal phytocannabinoid. Extracts from these plants are processed to yield pure (>95%) CBD that typically contains less than 0.5% (w/w) THC. Cannabidiol is the active ingredient in Epidiolex; inactive ingredients include dehydrated alcohol, sesame seed oil, strawberry flavor, and sucralose. Of note, CBD has no psychoactive properties.

  • PlaceboOther

    Placebo CBD will be identical to the active CBD, a 100 mg/mL purified oral solution, dissolved in the excipients sesame oil and anhydrous ethanol with added sweetener (sucralose) and strawberry flavoring, but with no CBD.

Study groups in NCT05066308
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Cannabidiol (CBD)ExperimentalThe recommended starting dosage is 2.5mg/kg taken twice daily. The titration schedule recommended in the EPIDIOLEX label will be followed, with 2.5 mg/kg twice daily in week 1, 5 mg/kg twice daily in week 2, 7.5 mg/kg twice daily in week 3, and 10 mg/kg twice daily in week 4 with the second PET scan conducted after one week at the maximum labeled dose. Any participant not tolerating a given dose can either go back down to the next lowest dose or delay uptitration at any week in the protocol. Participants will be instructed to take Epidiolex with a meal rather than in a fasted state. Participants will be treated for 4 weeks in total.
Receives: Drug: CBD
PlaceboPlacebo comparatorThe placebo will be taken at identical doses to the active drug condition.
Receives: Other: Placebo

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Changes in Neuroinflammation in the Thalamus

    The investigators will test for the presence of a significant treatment effect in the brain [11C]PBR28 signal in the thalamus, in order to test whether patients in the CBD arm will demonstrate significantly larger treatment-related reductions in neuroinflammation, compared to patients in the placebo arm.

    Measured: Change from Baseline to Week 4

Secondary outcomes (7)
  1. Changes in Neuroinflammation in Limbic Regions

    The investigators will test for the presence of a significant treatment effect in the brain [11C]PBR28 in limbic regions (pgACC, aMCC), in order to test whether patients in the CBD arm will demonstrate significantly larger treatment-related reductions in neuroinflammation, compared to patients in the placebo arm.

    Measured: Change from Baseline to Week 4

  2. Correlation Between Reductions in Thalamic [11C]PBR28 PET Signal and Reductions in Clinical Pain Ratings

    The investigators will test whether reductions in thalamic [11C]PBR28 PET signal correlate with reductions in clinical pain ratings, as assessed by the "worst pain" item of the Brief Pain Inventory - Short Form. The "worst pain" item's scale ranges from 0 - 10, with a higher score indicating worse pain intensity.

    Measured: Change from Baseline to Week 4

  3. Correlation Between Reductions in Limbic [11C]PBR28 PET Signal and Reductions in Depressive Symptoms

    The investigators will test whether reductions in pgACC/aMCC [11C]PBR28 PET signal (as measured by Standardized Uptake Value Ratio) correlate with reductions in depressive symptoms, as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory-II. The Beck Depression Inventory-II scale ranges from 0 - 63, with a higher score indicating greater depression.

    Measured: Change from Baseline to Week 4

  4. Change in Clinical Pain Ratings

    The "worst pain" item of the Brief Pain Inventory - Short Form will be used daily to assess pain intensity. The scale ranges from 0 - 10, with a higher score indicating worse pain intensity.

    Measured: Change from average score during the 7 days prior to treatment (Baseline) to average score during the final week of treatment

  5. Change in Pain Bothersomeness

    Pain bothersomeness will be assessed daily on a scale from 0 - 10, with a higher score indicating greater bothersomeness.

    Measured: Change from average score during the 7 days prior to treatment (Baseline) to average score during the final week of treatment

  6. Change in Depressive Symptoms

    The Beck Depression Inventory-II will be used to assess symptoms of depression. The scale ranges from 0 - 63, with a higher score indicating greater depression.

    Measured: Change from Baseline to Week 4

  7. Patient Global Impression of Change

    The Patient Global Impression of Change scale will be used to assess participants' perceptions about their global improvement related to their low back pain. The scale ranges from 0 - 7, with a higher score indicating greater overall improvement.

    Measured: Week 4

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted4 Oct 2021
  2. Study start4 Jan 2022
  3. Primary completion17 Apr 2026
  4. Study completion1 May 2026

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Basic science
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Triple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
69 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05066308
Sponsor's protocol ID
2021P002617
Acronym
CBD
Status last verified
Oct 2026
First submitted
23 Sep 2021
Last updated
15 Oct 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: All data, code, and materials used in the analyses can be provided by Jodi Gilman and Marco Loggia and Massachusetts General Hospital pending scientific review and a completed data use agreement/material transfer agreement beginning one year after publication of the results. Requests for all materials should be submitted to Jodi Gilman at jgilman1@mgh.harvard.edu or to Marco Loggia at marco.loggia@mgh.harvard.edu.

Publications

  • Pike CK, Kim M, Schnitzer K, Mercaldo N, Edwards R, Napadow V, Zhang Y, Morrissey EJ, Alshelh Z, Evins AE, Loggia ML, Gilman JM. Study protocol for a phase II, double-blind, randomised controlled trial of cannabidiol (CBD) compared with placebo for reduction of brain neuroinflammation in adults with chronic low back pain. BMJ Open. 2022 Sep 19;12(9):e063613. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-063613.

    PubMed 36123113

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2 study testing CBD in people with Back Pain and Depressive Symptoms, run by Massachusetts General Hospital at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 35 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 15 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Changes in Neuroinflammation in the Thalamus (time frame: Change from Baseline to Week 4). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05066308, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 15 Oct 2026.

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