--- title: "Ananda Pharma’s ACTiON Trial Enters Phase 2 After… | Cannabivo" description: "Ananda Pharma has dosed the first patient in the UK’s NIHR-backed ACTiON Phase 2 trial testing CBD-based MRX1 for chemotherapy-induced neuropathy." canonical: https://cannabivo.com/news/policy/ananda-pharma-s-action-trial-enters-phase-2-after-first-uk-patient-dose language: en robots: index, follow og_type: article type: research-article language_alternates: en: https://cannabivo.com/news/policy/ananda-pharma-s-action-trial-enters-phase-2-after-first-uk-patient-dose.md cs: https://cannabivo.com/cs/novinky/politika/studie-action-spolecnosti-ananda-pharma-vstupuje-do-faze-2-po-prvni-davce-podane-pacientovi-ve-spojenem-kralovstvi.md de: https://cannabivo.com/de/news/politik/ananda-pharmas-action-studie-geht-nach-erster-patientendosis-im-vereinigten-konigreich-in-phase-2-uber.md es: https://cannabivo.com/es/noticias/politica/el-ensayo-action-de-ananda-pharma-entra-en-fase-2-tras-la-primera-dosis-a-un-paciente-en-el-reino-unido.md fr: https://cannabivo.com/fr/actualites/politique/ananda-pharma-lessai-action-entre-en-phase-2-apres-la-premiere-dose-au-royaume-uni.md hu: https://cannabivo.com/hu/hirek/szabalyozas/az-ananda-pharma-action-vizsgalata-az-elso-brit-beteg-adagolasa-utan-belep-a-2-fazisba.md it: https://cannabivo.com/it/notizie/politica/lo-studio-action-di-ananda-pharma-entra-in-fase-2-dopo-la-prima-somministrazione-a-un-paziente-nel-regno-unito.md nl: https://cannabivo.com/nl/nieuws/beleid/action-studie-van-ananda-pharma-gaat-fase-2-in-na-eerste-dosis-bij-britse-patient.md pl: https://cannabivo.com/pl/aktualnosci/polityka/badanie-action-firmy-ananda-pharma-wkracza-do-fazy-2-po-podaniu-pierwszej-dawki-pacjentowi-w-wielkiej-brytanii.md pt: https://cannabivo.com/pt/noticias/politica/ensaio-action-da-ananda-pharma-entra-na-fase-2-apos-a-primeira-dose-ao-primeiro-doente-no-reino-unido.md ru: https://cannabivo.com/ru/novosti/politika/issledovanie-action-kompanii-ananda-farma-perekhodit-vo-2-yu-fazu-posle-pervoj-dozy-pacientu-v-velikobritanii.md tr: https://cannabivo.com/tr/haberler/politika/ananda-pharma-nin-action-calismasi-ilk-birlesik-krallik-hastasina-doz-verilmesinin-ardindan-faz-2ye-geciyor.md zh: https://cannabivo.com/zh/news/zhengce/annanda-zhiyao-de-action-shiyan-zai-yingguo-shouwei-huanzhe-geiyao-hou-jinru-2-qi.md ja: https://cannabivo.com/ja/news/seisaku/ananda-pharma-no-action-shiken-eikoku-no-saisho-no-kanja-touyo-wo-ete-dai2-sou-e.md ar: https://cannabivo.com/ar/akhbar/siyasat/tajribat-action-li-ananda-farma-tadkhul-al-marhala-al-thaniya-baad-itaa-awwal-juraa-fi-al-mamlaka-al-muttahida.md ko: https://cannabivo.com/ko/news/jeongchaek/ananda-pharma-action-siheom-yeongguk-cheot-hwanja-tuyeo-hu-2sang-jinip.md pt-br: https://cannabivo.com/pt-br/noticias/politica/estudo-action-da-ananda-pharma-entra-na-fase-2-apos-a-primeira-dose-em-paciente-no-reino-unido.md hi: https://cannabivo.com/hi/samachar/niti/uk-mein-pehle-mareez-ko-khuraak-diye-jaane-ke-baad-ananda-pharma-ka-action-parikshan-charan-2-mein-pahuncha.md generated: 2026-07-24 --- > **Machine-readable Markdown rendering.** This is a Markdown representation of a web page, > served for AI agents and crawlers as a token-efficient alternative to the full HTML. > Full interactive HTML version: https://cannabivo.com/news/policy/ananda-pharma-s-action-trial-enters-phase-2-after-first-uk-patient-dose > Canonical URL: https://cannabivo.com/news/policy/ananda-pharma-s-action-trial-enters-phase-2-after-first-uk-patient-dose > Available languages: en, cs, de, es, fr, hu, it, nl, pl, pt, ru, tr, zh, ja, ar, ko, pt-br, hi [![Researcher preparing MRX1 oral-solution trial materials at the University of Edinburgh pharmacy](/images/uploads/7b241c43-d5a1-4173-9ae9-70c6c84ff9cb/news-hero-ananda-pharma-s-action-trial-enters-phase-2-after-first-uk-patient-dose-1920x1080.jpg)](/images/uploads/7b241c43-d5a1-4173-9ae9-70c6c84ff9cb/news-hero-ananda-pharma-s-action-trial-enters-phase-2-after-first-uk-patient-dose-1920x1080.avif "View image full size") [Policy](/news/policy "Policy") 10 min read # Ananda Pharma’s ACTiON Trial Enters Phase 2 After First UK Patient Dose ![Portrait of Rob Harley, Cannabivo news desk](/images/uploads/5f094d99-3443-4907-8555-2910851fd38a/rob-harley-1920x1920.jpg)By [Rob Harley](/user-profile?u=a65dddce-73db-40b5-8660-fe93612a7384 "View the author's member profile")Published Yesterdayin [Policy](/news/policy "Policy") Ananda Pharma has dosed the first patient in the UK’s NIHR-backed ACTiON Phase 2 trial testing CBD-based MRX1 for chemotherapy-induced neuropathy. ![Portrait of Rob Harley, Cannabivo news desk](/images/uploads/5f094d99-3443-4907-8555-2910851fd38a/rob-harley-1920x1920.jpg)By [Rob Harley](/user-profile?u=a65dddce-73db-40b5-8660-fe93612a7384 "View the author's member profile") Rob Harley has reported on cannabis law and the non-profit association movement across Europe for the past decade. He focuses on how regulation actually reaches the members who use cannabis social clubs — the paperwork, the limits, and the slow build of public trust. His work for Cannabivo aims to be accurate, sourced, and free of hype. [More articles by this author](/news/author/rob-harley "See all articles by this author")Published Yesterdayin [Policy](/news/policy "Policy") In this article1. [The ACTiON trial moves MRX1 into Phase 2](/news/policy/ananda-pharma-s-action-trial-enters-phase-2-after-first-uk-patient-dose#the-action-trial-moves-mrx1-into-phase-2 "The ACTiON trial moves MRX1 into Phase 2") 2. [Why chemotherapy-induced neuropathy remains a serious problem](/news/policy/ananda-pharma-s-action-trial-enters-phase-2-after-first-uk-patient-dose#why-chemotherapy-induced-neuropathy-remains-a-serious-problem "Why chemotherapy-induced neuropathy remains a serious problem") 3. [What is known about MRX1 before the Phase 2 study](/news/policy/ananda-pharma-s-action-trial-enters-phase-2-after-first-uk-patient-dose#what-is-known-about-mrx1-before-the-phase-2-study "What is known about MRX1 before the Phase 2 study") 4. [Why the NIHR grant carries weight in the UK](/news/policy/ananda-pharma-s-action-trial-enters-phase-2-after-first-uk-patient-dose#why-the-nihr-grant-carries-weight-in-the-uk "Why the NIHR grant carries weight in the UK") 5. [ACTiON is part of a narrower pain-focused strategy](/news/policy/ananda-pharma-s-action-trial-enters-phase-2-after-first-uk-patient-dose#action-is-part-of-a-narrower-pain-focused-strategy "ACTiON is part of a narrower pain-focused strategy") 6. [The next question is whether the evidence holds](/news/policy/ananda-pharma-s-action-trial-enters-phase-2-after-first-uk-patient-dose#the-next-question-is-whether-the-evidence-holds "The next question is whether the evidence holds") Ananda Pharma has dosed the first patient in the UK’s ACTiON trial, a Phase 2 NIHR-funded study testing the company’s CBD-based oral solution MRX1 for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), a condition affecting around 67% or more of patients receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy. The milestone, reported in [CannabisHealth News’ account of the first patient dose](https://cannabishealthnews.co.uk/2026/07/21/ananda-pharma-doses-first-patient-in-nihr-backed-cipn-trial/ "CannabisHealth News’ account of the first patient dose"), moves the investigational product into a study of a major unmet need in oncology supportive care. ## The ACTiON trial moves MRX1 into Phase 2 The ACTiON study is being led by Professor Marie Fallon at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. It received an Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) grant from the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), a non-dilutive award that involves independent scientific scrutiny before approval. A separate [report on the UK CBD trial](https://cannabisdigest.net/2026/07/17/ananda-pharma-uk-cbd-trial-cipn/ "report on the UK CBD trial") also identifies ACTiON as a Phase 2 study evaluating MRX1 in chemotherapy-induced neuropathy. Ananda Pharma manufactured the MRX1 investigational product in 2025 and delivered it to the University of Edinburgh’s central pharmacy on 6 June 2026. The first patient began dosing around a week later, according to the company’s account of the programme. The first-dose announcement therefore marks the start of patient treatment within the study, not the publication of an efficacy result. How the ACTiON programme reached its first dose 1. 