136
Views
0
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Review

Emerging drugs in phase II and III clinical development for the treatment of alcohol use disorder

ORCID Icon, , &
Received 15 Dec 2023, Accepted 10 Apr 2024, Published online: 18 Apr 2024

References

  • Witkiewitz K, Litten RZ, Leggio L. Advances in the science and treatment of alcohol use disorder. Sci Adv. 2019 Sep;5(9):eaax4043. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aax4043
  • Griswold MG, Fullman N, Hawley C. Alcohol use and burden for 195 countries and territories, 1990–2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. The Lancet. 2018 Sep 22;392(10152):1015–1035.
  • Ray LAP, Bujarski SP, Grodin EP, et al. State-of-the-art behavioral and pharmacological treatments for alcohol use disorder. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2019;45(2):124–140. doi: 10.1080/00952990.2018.1528265
  • White AM, Castle I-J, Powell PA, et al. Alcohol-related deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic. JAMA. 2022;327(17):1704–1706. doi: 10.1001/jama.2022.4308
  • World Health O. Front Matter. Global status report on alcohol and health 2018: World Health Org; 2018. p. i–ii.
  • Rehm J, Shield KD, Gmel G, et al. Modeling the impact of alcohol dependence on mortality burden and the effect of available treatment interventions in the European Union. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2013 Feb;23(2):89–97.
  • Koob GF, Volkow ND. Neurobiology of addiction: a neurocircuitry analysis. Lancet Psychiatry. 2016 Aug;3(8):760–773. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(16)00104-8
  • Lüscher C, Robbins TW, Everitt BJ. The transition to compulsion in addiction. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2020 May;21(5):247–263. doi: 10.1038/s41583-020-0289-z
  • Mar Y, Kunins H New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute Clinical Guidelines. treatment of alcohol use disorder. baltimore (MD): johns hopkins university copyright © Johns Hopkins University HIV Clinical Guidelines Program 2000-2018; 2020.
  • Haber PS, Riordan BC, Winter DT, et al. New Australian guidelines for the treatment of alcohol problems: an overview of recommendations. Med j Aust. 2021;215(S7):S3–S32. doi: 10.5694/mja2.51254
  • Kiefer F, Batra A, Bischof G, et al. S3-Leitlinie „Screening, Diagnose und Behandlung alkoholbezogener Störungen“. SUCHT. 2021;67(2):77–103. doi: 10.1024/0939-5911/a000704
  • National Collaborating Centre for Mental H. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence: guidelines. Alcohol-Use Disorders: diagnosis, assessment and management of harmful drinking and alcohol dependence. Leicester (UK): British Psychological Society (UK) Copyright © 2011, The British Psychological Society & The Royal College of Psychiatrists; 2011.
  • Bahji A, Bach P, Danilewitz M, et al. Pharmacotherapies for adults with alcohol use disorders: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. J Addict Med. 2022 Nov 1;16(6):630–638. doi: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000000992
  • Stanciu C, Penders T, Wuensch K, et al. Underutilization of pharmacotherapy for treatment of alcohol use disorders part II-results from a survey of practices among North Carolina mental health providers and brief review of efficacy of available pharmacotherapies. J Alcohol Drug Depend. 2017;5(5):285. doi: 10.4172/2329-6488.1000285
  • Rittenberg A, Hines AL, Alvanzo AAH, et al. Correlates of alcohol use disorder pharmacotherapy receipt in medically insured patients. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2020 Sep 1;214:108174.
  • Harris AHS, Ellerbe L, Reeder RN, et al. Pharmacotherapy for alcohol dependence: perceived treatment barriers and action strategies among veterans health administration service providers. Psychol Serv. 2013 Nov;10(4):410–419.
