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Updated June 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 2INTERVENTIONAL

A Study to Evaluate Effects on Sleep and Safety of RE03 in PTSD Patients With Sleep Disturbances

A Phase-2, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled, Crossover Dose-Finding, Laboratory-based Study to Evaluate Effects on Sleep and Safety of RE03 in PTSD Patients With Sleep Disturbances

A Study to Evaluate Effects on Sleep and Safety of RE03 in PTSD Patients With Sleep Disturbances (NCT06685965) is a Phase 2 interventional studying Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Sleep Disturbances and Insomnia, sponsored by Reconnect Labs. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

Important: This information is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

About This Trial

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects many people who have experienced traumatic events. A common issue with PTSD is severe sleep disturbances, such as nightmares. Current treatments often do not provide sufficient relief, especially for sleep problems. This study aims to determine whether dexmedetomidine - a medication already used in intensive care - can improve sleep quality in PTSD patients.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 2 trials evaluate whether a treatment actually works against Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and continue monitoring side effects. Phase 2 enrolls larger groups (typically 100–300 patients) and produces the first real efficacy signal. A successful Phase 2 readout is what unlocks the much larger Phase 3 confirmatory trials needed for FDA approval.

This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.

With a target enrollment of 24 participants, this is a small study — typical of early-phase research, rare-disease trials, or pilot studies designed to generate preliminary signal before a larger study is launched.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Participants fulfilling all of the following inclusion criteria are eligible for the study: - Male or female, aged ≥18 and ≤64 years (inclusive) - Diagnosis of PTSD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) for more than 6 months - PTSD diagnosis assessed with CAPS-5 (life-time) severity ≥ 2 - Sleep disturbance, e.g., difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless sleep (Criterion E6 of the DSM-5 criteria for PTSD) is present for at least a month prior to screening and causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning - Sleep disturbance assessed with the PSQI; severity ≥ 5 - Ability (verified by investigator) and willingness to provide willing to sign a consent form as documented by dated signature The presence of any one of the following exclusion criteria will lead to exclusion of the participant: - Inability to comply with sleep-wake schedule related study requirements, e.g. due to crossing of time zones (≥ 2), extreme chronotypes, shift working within 2 weeks prior to the screening visit, or planned shift work during the study, self-reported usual daytime napping ≥1 hour per day, and ≥3 days per week - Inability to follow the procedures of the study, e.g. due to insufficient understanding of the German language used in the study as evaluated by the investigator or anticipated problems with overnight stays at the sleep laboratory - Participation in a clinical research study involving the administration of an investigational or marketed drug or device within 30 days prior to the first dose; administration of a biological product (e.g. vaccines, blood components, gene therapies, tissues, etc.) in the context of a clinical research study within 90 days prior to the first dose; or concomitant participation in an investigational study involving drug or device administration ...See full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language
Participants fulfilling all of the following inclusion criteria are eligible for the study: * Male or female, aged ≥18 and ≤64 years (inclusive) * Diagnosis of PTSD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) for more than 6 months * PTSD diagnosis assessed with CAPS-5 (life-time) severity ≥ 2 * Sleep disturbance, e.g., difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless sleep (Criterion E6 of the DSM-5 criteria for PTSD) is present for at least a month prior to screening and causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning * Sleep disturbance assessed with the PSQI; severity ≥ 5 * Ability (verified by investigator) and willingness to provide informed consent as documented by dated signature The presence of any one of the following exclusion criteria will lead to exclusion of the participant: * Inability to comply with sleep-wake schedule related study requirements, e.g. due to crossing of time zones (≥ 2), extreme chronotypes, shift working within 2 weeks prior to the screening visit, or planned shift work during the study, self-reported usual daytime napping ≥1 hour per day, and ≥3 days per week * Inability to follow the procedures of the study, e.g. due to insufficient understanding of the German language used in the study as evaluated by the investigator or anticipated problems with overnight stays at the sleep laboratory * Participation in a clinical research study involving the administration of an investigational or marketed drug or device within 30 days prior to the first dose; administration of a biological product (e.g. vaccines, blood components, gene therapies, tissues, etc.) in the context of a clinical research study within 90 days prior to the first dose; or concomitant participation in an investigational study involving drug or device administration * Females of childbearing potential who are sexually active with a non-sterile male partner (sterile male partners are defined as men vasectomised at least 6 months prior to the first study drug administration) not willing to use one of the following acceptable contraceptive methods throughout the study and for at least 3 months after the last study drug administration: ○ Simultaneous use of condom and hormonal contraceptive (e.g., oral, patch, depot injection, implant, vaginal ring, intrauterine device) or non-hormonal intrauterine device used for at least 4 weeks prior to sexual intercourse for the female partner; * Females of non-childbearing potential who are neither: * Post-menopausal (status defined as an absence of menses for at least 12 months prior to the first study drug administration); or * Surgically sterilized (complete hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy at least 3 months prior to the first study drug administration) * Male participants who are not vasectomised for at least 6 months prior to dosing and who are sexually active with a female partner of childbearing potential not willing to use one of the following acceptable contraceptive methods from the first dose and for 3 months after the last dose: ○ Use of condom and/or hormonal contraceptive (e.g., oral, patch, depot