2025MRX1 manufactured Ananda Pharma produced the investigational product for the ACTiON study. 2. 6 June 2026Product delivered MRX1 was delivered to the University of Edinburgh central pharmacy. 3. Around a week after 6 June 2026First patient dosed The first participant began receiving MRX1 in the ACTiON trial. 4. 21 July 2026Milestone reported The first-patient dosing milestone was publicly reported. ## Why chemotherapy-induced neuropathy remains a serious problem CIPN is nerve damage caused by chemotherapy. The condition can produce persistent numbness, tingling and pain in the hands and feet, and symptoms may continue long after chemotherapy has ended. The source account describes it as a debilitating complication for which no effective therapies currently exist. Its clinical importance extends beyond the symptoms themselves. When neuropathy becomes severe, oncologists may have to reduce a patient’s chemotherapy dose or stop treatment before the planned course is complete. That creates a difficult balance between managing treatment-related harm and maintaining cancer treatment, with the source noting that dose changes can increase the risk of death or extend treatment duration. The clinical context behind ACTiON ~67% or morePatients affected during neurotoxic chemotherapy 20Participants in MRX1’s completed Phase 1 pharmacokinetic trial 2Concurrent Phase 2 programmes now underway 2025Year Ananda manufactured the MRX1 investigational product That burden is why the ACTiON study matters as a research question. It is not testing cannabis use generally, but a defined, company-developed oral formulation in a specific chemotherapy-related condition. The study’s purpose is to determine whether MRX1 can provide evidence of benefit in CIPN while continuing to establish its safety and clinical profile. - CIPN can involve numbness, tingling and pain in the hands and feet. - Symptoms may persist after chemotherapy has ended. - Severe neuropathy can lead oncologists to reduce or stop chemotherapy dosing. - The condition is described as a major unmet need in oncology supportive care. ## What is known about MRX1 before the Phase 2 study MRX1 is Ananda Pharma’s proprietary **CBD-based oral solution**. Its formulation is described as patent-pending, and the product was manufactured specifically for use as an investigational product in the ACTiON programme. The oral route is part of the formulation being studied, rather than a recommendation for people to self-treat chemotherapy-related symptoms. Ananda completed a Phase 1 pharmacokinetic trial of MRX1 earlier in 2026. The company reported a clean safety profile across 20 participants, and that finding supported progression into Phase 2. Pharmacokinetic and early safety findings can help a programme move forward, but they do not establish that a treatment is effective for CIPN. That question remains for the later-stage study. The distinction is important in a field where the word CBD can refer to very different products and research settings. Cannabivo’s CBD as a Drug: Real Doses, Effects and Risks provides broader background on why a regulated investigational formulation should not be treated as interchangeable with general consumer CBD products. > “This is gold standard work and we are honoured to be part of it.” > > Melissa Sturgess, Chief Executive Officer of Ananda Pharma ## Why the NIHR grant carries weight in the UK The NIHR’s involvement gives the ACTiON study significance beyond the funding itself. The EME grant is non-dilutive, meaning it does not require the company to give up equity, but the source places particular emphasis on the grant’s review process. Independent scientific scrutiny takes place before approval, and the agency’s support signals that the research