ENDO-CAN1 clinical trial

Endometriosis is a condition where cells similar to the ones in the lining of the womb (uterus) are found elsewhere in the body. This often causes pain. We want to find out if CBD can help reduce this pain.

Why?

Endometriosis is associated with inflammation. Cannabinoids are substances extracted from cannabis and are promising treatments for pain conditions. In laboratory models of endometriosis cannabinoids reduce inflammation and can shrink endometriosis deposits. We know that many patients use cannabinoids but so far there have not been any clinical trials to determine if this an effective treatment for endometriosis, or what the right dose is.

There are lots of different types of cannabinoids and the two most studied cannabinoids are THC and CBD. THC is the part that makes you feel high, while CBD doesn’t cause intoxication and has fewer side effects. A very similar CBD-based medicine called Epidyolex is approved to treat types of epilepsy in children.

What is this new trial? 

This trial (called ENDOCAN-1) will help us to find out what might be the best dose of a CBD medication (called MRX-1) to reduce pain and causes the fewest side effects. We also want to know if we have the correct trial design which makes it easy for people to take part in such a study. This will help us plan a bigger clinical trial in the future to see if CBD is an effective and acceptable treatment for endometriosis.

Who?

• People with a history of endometriosis diagnosed in the last 10 years
• Aged 16 or older
• Premenopausal
• Not current trying to become pregnant or breastfeeding.

Where?

NHS Lothian and NHS Grampian

When

Recruitment from Autumn 2025

Recruitment target

100 participants 

For further details, please contact Priscilla.Fernandez@ed.ac.uk please type “EndoCAN patient enquiry” in the email title section. This will help the team reply to your query sooner.