injection, implant, vaginal ring, intrauterine device) or non-hormonal intrauterine device used for at least 4 weeks prior to sexual intercourse for the female partner; * Male participants (including men who have had a vasectomy) with a pregnant partner not willing to use a condom from the first dose and for 3 months after the last dose. * Male participants not willing to abstain from sperm donation for 3 months after the last dose * Body Mass Index lower than 17.5 kg/m2 or higher than 35 kg/m2 * History of any clinically significant cardiovascular disorder, including: * Clinically significant atrioventricular conduction disturbance (e.g. higher grade AV block \>grade 1), cardiac arrhythmias, sick sinus syndrome, or accessory bypass tract (e.g. Wolff-Parkinson-White) * Patients with symptomatic, or pronounced and persistent bradycardia (heart rate \< 50 bpm) assessed during medical screening (during daytime) * Patients with persistent tachycardia (heart rate \> 100 bpm) assessed during medical screening (during daytime) * Patients with hypotension (sBP \< 90 mmHg, dBP \< 50 mmHg), orthostatic dysregulation or a history of syncopes (e.g. micturition syncope) * Patients with hypertension ≥ Grade 2 (sBP ≥ 160 mmHg, dBP ≥ 100 mmHg) * Patients with a trend towards a baseline prolongation of the QT/QTc interval (men: \>440 ms; women: \>450 ms) at the screening visit, a history of additional risk factors for Torsade de pointes (e.g., heart failure, hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, family history of Long QT syndrome) * Patients with history of myocardial infarction or coronary ischemia * Patients with cerebrovascular disease (e.g. Stroke, Hemorrhage, Transient Ischemic Attack, Aneurysm, Arteriovenous Malformation, Venous Thrombosis, Hematoma, etc.) * Patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease * Patients with epilepsy, a history of seizures, or a history of severe head trauma or stroke * Patients with chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, pulmonary fibrotic disease or generally restrictive pulmonary disease, and related conditions which may cause respiratory depression under RE03 treatment * Patients with any unstable medical condition, significant medical disorder or acute illness/injury (e.g. high fever) which, in the opinion of the Investigator, would jeopardize the safety of the participant, raise doubts about the feasibility of adhering to the trial protocol, or impact the validity of the study results * Any laboratory test results deemed clinically significant by the Investigator, especially parameters relating to hepatic (Aspartate / Alanine aminotransferase) or renal metabolism / insufficiency (creatinine clearance) or diagnosed thyroid dysfunction (hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism) * Patients with abnormal liver function * Suicidality (C-SSRS severity ≥ 4) * Suicide attempt in the last 12 months * Sleep-related conditions that may contribute to insomnia symptoms assessed via the Structured Clinical Interview for Sleep Disorders-Revised (SCISD-R) and PSG screening including: * Restless Leg Syndrome * Obstructive Sleep Apnea * Narcolepsy * Delayed-Sleep Phase Syndrome * REM Sleep Behaviour disorder * NREM Sleep Arousal disorder * Prior or ongoing bipolar disorder, any psychotic disorder, including schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder, schizoaffective disorder, brief psychotic disorder (unless substance induced or due to a medical condition), as assessed by a structured clinical interview (QuickSCID-5) * Ongoing obsessive-compulsive disorder, or anorexia nervosa as assessed by medical history and a structured clinical interview (QuickSCID-5) * Have a current moderate (not in early remission in the 3 months prior to enrollment; meets 5 of 11 diagnostic criteria per DSM-5) or severe alcohol use disorder within the 12 months prior to enrollment (meets at least 6 of 11 diagnostic criteria per DSM-5, QuickSCID-5) * Current diagnosis of severe Substance-Use disorder (SUD) for nicotine (i.e. inability to refrain from smoking during the night) and cannabis (i.e. inability to refrain from smoking on study days) , and mild SUD for all other substances according to DSM-5 (QuickSCID-5) * Concurrent daily and/or frequent use of any of the following restricted concomitant medications: * Inability or unwillingness to withdraw sedative medications for the duration of the study, including hypnotics, sedative antidepressants, sedative neuroleptics, antihistamines, dual orexin receptor antagonists (DORAs), agomelatine, melatonin, etc. for a minimum of 5 half-lives plus 1 week for stabilization (or at the discretion of the investigator) until the end of the study * Concomitant use of RE03 with beta-blockers, due to increased risk of bradycardia; currently unstable or recent changes in antihypertensive medication. * Unstable Antidepressant treatment initiated less than 3 months prior to screening * Concomitant use of RE03 with drugs with a risk for QT interval prolongation requires careful monitoring, in case clinically relevant QTc thresholds are exceeded during the trial (male \> 470 ms; female \> 480 ms), patients must be discontinued. * Participants must not be currently enrolled in a psychological therapy program that involves varying frequency of sessions or different therapists throughout the study duration. Additionally, they should not have started any psychological therapy within 30 days prior to the screening or during the study

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

RE03

Buccal Dexmedetomidine

DRUG

Placebo

Matching Placebo

Locations (1)

Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.

Human Sleep Pharmacology, University of Zurich
Zurich, Canton of Zurich, Switzerland

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT06685965), the sponsor (Reconnect Labs), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.

Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.

Authoritative Sources

The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCT06685965 clinical trial studying?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects many people who have experienced traumatic events. A common issue with PTSD is severe sleep disturbances, such as nightmares. Current treatments often do not provide sufficient relief, especially for sleep problems. This study aims to determine whether dexmedetomidine - a medication already used in intensive care - can improve sleep quality in PTSD patients. The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT06685965?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

How do I contact the trial site for NCT06685965?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

How This Page Is Built

Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT06685965. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT06685965. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."

Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Last updated 2026-06-07 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.