Novo Nordisk to Explore Semaglutide’s Effects on Alcohol Consumption in New Clinical Trial

Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic, announced plans to investigate the effects of semaglutide, its active ingredient, on alcohol consumption. This decision follows numerous anecdotal reports and some preliminary academic research suggesting that semaglutide, also sold under the brand name Wegovy for weight loss, may reduce the desire to consume alcohol.

The clinical trial, set to commence this month, will primarily focus on alcohol-related liver disease rather than addiction. The main goal of the study is to evaluate the drug’s ability to improve liver health by assessing its impact on liver fibrosis over a 28-week period. Changes in alcohol consumption are listed as a secondary endpoint.

This trial is part of Novo Nordisk’s broader initiative to explore treatments for liver diseases, although it is not aimed specifically at alcohol addiction. The trial will include around 240 participants and, despite its focus on liver disease, will monitor alcohol intake due to its relevance in the context of liver health.

The pharmaceutical industry has traditionally shown limited interest in developing treatments for alcohol addiction, partly due to financial underperformance. However, the growing body of anecdotal evidence and the promising results from animal studies suggest that GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide might influence behaviors related to alcohol consumption by impacting brain centers involved in reward processing.

While Novo Nordisk has been cautious about exploring addiction treatments with semaglutide, the upcoming trial reflects a growing recognition of the potential secondary benefits of this class of drugs. Meanwhile, other companies such as Eli Lilly have noted similar anecdotal findings with their GLP-1 receptor agonists but have not committed to addiction-focused research.

Researchers in the field have expressed optimism about the trial but caution that more rigorous and controlled studies are needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of using semaglutide and similar drugs for treating disorders related to alcohol use.