Weight-loss and diabetes drugs like Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro could help people with alcohol use disorder to cut down on harmful drinking, according to a new Danish study.
The study, published in The Lancet, split 108 patients in a Danish mental health clinic into two groups. One received a weekly injection of semaglutide, and the other received a placebo. Both groups were also in therapy for problematic drinking.
The study found that weekly shots of semaglutide – the active ingredient in the drugs which mimics feelings of fullness – allowed users to cut heavy drinking days by 50% more than people in the placebo group, hinting that they may help curb alcohol cravings.
Researchers said the findings mean that healthcare systems and doctors, including in Europe, could consider the drugs as an option for treating addiction.
“This opens the door to complementing existing treatments for alcohol use disorder with a GLP-1 receptor-targeted approach,” said author Anders Fink-Jensen.
Other studies have previously suggested the drugs could help curb various addictions, from online gambling to cannabis to opioids.
Novo Nordisk, the Danish pharma giant that manufactures Ozempic and Wegovy, is currently exploring different therapeutic uses in the EU, including treating heart disease.
A Novo Nordisk spokesperson told Euractiv, however, that the company is “not conducting any dedicated clinical studies” to evaluate GLP-1 use and its effect on substance use disorders or other addiction-related illnesses, despite previous claims.
The findings come as several governments weigh the associated health benefits and insurance coverage of the blockbuster but pricey drugs.
In France, doctors can now prescribe the drugs directly to patients, and they will soon be available through the UK’s National Health Service. But coverage across Europe remains limited, creating a large counterfeit market.
The study is the first randomised controlled trial of its kind, but its researchers cautioned that it had a relatively small sample size and that more research is needed, especially for people without overweight or obesity.
Non-behavioural treatment options for people living with alcohol use disorder remain limited.
“Reducing the most harmful drinking patterns could make a meaningful difference for patients,” said Mette Kruse Klausen, a key researcher of the study.
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Source:
www.euractiv.com