  • Donoghue K. The correlates and extent of prescribing of medications for alcohol relapse prevention in England. Addiction. 2021 Nov;116(11):3019–3026. doi: 10.1111/add.15502
  • Wallhed Finn S, Lundin A, Sjöqvist H, et al. Pharmacotherapy for alcohol use disorders - unequal provision across sociodemographic factors and co-morbid conditions. A cohort study of the total population in Sweden. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2021 Oct 1;227:108964.
  • Han B, Jones CM, Einstein EB, et al. Use of medications for alcohol use disorder in the US: results from the 2019 National Survey on Drug use and health. JAMA Psychiatry. 2021;78(8):922–924. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2021.1271
  • Crozier ME, Farokhnia M, Persky S, et al. Relationship between self-stigma about alcohol dependence and severity of alcohol drinking and craving. BMJ Ment Health. 2023 Nov 22;26(1):e300852. doi: 10.1136/bmjment-2023-300852
  • Finn SW, Mejldal A, Nielsen AS. Public stigma and treatment preferences for alcohol use disorders. BMC Health Serv Res. 2023 Jan 24;23(1):76.
  • Jonas DE, Amick HR, Feltner C, et al. Pharmacotherapy for adults with alcohol use disorders in outpatient settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA. 2014 May 14;311(18):1889–1900. doi: 10.1001/jama.2014.3628
  • Palpacuer C, Duprez R, Huneau A, et al. Pharmacologically controlled drinking in the treatment of alcohol dependence or alcohol use disorders: a systematic review with direct and network meta-analyses on nalmefene, naltrexone, acamprosate, baclofen and topiramate. Addiction. 2018;113(2):220–237. doi: 10.1111/add.13974
  • Ramprashad A, Burnett GM, Welsh C. Harm reduction: not dirty words any more. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2022 Sep;45(3):529–546. doi: 10.1016/j.psc.2022.04.005
  • Rösner S, Hackl‐Herrwerth A, Leucht S, et al. Opioid antagonists for alcohol dependence. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010:12. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001867.pub3
  • European Medicines Agency. Guideline on the development of medicinal products for the treatment of alcohol dependence. EMEA/CHMP/EWP/20097/2008. 2010:8.
  • Looking Back MB. Looking forward: current medications and innovative potential medications to treat alcohol use disorder. Alcohol Res. 2022;42(1):11. doi: 10.35946/arcr.v42.1.11
  • Srisurapanont M, Jarusuraisin N. Opioid antagonists for alcohol dependence. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005 Jan;25(1):Cd001867.
  • Heikkinen M, Taipale H, Tanskanen A, et al. Real-world effectiveness of pharmacological treatments of alcohol use disorders in a Swedish nation-wide cohort of 125 556 patients. Addiction. 2021 Aug;116(8):1990–1998.
  • Lohoff FW. Pharmacotherapies and personalized medicine for alcohol use disorder: a review. Pharmacogenomics. 2020 Oct;21(15):1117–1138. doi: 10.2217/pgs-2020-0079
  • Cheng HY, McGuinness LA, Elbers RG, et al. Treatment interventions to maintain abstinence from alcohol in primary care: systematic review and network meta-analysis. BMJ. 2020 Nov 25;371:m3934.
  • Shen WW. Anticraving therapy for alcohol use disorder: a clinical review. Neuropsychopharmacol Rep. 2018 Sep;38(3):105–116. doi: 10.1002/npr2.12028
  • LiverTox: Clinical and research information on drug-induced liver injury [Internet]; 2021. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK548103/.
  • Skinner MD, Lahmek P, Pham H, et al. Disulfiram efficacy in the treatment of alcohol dependence: a meta-analysis. PLoS ONE. 2014;9(2):e87366. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0087366
  • Burnette EM, Nieto SJ, Grodin EN, et al. Novel agents for the pharmacological treatment of alcohol use disorder. Drugs. 2022 Feb;82(3):251–274. doi: 10.1007/s40265-021-01670-3
  • Kedia SK, Ahuja N, Dillon PJ, et al. Efficacy of extended-release injectable naltrexone on alcohol use disorder treatment: A systematic review. J Psychoactive Drugs. 2023 Apr;55(2):233–245.
