Celedon Pharmaceuticals
The sports medicine industry has begun to pay attention to the potential that cannabinoid medication can have for athletes and ex-athletes. However, many practitioners are unsure of how and when such medication could be used. Celedon Pharmaceuticals wanted to assess attitudes, understanding and the market potential of cannabinoids within elite sport across the UK.
Celedon Pharmaceuticals commissioned Sport Science Agency to run a research and insight project. This culminated in two reports, the first had an internal focus, the second acted as an industry white paper aimed at sports medicine professionals.
TYPE: Research
DATE: January - February 2021
What we achieved
15 Sports medicine industry interviews
51 2 Papers reviewed Industry reports
Client view
“Sport Science Agency has been the perfect partner to help engage the sports medicine industry. They understand the importance of research led information when speaking to medical professionals. The reports and connections they bring have formed the centre of our sports marketing strategy”.
Jim Short - Chairman, Celedon Pharmaceuticals
Background
Celedon Pharmaceuticals is one of the first firms in the UK to receive a home office licence to grow medicinal cannabis. Its initial focus is to provide treatments for chronic pain. This is particularly relevant to sport as research shows current and retired athletes over-index in terms of suffering from chronic pain.
THE reports
The initial report was undertaken following a series of in-depth interviews with medical professionals from across the sporting spectrum. This included doctors, physiotherapists, heads of medical departments, sport scientist and consultant sports medicine experts. Interviewees' experience spaned Premier League and International football, Premiership and International rugby, Olympic sport, and professional tennis.
Following the interviews, responses were collated to give Celadon a picture of the medical professionals' views and understanding including:-
The potential for cannabinoids in sport
Knowledge gaps concerning cannabinoids in sport
Anti-doping rules and regulations relating to cannabinoids
This information was then used to frame the second report. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
The second report acted as a white paper for Celadon to distribute across the sports medicine sector. Having identified areas of interest, knowledge gaps and uncertainty relating to anti-doping rules. Iit provided a comprehensive review to address this rapidly changing area of medicine.
Topics included:-
Background, definitions and distinctions of cannabis, cannabinoids and THC
Brief mechanisms and potential benefits of THC
Benefits of cannabinoids in sport
Current use of cannabinoids in sport
Use of cannabis-based medicinal products in the UK
Regulations in sport - cannabinoids, the Law and Anti-Doping
Considerations for sports people using cannabinoids
Therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs)
THE RESULTS
Two industry-leading reports were produced for Celadon Pharmaceuticals. These reports are used to educate sports medics, performance scientists and physiotherapists about the latest research and potential benefits of cannabinoids.