Evaluation of an Oral Cannabidiol (CBD)-Terpene Formulation on Sleep Physiology in Participants With Insomnia

Our research study aims to test the effects of a highly purified CBD product on the structure and function of sleep physiology. In a survey by Consumer Reports, ~40% of adults who reported trying CBD said they used it to help them sleep, and a majority of those people said it worked. Nonetheless, to this date a rigorous, properly-controlled, and well-powered study to determine if CBD influences sleep physiology has simply never been reported in the scientific literature. The Le Rêve 3.0 study is designed to fill this important void in scientific knowledge.

We hypothesize that a novel CBD-based formulation in the form of an orally administered capsule will positively impact sleep physiology in subjects with insomnia. The capsule we will test is composed of >99.9% purity hemp-derived CBD with a custom chemical formulation that also contains low concentrations (1 mg each) of highly purified (>98%) forms of the terpenes linalool, myrcene, phytol, limonene, alpha-terpinene, alpha-terpineol, alpha-pinene, and beta-caryophyllene. Preclinical studies in animals have shown that these terpenes are sedating, but their potential effects on sleep physiology in humans have not been established. This product contains no detectable Delta-9-THC.

The Le Rêve 3.0 study will involve a cross-over design in which study participants will cycle through two independent treatments each for four weeks (Treatment 1: Placebo; Treatment 2: Defined CBD). The study participants will initially be randomized with respect to the treatment group, and all participants will be cycled through each of the two treatments. We will use a double-blind design in which the investigator and study participants will both be blinded to the treatments. Baseline data for each participant will be collected for two weeks prior to initiating treatments, as well as for a one-week washout period following each treatment arm. The entire study will last 12 weeks.

The primary objective of the study is to determine if Defined CBD influences objective measures of sleep physiology. Primary sleep physiology data will be obtained in a completely unbiased manner from a non-invasive sleep-tracking wristband, called "Whoop" (https://www.whoop.com), that electronically collects and transmits sleep data from study participants in the comfort of their own beds. The wristband collects hundreds of data points per second from a 3-axis accelerometer, 3-axis gyroscope, and heart rate sensor. The wristband can accurately measure latency to fall asleep, total sleep time, sleep fragmentation, as well as the time spent in each sleep stage [Light, Slow Wave (Deep), Rapid Eye Movement (REM), and Awake]. The wristband also collects data using photoplethysmography (PPG), a technique that involves measuring blood flow by assessing superficial changes in blood volume. Heart rate, heart rate variability, and respiratory rate, can all be derived from PPG data, and all of these metrics are used in Whoop's sleep detection and staging algorithms. Importantly, two recent publications, published independently from Whoop, show that data on sleep stages collected from the Whoop device are highly accurate and correlate well with polysomnography (PSG), the gold-standard of sleep tracking used in clinical studies conducted in sleep clinics.

The secondary objective of the study is to determine if Defined CBD influences subjective measures of sleep physiology. We will collect this subjective data from study participants in the form of a brief five-minute survey that will be completed on their smartphone at the end of each treatment period.

Inclusion criteria

• Has provided a signed and dated informed consent form.
• Presence of chronic insomnia defined as self-reported difficulty initiating (latency to persistent sleep >30 min) and/or maintaining sleep (>30 mins awake during the middle of the night, or waking >30 mins before desired waking time on three or more nights per week) for at least 3 months.
• Insomnia Severity Index score >15.
• Male or female aged 25-70 years.
• Is willing to comply with all study procedures throughout the entire study, including:

• Wearing a sleep-tracking device on their wrist throughout entire clinical study.
• Ensuring that the sleep-tracking device is connected to their smartphone via Bluetooth on a daily basis so that sleep data can be collected on a daily basis.
• Ensuring that the sleep-tracking device is charged before going to bed each night, ensuring that sleep data can be collected on a daily basis.
• Is willing to receive and respond to daily text (SMS) notifications for the duration of the entire clinical study.
• During the treatment phases of the study, is willing to take the treatment for at least four nights in each week.
• On the nights in which the participant takes the treatment, is willing to abstain from excessive alcohol intake (>two drinks/day).
• On the nights in which the participant takes the treatment, is willing to refrain from drinking alcohol two hours before bedtime.
• Female subjects who:

• Are postmenopausal, with amenorrhea for at least one year before the screening interview, OR
• Are surgically sterile, OR
• If of childbearing potential agree to practice effective double barrier methods of contraception (e.g., condom + diaphragm; condom or diaphragm + spermicidal gel or foam), from the time of the signing of informed consent through the last dose of study treatment, or agree to completely abstain from intercourse.
• Self-reported bedtime between 9 pm and midnight on four-seven nights per week.
• Owns a smartphone.

Exclusion criteria

• Self-reported body mass index > 32 calculated from patient's height (m) and weight (kg); weight (kg)/square height (m²).
• Insomnia associated with clinically diagnosed sleep apnea (AHI greater than 15 events/hour), or movement disorders such as restless legs, periodic limb movement (PLM) (greater than 30 events/hour or greater than five events/hour with associated PLM arousals).
• Are currently participating in a formal behavioral therapy program to facilitate sleep.
• History of epilepsy or seizures.
• History of liver disease.
• Serious head injury or stroke within the past year.
• Psychiatric disorders including major depression, bipolar, anxiety, or schizophrenia.
• History of suicide attempt or current suicide ideation.
• Evidence of any clinically significant, severe or unstable, acute or chronically progressive medical or surgical disorder (including planned medical procedures that may impact sleep), or any condition that may interfere with the absorption, metabolism, distribution, or excretion of the study drug.
• Patients with a history of cardiovascular disease including poorly controlled hypertension, ischemic heart disease, arrhythmia, or severe heart failure.
• Untreated metabolic disorder such as diabetes.
• Medical conditions that result in frequent need to get out of bed (e.g. nocturia).
• History of drug or alcohol abuse, including past or present history of cannabis dependence.
• Inability to refrain from greater than two standard drinks/day of alcohol consumption for study duration.
• Current cigarette smoker.
• Currently chronic (daily) cannabis user.
• Use of any substance with psychotropic effects or properties known to affect sleep/wake, including neuroleptics, morphine/opioid derivatives, antihistamines, stimulants, anti-depressants, clonidine, within one week prior to screening.
• Use of any over-the-counter sleep medications including tryptophan, valerian root (Valeriana officinalis), kava (Piper methysticum Forst), melatonin, St John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum), Alluna (herbal sleep supplement with valerian root), and hemp within one week prior to screening.
• Inability to refrain from use of any of the following contra-indicated drugs for at least one week prior to and for the duration of the study: erythromycin, clarithromycin, itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole, ritonavir, telaprevir, boceprevir, amlodipine, gemfibrozil, cyclosporine, danazol, amiodarone, verapamil, diltiazem, rifampin, theophylline, tizanidine, bupropion, efavirenz, diflunisal, propofol, fenofibrate, lamotrigine, morphine, lorazepam, diazepam, clobazam, stiripentol, valproate, everolimus, sirolimus, or tacrolimus, niacin (vitamin B3 greater than 1g/ day), grapefruit juice.
• Consumption of xanthine-containing beverages (i.e., tea, coffee, energy drinks or cola) of more than five cups or glasses per day.
• Inability to refrain from greater than 400mg/day of caffeine consumption for study duration.
• Participation in any other clinical trial within 30 days before the screening visit.
• Night shift workers (during the 12 months prior to the study and during the study).
• Individuals who nap three or more times per week over the preceding month.
• Current delayed sleep phase syndrome where wake-up time is regularly (>5x/week) later than 9:00 a.m.
• Individuals having to travel across more than two time zones or outside of their country of residence at any time during the study.
• Females who are pregnant, are planning to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
• History of allergies particularly to plant-based products containing terpenes, i.e. flavors and aromatic natural oils for example citrus, mango, lavender, thyme, cedarwood and pine products.
• Known hypersensitivity to cannabinoids, including CBD.
• Individuals may be excluded from participating in the study based on the investigator's professional judgement.