  • Murphy CE, Wang RC, Montoy JC, et al. Effect of extended-release naltrexone on alcohol consumption: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Addiction. 2022 Feb;117(2):271–281.
  • Tigh J, Daniel K, Balasanova AA. Impact of hospital-administered extended-release naltrexone on readmission rates in patients with alcohol use disorder: a Pilot Study. Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2022 Oct 25;24(6). doi: 10.4088/PCC.22m03213
  • Rose JH, Karkhanis AN, Steiniger-Brach B, et al. Distinct effects of nalmefene on dopamine uptake rates and Kappa Opioid receptor activity in the nucleus accumbens following chronic intermittent ethanol exposure. Int J Mol Sci. 2016 Jul 27;17(8):1216. doi: 10.3390/ijms17081216
  • Higuchi S, Takahashi M, Murai Y, et al. Long-term safety and efficacy of nalmefene in Japanese patients with alcohol dependence. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2020 Aug;74(8):431–438.
  • Chick J, Andersohn F, Guillo S, et al. Safety and persistence of Nalmefene treatment for alcohol dependence. Results from two post-authorisation safety studies. Alcohol Alcohol. 2021 Aug 30;56(5):556–564. doi: 10.1093/alcalc/agab045
  • Castera P, Stewart E, Großkopf J, et al. Nalmefene, given as needed, in the routine treatment of patients with alcohol dependence: an interventional, open-label study in primary care. Eur Addict Res. 2018;24(6):293–303. doi: 10.1159/000494692
  • Collins GB, MS M, Adury K. Drug adjuncts for treating alcohol dependence. Cleve Clin J Med. 2006 Jul;73(7):641–644. passim. doi: 10.3949/ccjm.73.7.641
  • Rösner S, Hackl-Herrwerth A, Leucht S, et al. Acamprosate for alcohol dependence. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Sep;8(9):Cd004332.
  • McPheeters M, O’Connor EA, Riley S, et al. Pharmacotherapy for alcohol use disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA. 2023 Nov 7;330(17):1653–1665. doi: 10.1001/jama.2023.19761
  • Fischler PV, Soyka M, Seifritz E, et al. Off-label and investigational drugs in the treatment of alcohol use disorder: a critical review. Front Pharmacol. 2022;13:927703. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2022.927703
  • Agabio R, Saulle R, Rösner S, et al. Baclofen for alcohol use disorder. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023;2023(1):1. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD012557.pub3
  • Müller CA, Geisel O, Pelz P, et al. High-dose baclofen for the treatment of alcohol dependence (BACLAD study): a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2015 Aug;25(8):1167–1177.
  • Agabio R, Baldwin DS, Amaro H, et al. The influence of anxiety symptoms on clinical outcomes during baclofen treatment of alcohol use disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2021 Jun;125:296–313. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.12.030
  • Duan F, Zhai H, Liu C, et al. Systematic review and meta-analysis: efficacy and safety of baclofen in patients with alcohol use disorder co-morbid liver diseases. J Psychiatr Res. 2023 Aug;164:477–484. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.06.042
  • Crunelle CL, Jegham S, Vanderbruggen N, et al. Baclofen during alcohol detoxification reduces the need for additional diazepam: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Alcohol Alcohol. 2023 Sep 9;58(5):565–569. doi: 10.1093/alcalc/agad050
  • Guiraud J, Addolorato G, Aubin HJ, et al. Sodium oxybate for alcohol dependence: a network meta-regression analysis considering population severity at baseline and treatment duration. Alcohol Alcohol. 2023 Mar 10;58(2):125–133. doi: 10.1093/alcalc/agac070
  • Mannucci C, Pichini S, Spagnolo EV, et al. Sodium oxybate therapy for alcohol withdrawal syndrome and keeping of alcohol abstinence. Curr Drug Metab. 2018;19(13):1056–1064. doi: 10.2174/1389200219666171207122227
  • Leone MA, Vigna‐Taglianti F, Avanzi G, et al. Gamma‐hydroxybutyrate (GHB) for treatment of alcohol withdrawal and prevention of relapses. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 2. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006266.pub2
  • Dominguez A, Soca Gallego L, Parmar, M. Sodium Oxybate. [Updated 2023 Jan 17]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024. p. 4.
