The Department of Veterans Affairs has launched a clinical trial evaluating semaglutide — the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy — as a potential treatment for alcohol use disorder, the agency announced July 30. It is the first such trial within the VA healthcare system.
Emerging research suggests GLP-1 receptor agonists, originally developed for diabetes and weight management, may reduce alcohol cravings and consumption. The VA trial represents one of the most significant government-sponsored tests of this application and could reshape substance use treatment for veterans if results prove positive.
Alcohol use disorder affects an estimated one in five veterans, making the condition one of the most prevalent behavioral health challenges in the veteran population. More than 400,000 veterans are currently enrolled in VA substance use treatment programs, the department said.
The trial will evaluate semaglutide’s safety and efficacy in reducing alcohol consumption among veterans diagnosed with alcohol use disorder. Current FDA-approved medications for the condition — including naltrexone and acamprosate — have limited effectiveness for many patients, creating demand for new therapeutic options.
Semaglutide has generated extraordinary scientific and public interest for applications beyond its original indications. Observational data and early-stage research have suggested that patients taking GLP-1 drugs for diabetes or weight loss report reduced interest in alcohol, prompting calls for rigorous clinical testing.
The VA operates the nation’s largest integrated healthcare system, serving approximately nine million enrolled veterans. A proven new treatment for alcohol use disorder within the VA system could establish protocols that inform treatment approaches across the broader U.S. healthcare system.
The clinical trial adds to a growing body of federally supported research into novel uses for GLP-1 receptor agonists, a drug class that has become one of the most commercially significant pharmaceutical developments in decades.