Incannex Receives IRB Approval for the RePOSA Phase 2/3 Clinical Trial Protocol to Assess IHL-42X Drug in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

MELBOURNE, Australia and NEW YORK, Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Incannex Healthcare Inc. (Nasdaq: IXHL), (‘Incannex’ or the ‘Company’), a pharmaceutical company developing unique medicinal cannabinoid pharmacotherapies and psychedelic medicine therapies is pleased to announce that an independent Institutional Review Board (IRB) has approved the protocol for the Company’s Phase 2/3 clinical trial to be conducted in the United States to assess safety and efficacy of proprietary combination drug candidate IHL-42X in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). IRB approval of the protocol is a key step in activation of clinical trial sites for the RePOSA study.

Under regulations of the Food & Drug Administration, IRB approval is required prior to commencing research in human subjects and serves to ensure that appropriate measures are in place to protect the rights and welfare of research participants. The approval process involves review of the research protocol, informed consent procedures, recruitment materials, and participant risk versus benefit analysis.

The RePOSA Clinical Trial

The RePOSA study is a Phase 2/3, randomised, double-blind clinical trial to determine the safety and efficacy of IHL-42X in subjects with OSA who are intolerant, non-compliant, or naïve to positive airway pressure (PAP), such as that administered via a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine.

The RePOSA study consists of two component studies. A four-week Phase 2 dose ranging trial that will determine the optimal dose of IHL-42X based on safety and efficacy in OSA patients, and a 52-week Phase 3 factorial trial that will compare the optimal dose of IHL-42X to the component APIs, dronabinol and acetazolamide, at equivalent doses, as well as placebo. The study is designed to facilitate a seamless transition between Phase 2 and Phase 3, reducing downtime and accelerating development timelines.

The endpoints, inclusion criteria and study procedures are the same across both component studies, which streamlines the transition process from Phase 2 to Phase 3. The target patient population is individuals aged 18 years or older with OSA who are intolerant, non-compliant or naïve to Positive Airway Pressure. At least 560 patients will be recruited, with a total of 355 patients receiving IHL-42X over the course of the study. RePOSA is registered on clinicaltrials.gov with identification code NCT06146101.