Qnovia, Inc. has announced the dosing of the first patient in the U.S. for its Phase 1 clinical trial of RespiRx™ Nicotine Inhaler (QN-01) as a prescription smoking cessation therapy. This trial aims to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of the inhaler in healthy adult smokers. The results of the study are expected to be available in the second quarter of 2025.
Smoking remains a critical public health challenge, with over half of the 28 million smokers in the U.S. attempting to quit each year, yet less than 10% succeed. Current nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) often fall short due to slow and low-level nicotine delivery via buccal or transdermal routes. RespiRx™ aims to address this unmet need by delivering nicotine directly to the lungs through inhalation.
RespiRx™: A Novel Approach to Nicotine Replacement
The RespiRx™ Nicotine Inhaler is a drug-device combination product designed as a portable, hand-held nebulizer. It delivers nicotine as an inhaled mist through metered-dose cartridges, potentially offering a more effective and rapid nicotine delivery compared to traditional NRTs.
"We are delighted to have dosed our first patient in our Phase 1 study as we strive to address the global epidemic of combustible tobacco use and transform the treatment landscape for smoking cessation," said Brian Quigley, Chief Executive Officer of Qnovia, Inc. "Smoking remains one of the most challenging addictions to overcome and it has been several decades since we have seen novel treatment options available to patients."
Phase 1 Trial Details
The Phase 1 study is a randomized, crossover, open-label trial. It will evaluate the self-administration of RespiRx™ Nicotine Inhaler, Nicotrol® Inhaler (a currently available nicotine inhaler), or combustible cigarettes in up to 24 healthy adult subjects who currently smoke. The primary endpoints include baseline-adjusted plasma nicotine Cmax, AUC0-30, and Tmax. The trial is being conducted by Dr. Vince Clinical Research, a clinical research organization based in Overland Park, KS.
Qnovia's proprietary drug/device combination has previously demonstrated dose-dependent pharmacokinetics and pulmonary delivery with good tolerability in a first-in-human study conducted in the UK.
Future Developments
Qnovia anticipates submitting a Clinical Trial Application for RespiRx™ Nicotine Inhaler in the U.K. in the second half of 2025. The company is focused on developing and commercializing proprietary inhalation device technologies to improve patient outcomes across various indications, including asthma, COPD, vaccine delivery, and pain management.