Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients Open to Pill-Based Treatment: Survey Reveals Dissatisfaction with CPAP

In a recent survey, a significant majority of patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have expressed their willingness to switch from CPAP therapy to a pill-based treatment. The survey, commissioned by Incannex, a company developing a pill-form treatment for OSA, sought to understand the experiences and preferences of patients with this sleep disorder.

The survey, conducted by Quantum Research Group LLC, involved 340 individuals diagnosed with OSA. The results, released in May 2024, highlighted a widespread desire for alternative treatment options, particularly driven by the inconvenience and discomfort associated with current therapies.

The Need for Alternative Treatments

The survey found that 69% of respondents are open to switching to a pill-form treatment for their OSA. The primary reason cited by these patients for wanting to switch is ease of use (84%), indicating a significant frustration with the complexity and inconvenience of current treatment methods.

While CPAP therapy remains the gold standard for treating OSA, the survey revealed mixed satisfaction among patients. The survey found that 61% of OSA patients who use a CPAP or other PAP machine report multiple disruptions to their sleep every week. Almost 70% of patients reported that the machine is uncomfortable. These findings point towards the challenges and limitations associated with CPAP therapy.

Patients Struggle with CPAP Therapy

The survey further revealed that 37% of patients either don’t use their PAP device every night or sometimes remove it overnight. The most common annoyances with these devices include mask discomfort (69%), dry mouth or throat (5%), and air leaks (47%). These issues can significantly impact sleep quality and overall adherence to treatment.

This survey is not the first to highlight the need for more convenient and comfortable treatment options for OSA. “The US market for sleep apnea devices is expected to substantially increase from $2.02 billion in 2023 to $3.76 billion by 2032,” says Ari Zoldan, CEO of Quantum Research Group, LLC. “That staggering compound annual growth rate of 7.12% over such a short time frame demonstrates not only the size of the market for sleep apnea treatments but also the significant unmet need evident in the lack of an FDA-approved, medicated treatment for this condition.”

A Pill-Based Treatment Offers Hope

Incannex is actively pursuing the development of a pill-based treatment for OSA, aiming to address the unmet needs of patients who struggle with traditional therapies. Their phase 2/3 FDA investigational new drug-enabling RePOSA pivotal trial is underway following positive phase 2 data that demonstrated IHL-42X reduced the apnea-hypopnea index by an average greater than 50% at the low dose. The study also found that 25% of patients’ AHIs declined by more than 80%.

IHL-42X is a fixed-dose combination of dronabinol, an FDA-approved form of synthetic delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, with the carbonic anhydrase inhibitor acetazolamide. Both have individually shown promise in treating obstructive sleep apnea in off-label use via previous studies and are now shown to work synergistically together.

“Despite being the standard treatment, studies show that there is low compliance with CPAP machines, and this survey further confirms the need for treatment alternatives,” says Joel Latham, president and CEO of Incannex. “We look forward to advancing our clinical program in the hopes of bringing a medicated treatment option to market, a solution that we believe patients will find more convenient and comfortable.”

The Future of Sleep Apnea Treatment

The results of this survey highlight the growing need for alternative treatment options for OSA, particularly those that are more convenient and comfortable for patients. With ongoing research and development, a pill-based treatment could revolutionize the management of sleep apnea, offering patients a more manageable and effective solution to improve their sleep and overall well-being.