Real World Evidence (RWE)

RWE is the insight gained when real-world data, such as information from patient registries, health records, or surveys, is analysed to better understand treatment outcomes. In the context of medical cannabis, RWE provides a clearer picture of how patients respond to medical cannabis in routine clinical practice.

RWE helps bridge the gap between clinical trials and real patient experiences. Clinical trials are often limited to very specific groups, whereas RWE reflects broader patient populations. This makes it valuable for understanding safety, effectiveness, and the reported quality of life of patients in everyday care.

Regulators such as the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) may consider RWE alongside data from clinical trials when reviewing new treatments. While RWE alone does not usually lead to drug approval, it can provide supportive evidence about how a medicine works in practice, particularly in areas where large-scale clinical trials are limited.

RWE can be used by doctors to inform prescribing decisions, by researchers to identify new areas for study, and by regulators to monitor safety after a medicine has been approved. At Curaleaf Clinic, anonymised patient data collected through the UK Medical Cannabis Registry contributes to published studies, helping build the evidence base for medical cannabis in the UK. You can read some of our published articles here.