Could a pill replace the CPAP machine for sleep apnea?
NCT ID NCT06146101
First seen Jul 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 28, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial tests whether a drug called IHL-42X can reduce breathing pauses during sleep in people with obstructive sleep apnea who cannot tolerate or do not use a CPAP machine. The study has two parts: first, a short dose-finding phase to pick the best dose, then a longer phase comparing that dose to its individual ingredients and a placebo. The goal is to see if the combination pill can improve sleep and breathing without the need for a mask or machine.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- a combination drug containing dronabinol and acetazolamide, called IHL-42X
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a pill-based alternative to CPAP machines for people with obstructive sleep apnea.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-to-mid-stage trial, so the drug may not prove effective or safe. Side effects from the two active ingredients are possible.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 2/3
Runs two stages together: whether the treatment works, then large-scale confirmation.
- Participants
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121 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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May 2024
- Finished
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Jul 2025
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Aged ≥18 years of age 2. Screening polysomnography (PSG) findings confirmed on central over-read: 1. AHI ≥15 2. ≤ 25% central or mixed apneas/hypopneas 3. no Cheyne-Stokes respiration 4. total sleep time ≥ 2 hours 3. Intolerant, non-compliant, or naïve to PAP (Note: No more than 25% of the study population will consist of PAP-naïve patients). Patients will be identified as intolerant, non-compliant, or naïve to PAP devices by the following criteria: 1. Patients are regarded as PAP-non-compliant if they do not use PAP for ≥ 4 hours for at least 21 nights during consecutive 30-day period based on data collected from the PAP device (eg, SD storage cards) and/or a cloud-based repository of PAP device data. 2. Patients are regarded as PAP-intolerant if they are former PAP users, ie, a PAP device that they have not used for \>30 days or who do not have access to PAP device 3. Patients are regarded as PAP-naïve if they have no prior experience with PAP. Patients who have undergone a split-study, ie, a study of PAP during PSG, are not considered PAP- naïve and should be categorised according to a through b above. (Note: PAP-naïve patients will have the benefits and risks of PAP explained at screening, including that PAP is standard of care for OSA. These patients also have the option to withdraw from the study at any time if he/she elects to be treated with PAP or other alternative therapy such as an oral appliance or surgery) 4. Must agree not to take any form of cannabis or cannabinoid, or any other illicit or recreational drug with the exception of the investigational product (IP) while participating in this study. 5. A female patient of childbearing potential must agree to use 2 approved methods of contraception. Approved methods of contraception include the following: 1. Intra-uterine device in place for at least 3 months prior to Day 1 through to 10 days following the last dose of the study drug 2. Barrier method (condom or diaphragm) for at least 3 months prior to Day 1 through to 10 days after the last dose of the study drug 3. Stable hormonal contraceptive which includes oral, intravaginal, intrauterine, transdermal, injectable, or implantable methods of hormonal contraception for at least 3 months prior to Day 1. A female will not be considered of childbearing potential if: 1. 12 months of spontaneous amenorrhea or 6 months of spontaneous amenorrhea with serum FSH levels \> 40 mIU/ml 2. undergone bilateral tubal ligation, hysterectomy, or bilateral oophorectomy at least 6 months prior to Day 1 6. A male patient must agree to use at least 1 approved method of contraception (or as required by local regulations) while engaging in sexual activity from study Day -1 through End-of-Study (EOS) follow-up and/or up to 10 days following the last administration of the study drug. Male patients must not donate sperm during this same period. Approved methods of contraception include the following: 1. Barrier method (condom) for at least 14 days prior to Day 1 through to 10 days after the final dose of the study drug 2. Surgical sterilisation (vasectomy) at least 6 months prior to Day 1 7. Voluntarily written consent to participate in the study and be willing and able to participate in all scheduled visits, treatment plans, tests, and other study procedures according to the protocol Exclusion Criteria: 1. Body mass index \>45 kg/m2 2. PAP-compliant, defined by the use of PAP for ≥ 4 hours for at least 21 nights during the consecutive 30-day period 3. Current use of oral appliances (eg, mandibular advancement device, tongue retaining device, or mouth guard) 4. Maxillomandibular advancement, upper airway, or bariatric surgery within the last 6 months prior to first administration of the study drug; or patients who are considering surgical treatment 5. Use of benzodiazepines, sedative-hypnotics, or stimulants (ATC N06B, N05C, N05BA, N03AE, and N01AF categories) to treat insomnia, OSA, other sleep disorders 6. Pierre Robin, Treacher Collins, or other craniofacial malformation syndrome, or grade ≥3 tonsillar hypertrophy 7. Chronic neuromuscular