Chrono Therapeutics has received a second Phase 1 and Phase 2 Fast Track Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant award from the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The award of up to $2.3 million will support final product development of the digital portion of Chrono’s patient-individualized smoking cessation therapy as well as pilot efficacy trials of the system. Also, this isn’t the first grant the company has received — it has previously successfully executed on a 2012 $2.23 million grant that funded early product engineering and a second in human pharmacokinetic study.

NCI’s grant will also help Chrono Therapeutics conduct pilot efficacy trials of the system.“Receiving our second grant award from the NCI is an endorsement of Chrono’s cessation platform, which takes a fresh approach to a serious addiction that kills 5 million people worldwide each year,” commented Alan Levy, the CEO and Chairman of Chrono Therapeutics.

Chrono’s smoking cessation solution can time medication delivery to when smokers’ cravings are predictably strongest. The wearable component automatically begins delivering nicotine before smokers wake up, helping to curb the strong morning craving most smokers experience. Embedded with sensors and Bluetooth, the device monitors compliance and connects with a companion mobile app to provide real-time behavioral coaching in response to cravings and the nicotine-dosing regimen.

The smoking cessation solution is the first product targeted to be commercialized from Chrono’s platform, which represents the convergence of optimized drug delivery, embedded sensor technology to monitor compliance, and connected and personalized behavioral support to transform how medicine is delivered and how people achieve their health goals.