Avecho Biotechnology enrolled 244 patients in its phase III insomnia trial — 16% beyond its original target — a result the company said will "strengthen the statistical power" of its upcoming interim analysis.
The ASX-listed company had set an initial enrolment target of 210 patients, but a late surge brought an additional 34 participants into the placebo-controlled study.
Avecho said the larger cohort "will increase the statistical power of the interim analysis and deliver a more robust dataset from which to assess the efficacy of the company's CBD soft-gel capsule".
Participants received nightly doses of either 75mg or 150mg of CBD, or a placebo, over eight weeks, with sleep quality tracked through questionnaires and diaries.
Interim analysis results are expected to be published in June.
An independent data monitoring board made up of external clinical and biostatistical experts has been appointed to examine the unblinded interim trial data and report findings to the company.
Avecho confirmed that its own staff, the trial sites, and investigators all remain blinded.
Pharmaceutical companySandoz signed a 10-year development and licensing agreement with Avecho last year, securing commercial rights to the capsule in Australia provided it gains approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
Avecho holds commercial rights across all international markets "where active discussions with potential partners are ongoing".
In its quarterly ASX update, Avecho reported an operating deficit of $887,000 for the three months ending March, with revenue of $184,000.
The company held $4.3m in available cash at the close of the quarter.
Argent BioPharma
Argent Biopharma posted an operating deficit of $788,000 for the third quarter of the financial year, bringing its nine-month cumulative deficit to $3.5m.
The company, which completed the 48% acquisition of CannPal Animal Therapeutics earlier this month, reported $16.4m in available cash at the end of the quarter, saying it remains well funded.
The quarter also saw Argent dispatch 1,000 units of its CannEpil drug to Ireland — the company's largest commercial shipment to date — with a retail value of approximately $783,000.
The cannabinoid product is formulated to help control seizures in patients with refractory epilepsy.
"The milestone follows the successful manufacture of CannEpil under EU-GMP standards through the company's partner, demonstrating Argent's capability to deliver scaled commercial supply within regulated pharmaceutical frameworks," it said.
Neurotech International
Neurotech International (NTI) has advised the ASX that its operating deficit is expected to decrease in the first quarter of FY27 as the company cuts spending on cultivation and preclinical activities.
After disclosing that it holds less than six months of funding based on its $2.2 million Q3 operating deficit, the company addressed ASX questions by saying it will "continue to monitor its funding position and expenditure requirements closely".
An anticipated $3.5m tax incentive in Q2 of FY27 will also help relieve the financial pressure, it said.
"The company retains flexibility to consider funding initiatives as and when required and will manage its expenditure in line with available funding," NTI said.
It held $4.4m in available cash at the end of March.
The quarter saw NTI open the first site for its Harmony trial, which is investigating the effects of its NTI164 drug on children with autism.