  • Addolorato G, Lesch O-M, Maremmani I, et al. Post-marketing and clinical safety experience with sodium oxybate for the treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome and maintenance of abstinence in alcohol-dependent subjects. Expert Opin Drug Saf. 2020 Feb 01;19(2):159–166. doi: 10.1080/14740338.2020.1709821
  • Simpson TL, Saxon AJ, Meredith CW, et al. A pilot trial of the alpha-1 adrenergic antagonist, prazosin, for alcohol dependence. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2009 Feb;33(2):255–263.
  • Leggio L, Kenna GA. Commentary: doxazosin for alcoholism. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2013 Feb;37(2):191–193. doi: 10.1111/acer.12064
  • University of Wisconsin M, National Institute on Alcohol A, Alcoholism. Testing Doxazosin to treat stress mechanisms in alcoholism. 2020.
  • Nocente R, Vitali M, Balducci G, et al. Varenicline and neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors: a new approach to the treatment of co-occurring alcohol and nicotine addiction? Am J Addict. 2013 Sep;22(5):453–459.
  • Phimarn W, Sakhancord R, Paitoon P, et al. Efficacy of Varenicline in the treatment of alcohol dependence: an updated meta-analysis and meta-regression. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Feb 24;20(5):4091. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20054091
  • Donato S, Green R, Ray LA. Alcohol use disorder severity moderates clinical response to varenicline. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2021 Sep;45(9):1877–1887. doi: 10.1111/acer.14674
  • Arias AJ, Feinn R, Oncken C, et al. Placebo-controlled trial of zonisamide for the treatment of alcohol dependence. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2010 Jun;30(3):318–322.
  • Virginia Commonwealth U, University of C, Yale U, et al. Zonisamide treatment of alcohol use disorder: an evaluation of efficacy and mechanism of action. 2021.
  • Boston University Charles River C, McLean H, University of H. Interdisciplinary study of a novel anticonvulsant in alcoholism. 2022.
  • Petrakis I, Ralevski E, Arias AJ, et al. Zonisamide as an adjunctive treatment to cognitive processing therapy for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder and comorbid alcohol use disorder: a pilot study. Am J Addict. 2020 Nov;29(6):515–524.
  • National Library of Medicine (U.S.). Zonisamide outpatient study. 2019–2021. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03376139
  • Petrakis I. Zonisamide in addition to E-CPT-C for veterans with PTSD and comorbid alcohol dependence. 2013–2020. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT01847469
  • Rubio G, López-Muñoz F, Ponce G, et al. Zonisamide versus diazepam in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Pharmacopsychiatry. 2010 Nov;43(7):257–262.
  • Washington State U The Zonisamide and Reinforcement for Reducing Alcohol Use (ZARRA) Study. 2025.
  • Gidal BE, Resnick T, Smith MC, et al. Zonisamide: a comprehensive, updated review for the clinician. Neurol Clin Pract. 2024 Feb;14(1):e200210.
  • Laska EM, Siegel CE, Lin Z, et al. Gabapentin Enacarbil extended-release versus placebo: a likely responder reanalysis of a randomized clinical trial. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2020 Sep;44(9):1875–1884.
  • Blednov YA, Da Costa AJ, Tarbox T, et al. Apremilast alters behavioral responses to ethanol in mice: I. Reduced consumption and preference. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2018 May;42(5):926–938.