question has passed peer review and is considered medically warranted. That does not turn MRX1 into an approved treatment, and it does not predict the eventual trial result. It does, however, distinguish ACTiON from an early commercial experiment operating without public research backing. The study is being conducted within a UK research framework that has judged the question sufficiently sound and important to warrant an EME award. For patients and clinicians, the practical issue remains whether the trial can produce reliable evidence about CIPN. The first dose is therefore best understood as a transition from preparatory work and early safety testing to the next evidentiary stage. The grant’s role can be summarised in three ways: - It provides non-dilutive support for the ACTiON programme. - It subjects the research proposal to independent scientific scrutiny before approval. - It indicates that the CIPN research question passed peer review and was considered medically warranted. What the first dose does not show The milestone confirms that dosing has begun. It does not, on the facts currently available, provide a clinical efficacy result or establish MRX1 as an approved treatment for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. ## ACTiON is part of a narrower pain-focused strategy The ACTiON milestone also reflects a change in Ananda Pharma’s business and research strategy. The company accelerated a pivot in the previous year after exiting an NIHR-funded epilepsy trial and withdrawing from public markets. It then concentrated capital on MRX1 and its pain pipeline. Ananda now has two active Phase 2 programmes running concurrently. ACTiON is focused on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, while ENDOCAN is evaluating MRX1 in endometriosis-associated pain. The two studies address different indications, but they use the same investigational formulation and give the company two opportunities to develop evidence around MRX1 in pain-related conditions. Ananda Pharma’s concurrent MRX1 Phase 2 programmes | Programme | Indication | Stage | Academic or research context | Source | |---|---|---|---|---| | ACTiON | Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy | Phase 2 | Led by Professor Marie Fallon at the University of Edinburgh; NIHR EME-funded | [Ananda Pharma Doses First Patient in NIHR-Backed CIPN Trial](https://cannabishealthnews.co.uk/2026/07/21/ananda-pharma-doses-first-patient-in-nihr-backed-cipn-trial/ "Ananda Pharma Doses First Patient in NIHR-Backed CIPN Trial") | | ENDOCAN | Endometriosis-associated pain | Phase 2 | A parallel clinical programme evaluating the same MRX1 formulation | [Ananda Pharma Doses First Patient in NIHR-Backed CIPN Trial](https://cannabishealthnews.co.uk/2026/07/21/ananda-pharma-doses-first-patient-in-nihr-backed-cipn-trial/ "Ananda Pharma Doses First Patient in NIHR-Backed CIPN Trial") | The source says both programmes are now underway, creating the possibility that Phase 2 readouts from two separate indications could emerge within a similar timeframe. No results or readout dates are provided, so the significance of that parallel development remains prospective rather than demonstrable. ## The next question is whether the evidence holds The first patient dose gives ACTiON a clear operational milestone, but the central test is still ahead. The study must show whether MRX1 can address the symptoms and treatment burden associated with CIPN in a way that is clinically meaningful and supported by trial evidence. At this stage, the strongest established facts are the programme’s UK setting, its NIHR-backed status, the transition into Phase 2 and the completion of earlier pharmacokinetic work. The reported Phase 1 safety profile across 20 participants supports continuation, while the first patient dose confirms that the next phase has begun. Neither finding answers the efficacy question on its own. ACTiON trial: key questions What is the ACTiON trial studying?ACTiON is a UK Phase 2 study evaluating Ananda Pharma’s proprietary CBD-based oral solution MRX1 as a treatment