The Department of Veterans Affairs launched a clinical trial of semaglutide to treat alcohol use disorder in veterans on July 30, testing whether the active ingredient in blockbuster weight-loss drugs Wegovy and Ozempic can also combat addiction.
Veterans experience disproportionately high rates of alcohol use disorder compared to the general civilian population, making the veteran population a critical test case for the novel treatment approach, according to the VA.
Semaglutide belongs to the GLP-1 receptor agonist class of drugs, which have shown preliminary evidence of modulating addictive behavior and reducing alcohol cravings through their effects on the brain’s reward pathways, the VA said. The clinical trial will evaluate whether these effects translate into measurable reductions in alcohol consumption among veterans.
The VA’s large integrated healthcare system makes it uniquely positioned to conduct at-scale clinical research with a defined patient population, the department said. The trial will enroll veterans diagnosed with alcohol use disorder across multiple VA medical centers.
Alcohol use disorder affects an estimated 14.5 million Americans, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Current FDA-approved treatments for the condition include naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram, but these medications have limited effectiveness for many patients.
If successful, the VA trial could establish the regulatory and clinical evidence base for extending GLP-1 treatment for addiction to the broader U.S. population, potentially opening a transformative new treatment pathway.
The trial represents one of the most high-profile clinical investigations of GLP-1 drugs for indications beyond diabetes and weight management.