  • Grigsby K, Ledford C, Batish T, et al. Targeting the maladaptive effects of binge drinking on circadian gene expression. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Sep 21;23(19):11084. doi: 10.3390/ijms231911084
  • Grigsby KB, Mangieri RA, Roberts AJ, et al. Preclinical and clinical evidence for suppression of alcohol intake by apremilast. J Clin Invest. 2023 Mar 15;133(6). doi: 10.1172/JCI159103
  • Blednov YA, Da Costa A, Mason S, et al. Apremilast-induced increases in acute ethanol intoxication and decreases in ethanol drinking in mice involve PKA phosphorylation of GABA(A) β3 subunits. Neuropharmacology. 2022 Dec 1;220:109255.
  • Ray LA, Bujarski S, Shoptaw S, et al. Development of the neuroimmune modulator Ibudilast for the treatment of alcoholism: a randomized, placebo-controlled, human laboratory trial. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2017 Aug;42(9):1776–1788.
  • Grodin EN, Burnette EM, Green R, et al. Combined varenicline and naltrexone attenuates alcohol cue-elicited activation in heavy drinking smokers. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2021 Aug 1;225:108825.
  • Grodin EN, Meredith LR, Burnette EM, et al. Baseline C-reactive protein levels are predictive of treatment response to a neuroimmune modulator in individuals with an alcohol use disorder: a preliminary study. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2023 May 4;49(3):333–344. doi: 10.1080/00952990.2022.2124918
  • Burnette EM, Ray LA, Irwin MR, et al. Ibudilast attenuates alcohol cue-elicited frontostriatal functional connectivity in alcohol use disorder. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2021 Oct;45(10):2017–2028.
  • Yardley MM, Wyatt L, Khoja S, et al. Ivermectin reduces alcohol intake and preference in mice. Neuropharmacology. 2012 Aug;63(2):190–201.
  • Khoja S, Huynh N, Warnecke AMP, et al. Preclinical evaluation of avermectins as novel therapeutic agents for alcohol use disorders. Psychopharmacol (Berl). 2018 Jun;235(6):1697–1709.
  • Roche DJ, Yardley MM, Lunny KF, et al. A pilot study of the safety and initial efficacy of Ivermectin for the treatment of alcohol use disorder. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2016 Jun;40(6):1312–1320.
  • Silva J, Carry E, Xue C, et al. A novel dual drug approach that combines Ivermectin and Dihydromyricetin (DHM) to reduce alcohol drinking and preference in mice. Molecules. 2021 Mar 22;26(6):1791. doi: 10.3390/molecules26061791
  • Narendran R, Mason NS, Paris J, et al. Decreased prefrontal cortical dopamine transmission in alcoholism. Am J Psychiatry. 2014 Aug;171(8):881–888.
  • Doyle MR, Dirik S, Martinez AR, et al. Catechol-O-Methyltransferase inhibition and alcohol use disorder: Evaluating the efficacy of tolcapone in ethanol-dependent rats. Neuropharmacology. 2023 Oct;17:109770. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109770
  • McCane AM, Ahn S, Rubchinsky LL, et al. COMT inhibition alters cue-evoked oscillatory dynamics during alcohol drinking in the rat. eNeuro. 2018 Sep;5(5):ENEURO.0326–18.2018.
  • Coker AR, Weinstein DN, Vega TA, et al. The catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor tolcapone modulates alcohol consumption and impulsive choice in alcohol use disorder. Psychopharmacol (Berl). 2020 Oct;237(10):3139–3148.
  • Schacht JP, Yeongbin I, Hoffman M, et al. Effects of pharmacological and genetic regulation of COMT activity in alcohol use disorder: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of tolcapone. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2022 Oct;47(11):1953–1960.