for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Who is leading the study?The study is led by Professor Marie Fallon at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. What does NIHR backing mean here?The ACTiON study received an Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation grant from the UK’s NIHR. The grant is non-dilutive and involves independent scientific scrutiny before approval. Has MRX1 been shown to work for CIPN?The supplied facts do not report an efficacy result. An earlier Phase 1 pharmacokinetic trial found a clean safety profile across 20 participants, supporting progression to Phase 2. What other MRX1 study is underway?ENDOCAN is a parallel Phase 2 study evaluating MRX1 for endometriosis-associated pain. Key takeaways - Ananda Pharma has dosed the first patient in the UK ACTiON Phase 2 trial. - ACTiON is evaluating the patent-pending CBD-based oral solution MRX1 for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. - The study is led by Professor Marie Fallon at the University of Edinburgh and backed by a non-dilutive UK NIHR EME grant. - Earlier Phase 1 work reported a clean safety profile across 20 participants, but no efficacy result has yet been reported. - Ananda is running ACTiON alongside the ENDOCAN Phase 2 study in endometriosis-associated pain. Ananda Pharma’s first-patient milestone places MRX1 into a UK Phase 2 programme addressing one of chemotherapy’s most difficult supportive-care problems. The NIHR-backed study now has to move beyond feasibility and early safety toward the evidence that will determine whether the formulation can offer a meaningful option for people living with CIPN. ## Sources 1. [Bridging the Gap: Endometriosis and the Search for Better Symptom Management (cannabishealthnews.co.uk)](https://cannabishealthnews.co.uk/2026/07/23/bridging-the-gap-endometriosis-and-the-search-for-better-symptom-management/ "Open source in a new tab: https://cannabishealthnews.co.uk/2026/07/23/bridging-the-gap-endometriosis-and-the-search-for-better-symptom-management/") 2. [NHS Trust Approves UK-First Inpatient Medical Cannabis Policy (cannabishealthnews.co.uk)](https://cannabishealthnews.co.uk/2026/07/22/nhs-trust-approves-uk-first-inpatient-medical-cannabis-policy/ "Open source in a new tab: https://cannabishealthnews.co.uk/2026/07/22/nhs-trust-approves-uk-first-inpatient-medical-cannabis-policy/") 3. 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[Project CBD Newsletter: CBD for Neuroinflammation, Alzheimer’s, Neuropathic Pain, Oral Health, Acne, Medical Cannabis Sick Leave, and DEA Rescheduling Update (projectcbd.org)](https://projectcbd.org/newsletter/project-cbd-newsletter-cbd-for-neuroinflammation-alzheimers-neuropathic-pain-oral-health-acne-medical-cannabis-sick-leave-and-dea-rescheduling-update/ "Open source in a new tab: https://projectcbd.org/newsletter/project-cbd-newsletter-cbd-for-neuroinflammation-alzheimers-neuropathic-pain-oral-health-acne-medical-cannabis-sick-leave-and-dea-rescheduling-update/") 5. [The ECS as a Framework for Understanding Health and Healing (cannigma.com)](https://cannigma.com/physiology/the-ecs-as-a-framework-for-understanding-health-and-healing/ "Open source in a new tab: https://cannigma.com/physiology/the-ecs-as-a-framework-for-understanding-health-and-healing/") 6. [What Is Hop Latent Viroid — and Why “Clean Genetics” Became the Most Important Words in Cannabis Cultivation (cannigma.com)](https://cannigma.com/research/what-is-hop-latent-viroid-and-why-clean-genetics-became-the-most-important-words-in-cannabis-cultivation/ "Open source in a new tab: https://cannigma.com/research/what-is-hop-latent-viroid-and-why-clean-genetics-became-the-most-important-words-in-cannabis-cultivation/") 7. [UK CBD Trial for Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathy Begins (cannabisdigest.net)](https://cannabisdigest.net/2026/07/17/ananda-pharma-uk-cbd-trial-cipn/ "Open source in a new tab: https://cannabisdigest.net/2026/07/17/ananda-pharma-uk-cbd-trial-cipn/") 8. 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