The danger of painkillers couldn’t be ignored forever. And it’s about time the era of opioids for pain relief comes to an end. Vertanical, a Munich-based pharmaceutical company, is developing a cannabinoid-based extract to treat chronic pain, aiming to become an approved medicine in the European Union and later in the United States. The drug, called Ver-01, avoids causing a high due to its low cannabinoid levels, including THC, while still relieving pain. If approved, it would not be sold at cannabis dispensaries but instead prescribed by physicians and covered by insurance.

Clemens Fischer, a 50-year-old medical doctor and founder of Vertanical, has invested over $250 million of his own money in the company since its 2017 creation. A serial entrepreneur, Fischer previously built and sold multiple companies in the over-the-counter drug and supplement space. Ver-01’s clinical trials showed it to be more effective than opioid painkillers with fewer side effects, including no evidence of addiction. The company awaits regulatory decisions from German and Austrian authorities, with plans to expand across the EU and conduct U.S. Phase III trials in 2026.

Sarah Gaus, a 39-year-old German native with chronic lower back pain, participated in Vertanical’s 2023 clinical trial. She reported Ver-01 worked better than opioids but noted initial side effects like drowsiness and impaired concentration. Despite these issues, she experienced no withdrawal symptoms after discontinuing the medication. The company’s approach highlights a shift away from traditional opioid-based treatments, though challenges remain in balancing efficacy with patient usability.