  • Vendruscolo LF, Estey D, Goodell V, et al. Glucocorticoid receptor antagonism decreases alcohol seeking in alcohol-dependent individuals. J Clin Invest. 2015 Aug 3;125(8):3193–3197. doi: 10.1172/JCI79828
  • Haass-Koffler CL, Magill M, Cannella N, et al. Mifepristone as a pharmacological intervention for stress-induced alcohol craving: A human laboratory study. Addict Biol. 2023 Jul;28(7):e13288.
  • Khom S, Rodriguez L, Gandhi P, et al. Alcohol dependence and withdrawal increase sensitivity of central amygdalar GABAergic synapses to the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist mifepristone in male rats. Neurobiol Dis. 2022 Mar;164:105610. doi: 10.1016/j.nbd.2022.105610
  • Campbell EJ, Hill MK, Maddern XJ, et al. Orexin-1 receptor signaling within the lateral hypothalamus, but not bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, mediates context-induced relapse to alcohol seeking. J Psychopharmacol. 2020 Nov;34(11):1261–1270.
  • Flores-Ramirez FJ, Illenberger JM, Pascasio GE, et al. Alternative use of suvorexant (Belsomra(®)) for the prevention of alcohol drinking and seeking in rats with a history of alcohol dependence. Front Behav Neurosci. 2022;16:1085882. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.1085882
  • Mason BJ. Medication Development in Alcoholism: Suvorexant Versus Placebo. 2021–2023. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04229095
  • Sun H, Yee KL, Gill S, et al. Psychomotor effects, pharmacokinetics and safety of the orexin receptor antagonist suvorexant administered in combination with alcohol in healthy subjects. J Psychopharmacol. 2015 Nov;29(11):1159–1169.
  • McAndrew A, Lawn W, Stevens T, et al. A proof-of-concept investigation into ketamine as a pharmacological treatment for alcohol dependence: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials. 2017 Apr 4;18(1):159. doi: 10.1186/s13063-017-1895-6
  • Kelson M, Burnett JM, Matthews A, et al. Ketamine treatment for alcohol use disorder: a systematic review. Cureus. 2023 May;15(5):e38498.
  • Nopoulos P. Psilocybin-Assisted vs Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy for Alcohol Use Disorder. 2022–2024. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05421065
  • Mark N, National Institute of Mental H, University of I. Ketamine Alcohol (in Treatment-Resistant Depression). 2024.
  • de Veen BT, Schellekens AF, Verheij MM, et al. Psilocybin for treating substance use disorders? Expert Rev Neurother. 2017 Feb;17(2):203–212.
  • Meinhardt MW, Pfarr S, Fouquet G, et al. Psilocybin targets a common molecular mechanism for cognitive impairment and increased craving in alcoholism. Sci Adv. 2021 Nov 19;7(47):eabh2399. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abh2399
  • Bogenschutz MP, Ross S, Bhatt S, et al. Percentage of heavy drinking days following psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy vs placebo in the treatment of adult patients with alcohol use disorder: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry. 2022 Oct 1;79(10):953–962. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2022.2096
  • van der Meer PB, Fuentes JJ, Kaptein AA, et al. Therapeutic effect of psilocybin in addiction: a systematic review. Front Psychiatry. 2023;14:1134454. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1134454
  • Dos Santos RG, Bouso JC, Alcázar-Córcoles M, et al. Efficacy, tolerability, and safety of serotonergic psychedelics for the management of mood, anxiety, and substance-use disorders: a systematic review of systematic reviews. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol. 2018 Sep;11(9):889–902.
  • MacCallum CA, Lo LA, Pistawka CA, et al. Therapeutic use of psilocybin: practical considerations for dosing and administration. Front Psychiatry. 2022;13:1040217. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1040217
  • Herkenham K. A regulatory framework review of schedule I psychedelics in the United States. J Am Coll Clin Pharm. 2023;6(10):1117–1124. doi: 10.1002/jac5.1841
  • Anders Fink-Jensen MDD, The Neurobiology Research Unit at Copenhagen University Hospital R, Psychiatric Centre R. Psilocybin-assisted Therapy for Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder. 2024.
