Incannex Healthcare (ASX: HL) says it has received positive results from another animal study that has further assessed the anti-inflammatory capability of its proprietary IHL-675A.
The drug combines cannabidiol (‘CBD’) and hydroxychloroquine (‘HCQ’).
The company said previous studies have demonstrated "potent" anti-inflammatory activity of IHL-675A to make it a candidate for the prevention and treatment of sepsis-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (‘SAARDS’).
Incannex said following the results relevant to SAARDS, it also assessed the anti-inflammatory effect of its proprietary IHL-675A formulation on Pulmonary Neutrophilia. This condition is a primary underlying cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (‘COPD’), asthma, bronchitis, and other inflammatory respiratory conditions.
"Incannex is pleased to report encouraging results (presented below), which facilitate a substantial expansion of the potential uses for IHL-675A and represent new patient treatment opportunities," said the company.
A 'Rodent Model' was used in assessing the application of IHL-675A. In this model, ten groups of six mice each were pre-treated with either CBD, HCQ, or IHL-675A prior to intratracheal administration of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (‘LPS’), which was then inhaled and acts as an inflammatory stimulus in the lungs. A sham group where LPS was not administered to the mice was also included as a control.
The company said the lungs were flushed with a saline solution 24 hours after LPS administration and this fluid (bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (‘BALF’) was analysed for cytokine levels using a Luminex based assay. Cytokines are proteins that mediate the inflammatory response and a reduction in cytokine levels is indicative of reduced inflammation. A white blood cell (‘WBC’) count was also performed on the BALF.
When inflammation occurs in the lungs, WBCs are recruited as part of the inflammatory response. A reduction in WBC count is also indicative of reduced inflammation.
Incannex said cytokine levels were normalised to those detected in vehicle-treated mice and then the relative inhibition was calculated.
"IHL-675A reduced levels of all assessed inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, CXCL1 and MCP-1 to a greater extent than either CBD or HCQ alone," said the company. "WBC counts were normalised using the same method used for cytokines and IHL-675A also reduced WBC counts to a greater extent than CBD or HCQ alone. These results indicate that IHL-675A has superior anti-inflammatory activity compared to CBD and HCQ in a mouse pulmonary inflammation model."