The Effects of Exenatide, a GLP-1 Agonist, on Alcohol Self-Administration in Heavy Drinkers

A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover design trial was used to test the effect of exenatide on alcohol self-administration and craving following a priming dose of alcohol. The specific objective of this research was to determine whether exenatide has effects on alcohol consumption.

This proposal was intended to answer the call for accelerating drug development by exploring the potential of a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist, exenatide, as a candidate medication for the treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder. There is now substantial preclinical evidence that GLP-1 agonists can attenuate behaviors that model both the consumption and seeking of several commonly abused substances including alcohol, cocaine, and nicotine. This study was intended to accelerate medication development for Alcohol Use Disorder by testing a commercially-available and well-tolerated agent at a fraction of the cost of new drug discovery. None of the FDA-approved Alcohol Use Disorder medications or off-label Alcohol Use Disorder medications target this GLP-1 pathway, making exenatide a promising compound for Alcohol Use Disorder drug development.

The primary aim of this study was to test the effects of exenatide on alcohol self-administration and craving among heavy drinkers. In this within-subjects crossover design, 3 heavy drinkers were randomized to exposure order (exenatide or sham injection) prior to completing two alcohol self-administration trials. Subjects received a priming drink of alcohol and had access to 8 drinks over a 2-hour period. The investigators anticipated that subjects would consume less alcohol following the administration of exenatide compared to when they received a sham injection. Significant exenatide-induced reductions in drinking would be considered to be an indication that this drug may have value as an Alcohol Use Disorder medication. This study may provide a rationale for phase II randomized controlled trials testing exenatide with a treatment-seeking Alcohol Use Disorder population. These results may also help to spur further clinical investigation of the effects of exenatide and other available GLP-1 agonists on the factors implicated in the regulation of alcohol consumption.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. 21-55 years of age.
2. Able to verify age with a state or federal picture identification.
3. Exceeds safe weekly drinking limits \[4 standard drink units (SDUs) for women or 21 SDUs for men per week\]
4. Reports at least one episode of binge drinking (\>3 SDUs for women, \>4 SDUs for men) an average of once per week in the four weeks prior to baseline screening.
5. Meets Diagnostic And Statistical Manual Of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5)criteria for mild alcohol use disorder or greater severity.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Seeking treatment for alcohol problems.
2. Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment at ≥10
3. DSM-5 diagnosis of current major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, bulimia/anorexia, dementia, or a substance use disorder other than alcohol, nicotine, marijuana or caffeine.
4. If female, pregnant, nursing, have plans to become pregnant.
5. If female, does not agree to use an accepted form of birth control.
6. Has a medical contraindication to the use of exenatide.
7. Has medical or mental condition for which further alcohol exposure at the planned dose range would be contraindicated.
8. Current risk of suicidality (MINI suicidality score greater than 8 (low risk) or Yes to the ideation question #4 of the C-SSRS).
9. BMI is less than 18 or greater than or equal to 30.
10. History of diabetes.
11. Baseline hemoglobin A1c ≥ 6.5%
12. Baseline non fasting glucose \>200
13. Significantly elevated serum lipase levels.
14. Impaired renal function (GFR \<80 mL/min).
15. Pancreatitis, gastroparesis or other severe gastrointestinal disease.
16. Has had gastric bypass surgery
17. Subject is currently taking warfarin.
18. Has received alcohol counseling or other non-pharmacologic intervention to treat AUD in the past 90 days.
19. Has taken medications that are used to treat alcohol use disorder (AUD) in the past 90 days.
20. Subjects with a history of thyroid cancer or other thyroid disease.
21. Has urine toxicology results positive for cocaine, opioids, amphetamines, buprenorphine, methadone, or methamphetamines.
22. Prior history of anaphylaxis or angioedema with another GLP-1 receptor agonist.
23. Prior use of exenatide
24. Liver function values AST or ALT are twice the normal limit
25. Unable to comfortably abstain from nicotine for a period of 8 hours.
26. Has Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), history of solid organ transplant, sickle cell disease, severe heart disease or other health condition for which exposure to COVID-19 represents an unreasonable risk as determined by the study staff physician using accepted COVID-19 guidance (e.g. Centers for Disease Control, etc.).
27. Subject has prior history of Drug-induced thrombocytopenia