A new pill that contains a non-addictive cannabidiol (CBD) composition designed to manage pain and inflammation proved effective in a trial at New York University involving 99 patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

The shoulder surgery patients experienced less pain than patients in a control group who received a placebo. Also, the study seemed to indicate that the more CBD, the better: patients who received 50mg of CBD felt better than those who received 25mg.

New Jersey-based Orcosa developed the pill, called Oravexx. The testing, conducted at NYU Langone Health and Baptist Health/Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute, involved 99 patients. Dr. Michael J. Alaia of NYU Langone led the study.

“We are grateful for the patients and investigators whose participation in this study evaluating CBD as a pain management therapy may lead to improved treatment options for patients,” Mark Ridall, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Orcosa, said in a press release.

What Is Oravexx?

Pain management is the focus on many studies involving both CBD and THC. That’s because millions of people experience difficulty in managing pain. Also, poorly managed pain leads to further health problems, including negative physical and psychological issues. For post-operative patients, it also can lead to readmission to the hospital.

Orcosa developed Oravexx to address pain management using chemical compounds found in CBD, a naturally occurring ingredient in cannabis that does not get users high. It’s a non-addictive type of pain management, which is where the company focuses its product development.

Noting the current opioid epidemic in the U.S., Orcosa leaders note on their website that “it is critically important to patients, doctors, and regulators, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), that alternative pain management therapies be developed.”

Findings From the Oravexx Study

According to the press release, 99 patients participated in the study. They were split in a group that received doses that contained 50mg of CBD, 25 mg of CBD and a control group given none.

Alaia reported the findings at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons annual meeting in Chicago.

• On the first day after surgery, patients receiving the new treatment experienced 23% less pain on average than those who received a placebo.
• On the first and second days after surgery, patients who took Oravexx reported 22 percent to  25 percent greater satisfaction with pain control compared to those who received placebo.
• The patients who took 50 mg of CBD reported lower pain and higher satisfaction with pain control than those who took the placebo or 25 mg of CBD.

At all points during the study, those who took Oravexx outperformed the control group. They also reported no side effects from CBD use.

The study follows past research that associated using CBD with less pain from arthritis, nerve damage, and inflammation. The NFL announced in 2022 that it is funding a study into using CBD and THC for managing pain in players.