  • Jensen ME, Stenbæk DS, Juul TS, et al. Psilocybin-assisted therapy for reducing alcohol intake in patients with alcohol use disorder: protocol for a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled 12-week clinical trial (The QUANTUM Trip Trial). BMJ Open. 2022 Oct 14;12(10):e066019. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-066019
  • Marty VN, Farokhnia M, Munier JJ, et al. Long-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists suppress voluntary alcohol intake in male wistar rats. Front neurosci. 2020;14:599646. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2020.599646
  • Aranäs C, Edvardsson CE, Shevchouk OT, et al. Semaglutide reduces alcohol intake and relapse-like drinking in male and female rats. EBioMedicine. 2023;93:104642. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104642
  • Chuong V, Farokhnia M, Khom S, et al. The glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue semaglutide reduces alcohol drinking and modulates central GABA neurotransmission. JCI Insight. 2023 Jun 22;8(12). doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.170671
  • Shirazi RH, Dickson SL, Skibicka KP, et al. Gut peptide GLP-1 and its analogue, Exendin-4, decrease alcohol intake and reward. PLoS ONE. 2013;8(4):e61965. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061965
  • Vallöf D, Kalafateli AL, Jerlhag E. Long-term treatment with a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist reduces ethanol intake in male and female rats. Transl Psychiatry. 2020;10(1):238. doi: 10.1038/s41398-020-00923-1
  • Egecioglu E, Steensland P, Fredriksson I, et al. The glucagon-like peptide 1 analogue Exendin-4 attenuates alcohol mediated behaviors in rodents. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2013;38(8):1259–1270. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2012.11.009
  • Vallöf D, Maccioni P, Colombo G, et al. The glucagon‐like peptide 1 receptor agonist liraglutide attenuates the reinforcing properties of alcohol in rodents. Addict Biol. 2016;21(2):422–437. doi: 10.1111/adb.12295
  • Klausen MK, Jensen ME, Møller M, et al. Exenatide once weekly for alcohol use disorder investigated in a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. JCI Insight. 2022;7(19). doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.159863
  • King CE, Griffin WC, Luderman LN, et al. Oxytocin reduces ethanol Self‐Administration in mice. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2017;41(5):955–964. doi: 10.1111/acer.13359
  • Stevenson JR, Wenner SM, Freestone DM, et al. Oxytocin reduces alcohol consumption in prairie voles. Physiol Behav. 2017 Oct 01;179:411–421.
  • Bowen MT, Neumann ID. Rebalancing the addicted brain: Oxytocin interference with the neural substrates of addiction. Trends Neurosci. 2016;40(12):691–708. doi: 10.1016/j.tins.2017.10.003
  • Pedersen CA, Smedley KL, Leserman J, et al. Intranasal oxytocin blocks alcohol withdrawal in human subjects. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2013 Mar;37(3):484–489.
  • Melby K, Grawe RW, Aamo TO, et al. Effect of intranasal oxytocin on alcohol withdrawal syndrome: a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind clinical trial. Drug Alcohol Dependence. 2019 Feb 13;197:95–101.
  • Melby K, Gråwe RW, Aamo TO, et al. Efficacy of self-administered intranasal oxytocin on alcohol use and craving after detoxification in patients with alcohol dependence. A double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Alcohol Alcohol. 2021;56(5):565–572. doi: 10.1093/alcalc/agaa133
  • Mitchell JM, Arcuni PA, Weinstein D, et al. Intranasal oxytocin selectively modulates social perception, craving, and approach behavior in subjects with alcohol use disorder. J Addict Med. 2016 May;10(3):182–189.
