Incannex Completes Successful Pre-IND Meeting with the FDA for CannQuit-N; a Novel Solution for Tobacco Smoking Cessation

MELBOURNE, Australia and NEW YORK, Feb. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Incannex Healthcare Inc. (Nasdaq: IXHL), (Incannex or the Company), a leading cannabinoid and psychedelic medicine biotechnology company, is pleased to announce the successful completion of a pre-IND (Investigational New Drug) meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the development of CannQuit-N for tobacco smoking cessation and control of relapse.

The pre-IND teleconference included representatives from various divisions of the FDA covering all regulatory aspects of the CannQuit-N development program. The Agency had reviewed the CannQuit-N meeting package and provided recommendations on key design aspects of the proposed clinical trials, including the timing of efficacy endpoints and specific details on safety endpoints. The FDA also confirmed proposed strategies for manufacturing and quality control are appropriate.

The productive discussion with the FDA is an important milestone for the development of CannQuit-N and will guide the continued development of the drug product.

About CannQuit-N

CannQuit-N is a smoking cessation chewing gum that combines controlled-release of cannabidiol (CBD) with nicotine. Incannex holds granted patents on chewing gums that combine CBD and nicotine. The combination of CBD and nicotine is hypothesised to better assist addicted smokers to quit smoking than traditional nicotine containing chewing gum, an NRT (nicotine replacement therapy) per annum which totalled $2.92 bln in 2021 and is expected to grow to $7.93 by 2029 at CAGR of 13.31%. https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-nicotine-replacement-therapy-market

CBD has been found to inhibit the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor which plays a role in the reinforcing effects of nicotine. Interactions of endocannabinoids with the CB1 receptor are essential in mediating behaviours associated with addiction and there are preliminary clinical observations suggesting that CBD may help to reduce the number of cigarettes smoked in a day.

Medicated chewing gums deliver their active ingredients directly into the circulation of the oral mucosa, ensuring that the effects of the ingredients are delivered rapidly, but also in a sustained manner to reduce cravings for longer than other delivery methods. Rapid onset and sustained effect are both qualities desirable for the treatment of addiction disorders. Furthermore, the act of chewing, known as mastication, has complex stimulating mechanisms including anxiolytic effects which have been demonstrated in other scientific assessments.