disorders such as motor neuron disease, muscular dystrophy, or myopathy 8. Known allergic reaction to cannabis products with previous use 9. Known allergic reaction to sesame oil 10. Known allergic reaction to acetazolamide 11. Pregnant or breast-feeding 12. Current illicit drug abuse (within the last 6 months prior to screening) ; "abuse" has some subsets that are objective and some that require investigator judgement; questions should be discussed with the medical monitor or with the sponsor 1. An objective subset includes consumption of substances that are "illicit", i.e. not legal per local laws 2. Investigator judgement is expected for legally marketed products ingested for other than the approved indication(s) 13. Severe depression, defined as a score of ≥30 on the Major Depression Inventory questionnaire 14. Severe anxiety, defined as score of \>15 on the General Anxiety Disorder-7 questionnaire 15. Any of the following co-morbid conditions (Note: clarification on co-morbidities and inclusion/exclusion criteria may be discussed with the medical monitor and/or sponsor): 1. severe psychiatric disorder that might be aggravated or exacerbated by dronabinol's potential to cause anxiety/nervousness, depersonalization, hallucination, etc; 2. cardiac dysfunction and/or its treatment that might augment dronabinol's potential to cause tachycardia or vasodilation; 3. marked hepatic dysfunction as defined by elevated ALT or AST \>3 times the upper limit of normal, that would reduce dronabinol metabolism; one retest per subject is permitted at the discretion of the investigator; the subject may continue in RePOSA if BOTH repeat transaminase levels are within the reference range; 4. current or history of encephalopathy or cirrhosis Child-Pugh category B or C (see Appendix 7) since acetazolamide can increase blood ammonia levels precipitating a bout of hepatic encephalopathy; 5. marked renal dysfunction, including eGFR \<60 mL/min/1.73m2, as determined using the National Kidney Foundation calculator 6. hypokalaemia (low blood potassium), hyponatremia (low blood sodium), hyperchloraemic acidosis, and/or adrenal insufficiency that might be aggravated or exacerbated by acetazolamide's activity as a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor 16. Other ongoing condition(s) that the investigator considers may be clinically significant with regards to the patient's safe participation in this study or may confound this study's findings; any consideration should be discussed with the medical monitor or with the sponsor 17. Participation in any other interventional studies involving investigational or marketed products within 30 days or 5.5 half-lives, whichever is longer, of the IP prior to screening. Patients in Phase II may enter screening (with a different identifier) for Phase III after 30 days from the last administration of the study drug in Phase II.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Advanced Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, PLLC
Huntersville, North Carolina, 28078, United States
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CTI Clinical Trial and Consulting Services
Cincinnati, Ohio, 45212, United States
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CenExel CNS- Los Alamitos
Long Beach, California, 90806, United States
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Centennial Medical Group
Elkridge, Maryland, 21075-6434, United States
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Clinical Neuroscience Solutions, Inc. (CNS Healthcare of Jacksonville)
Jacksonville, Florida, 32256, United States
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Clinical Neuroscience Solutions, Inc. (CNS Healthcare of Memphis)
Memphis, Tennessee, 38119, United States
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Clinical Neuroscience Solutions, Inc. (CNS Healthcare of Orlando)
Orlando, Florida, 32806, United States
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Exalt Clinical Research
Chula Vista, California, 91910, United States
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FutureSearch Trials
Austin, Texas, 78731, United States
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FutureSearch Trials of Dallas, LP
Dallas, Texas, 75231-3442, United States
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Henderson Clinical Trials,LLC
Henderson, Nevada, 89052-5016, United States
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Intrepid Research
Cincinnati, Ohio, 45245-4501, United States
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Meridian Clinical Research, LLC
Rockville, Maryland, 20854, United States
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NeuroTrials Research, Inc.
Atlanta, Georgia, 30328, United States
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Pacific Clinical Research Medical Group
Upland, California, 91786-4985, United States
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Palm Beach Research Center
West Palm Beach, Florida, 33409-3401, United States
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Tandem Clinical Research, LLC
Marrero, Louisiana, 70072, United States
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Teradan Clinical Trials
Valrico, Florida, 33596-8262, United States
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Velocity Clinical Research - Anderson
Anderson, South Carolina, 29621, United States
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Velocity Clinical Research - Greenville
Greenville, South Carolina, 29615, United States
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