  • Flanagan JC, Allan NP, Calhoun CD, et al. Effects of oxytocin on stress reactivity and craving in veterans with co-occurring PTSD and alcohol use disorder. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2019;27(1):45. doi: 10.1037/pha0000232
  • Stauffer CS, Meinzer NK, Morrison T, et al. Effects of oxytocin administration on cue‐induced craving in co‐occurring alcohol use disorder and PTSD: a within‐participant randomized clinical trial. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2019;43(12):2627–2636. doi: 10.1111/acer.14217
  • Mellentin AI, Finn SW, Skøt L, et al. The effectiveness of oxytocin for treating substance use disorders: a systematic review of randomized placebo-controlled trials. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 2023 Aug 01;151:105185.
  • Zimmermann S, Thomas BC, Krisam J, et al. ON-ICE trial: investigation of the combined effects of oxytocin and naltrexone on stress-induced and alcohol cue-induced craving in alcohol use disorder-Study protocol of a phase II randomised double-blind placebo-controlled parallel-group trial. BMJ Open. 2022 Apr 11;12(4):e059672. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-059672
  • Morales P, Hurst DP, Reggio PH. Molecular targets of the phytocannabinoids: a complex picture. Phytocannabinoids: unraveling the complex chemistry and pharmacology of cannabis sativa. 2017;103:103–131.
  • Schoedel KA, Szeto I, Setnik B, et al. Abuse potential assessment of cannabidiol (CBD) in recreational polydrug users: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. Epilepsy Behav. 2018;88:162–171. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2018.07.027
  • Babalonis S, Haney M, Malcolm RJ, et al. Oral cannabidiol does not produce a signal for abuse liability in frequent marijuana smokers. Drug Alcohol Dependence. 2017;172:9–13. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.11.030
  • Gonzalez-Cuevas G, Martin-Fardon R, Kerr TM, et al. Unique treatment potential of cannabidiol for the prevention of relapse to drug use: preclinical proof of principle. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2018 Sep;43(10):2036–2045.
  • Viudez-Martínez A, García-Gutiérrez MS, Navarrón CM, et al. Cannabidiol reduces ethanol consumption, motivation and relapse in mice. Addict Biol. 2018;23(1):154–164. doi: 10.1111/adb.12495
  • Viudez-Martínez A, García-Gutiérrez MS, Fraguas-Sánchez AI, et al. Effects of cannabidiol plus naltrexone on motivation and ethanol consumption. Br J Pharmacol. 2018;175(16):3369–3378. doi: 10.1111/bph.14380
  • Hurd YL, Sharron Spriggs MA, Julia Alishayev RPA, et al. Cannabidiol for the reduction of cue-induced craving and anxiety in drug-abstinent individuals with heroin use disorder: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial. Am J Psychiatry. 2019;176(11):911–922. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2019.18101191
  • Karoly HC, Mueller RL, Andrade CC, et al. THC and CBD effects on alcohol use among alcohol and cannabis co-users. Psychol Addict Behav. 2021 Sep;35(6):749–759.
  • Soyka M, Rösner S. Pharmakotherapie der Alkoholentwöhnung: Update und neue Entwicklungen. Nervenarzt. 2021 Jan 01;92(1):57–65.
  • Falk DE, O’Malley SS, Witkiewitz K, et al. Evaluation of drinking risk levels as outcomes in alcohol pharmacotherapy trials: a secondary analysis of 3 randomized clinical trials. JAMA Psychiatry. 2019 Apr 1;76(4):374–381. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.3079
  • Rösner S, Soyka M. Outcome assessment in trials of pharmacological treatments for alcohol use disorders: fair and strict testing. CNS Drugs. 2019 Jul;33(7):649–657. doi: 10.1007/s40263-019-00644-0
  • Litten RZ, Ryan ML, Falk DE, et al. Heterogeneity of alcohol use disorder: understanding mechanisms to advance personalized treatment. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2015;39(4):579–584. doi: 10.1111/acer.12669
  • Pushpakom S, Iorio F, Eyers PA, et al. Drug repurposing: progress, challenges and recommendations. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2019 Jan 01;18(1):41–58. doi: 10.1038/nrd.2018.168

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.