A clinical trial published in the journal The Lancet found that the semaglutidecommonly used for the treatment of obesity, was able to significantly reduce the days of excessive alcohol consumption in patients with alcohol use disorder.
The 26-week study showed that participants who received the medication reduced these episodes approximately half compared to those who received placebo. The results open a new line of research on the use of GLP-1 agonists in the treatment of addictions.
Clinical trial results
The investigation included 108 patients with obesity (body mass index of 30 or more) and a diagnosis of moderate to severe alcohol use disorder. All participants received cognitive behavioral therapy during the study.
Among the main findings:
- Days of excessive consumption decreased 17 to 5 a month in the treated group
- Total alcohol consumption decreased 2,200 to 650 grams monthly
- The reduction was approximately double that in the placebo group
- The estimated difference in days of excessive consumption was 13.7 percentage points
These data position semaglutide as a possible complementary tool in the treatment of alcoholismalthough still in the evaluation phase.
A pioneering test of its kind
The study was led by Mette Kruse Klausen at the Copenhagen Psychiatric Center and represents the first randomized trial focused on evaluate a GLP-1 receptor agonist in patients seeking simultaneous treatment for obesity and problematic alcohol use.
Previous investigations had been limited to animal modelsobservational studies or trials with small samples. This work expands the evidence available in humans within a controlled clinical setting.
The researcher Matt Fieldfrom the University of Sheffield, said the trial provides some of the strongest evidence yet of the potential of these drugs to reduce alcohol consumption in certain patients.
Limitations and caution in interpretation
Specialists consulted stressed that the results should be interpreted with caution. All participants received cognitive behavioral therapy, making it difficult to isolate the exclusive effect of semaglutide.
Furthermore, the study has several limitations:
- Reduced sample size
- Realization in a single center
- Exclusive inclusion of patients with obesity
- Lack of long-term follow-up
The researcher Marie Sprecleyfrom the University of Cambridge, warned that it is not known whether the reduction in alcohol consumption is maintained after stopping treatment.
New research underway
The laboratory Nordiskresponsible for the medicine wegovyis already developing new studies to explore these effects. Among them, a Phase II trial focused on alcohol-related liver damage and an independent Phase III trial in war veterans in the United States.
According to the World Health Organizationaround 400 million people in the world live with alcohol use disorder. The possibility of incorporating new pharmacological treatments could expand the options available in a field where current therapies remain limited.
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