The Rapid Altitude and Hypoxia Acclimatization (RAHA) program goal is to demonstrate innovative, novel pharmacological, biological, and technological approaches to adapt to high altitudes (4,000–6,000 meters) and alleviate effects of high altitude illnesses and hypoxia.
Military personnel rapidly deployed to extreme hypobaric or hypoxic conditions can experience high altitude illnesses and hypoxemia. Current approaches for mitigating effects of sudden altitude exposure and other forms of hypoxia involve the use of approved medications developed for other purposes. These approaches do not restore sea level physical performance, impose unacceptable adverse events, and potentially compromise natural acclimatization processes.
The Rapid Altitude and Hypoxia Acclimatization (RAHA) program goal is to demonstrate innovative, novel pharmacological, biological, and technological approaches to adapt to high altitudes (4,000–6,000 meters) and alleviate effects of high altitude illnesses and hypoxia.
Specifically, RAHA researchers will develop a fast-acting, short-duration therapeutic agent or strategy and a slow-acting, long-duration therapeutic agent or strategy that alone or in combination will reduce altitude-induced illness incidence or severity without impeding natural acclimatization processes.
By the end of Phase I, RAHA researchers will identify candidate processes and drug candidates suitable for an investigational new drug or investigational device exemption study. These novel products will be positioned for use in an FDA Phase I clinical trial.