It was pointed out by another poster that although 616a is in the shadows for now, it may be the bigger opportunity.
It is certainly the more mysterious of the 2 products, so I thought it might be worth taking a deeper dive to start a conversation on what is a growing social issue.
IRX 616a, like IRX 211, is a spray formulation delivered by a pMDI (think asthma inhaler) to provide a super fast acting solution, but that’s where the similarities end.
Unlike with IRX 211, IRX 616a has zero pain relieving qualities. There is no high meaning users can go about their regular working day completely unimpeded.
IRX 616a contains synthetic CBD, which a growing body of anecdotal& clinical evidence suggests has anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effects and excellent tolerability. In short, it can ease the mind with few side effects (dry mouth).
Its initial target market is for sufferers of panic disorder (PD), a form of anxiety affecting 2.7% of Americans or around 7 million people.
It is estimated that the total addressable market (TAM) for PD is USD $2 billion plus in America alone.
The nature of the disease is threefold – it is recurrent, sudden, and debilitating. Most panic attacks begin abruptly and escalate quickly. Peak symptoms usually occur with 5-10 minutes and an episode generally lasts between 10 and 30 minutes.
As a result, it requires a solution that is non-addictive, fast acting (within 5 minutes), and effective.
Current treatments fall massively short of the mark.
The gold standard is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). As the name suggests, this involves therapy sessions with a licensed mental health practitioner.
Patients require a whopping 12-20 weeks on average of 45 minute therapy sessions. The time & hassle makes this solution a burden for busy people.
The second line of defense is a type of anti-depressant medication called SSRI’s (think Zoloft and Prozac). These typically take 6-8 weeks to see the full benefits. They can also come with unwanted side effects such as drowsiness, insomnia and sexual dysfunction.
It also shares the same main problem with CBT that makes them impractical. 6-8 weeks is far too long for a problem that requires a solution with 5 minutes.
The third line of defense is benzodiazepines (benzos); well known examples include Xanax and Valium. These are described as fast acting but that’s being quite generous. Their effects still take at least 15 to 30 minutes to start working and their peak effect won’t be reached until at least an hour.
Benzos are said to be very effective for PD, but we still have a time mismatch. A panic attack requires a solution within 5 minutes, so the average panic attack would have already peaked well before the effects of benzos even start.
What makes benzos a completely unsatisfactory solution is they impair concentration making it difficult to work a job, are highly addictive, and come with a slew of dangerous side-effects, especially if taken long-term.
As a result, they are usually prescribed for very short periods (3 to 7 days) when necessary.
The recurrent nature of PD and significant TAM of 7 million Americans make it particularly big business. A discreet, portable, and fast acting solution that IRX 616a proposes distinguishes itself from the incumbent competition.
If successful, IRX 616a would be the world’s first FDA approved fast acting, non-addictive solution for the multi-billion dollar panic disorder market. The sleeping giant is it could be prescribed off label for other medical conditions including the much bigger social anxiety market.
Imo & GltahCannabidiolin Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series
Cannabidiolas a Potential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders. - Abstract - Europe PMC
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