# Human Laboratory Screening of Semaglutide for Alcohol Use Disorder

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · 2021 · $225,436

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Pharmacotherapy development remains a critical objective for reducing health and societal burdens associated
with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Developing targeted treatments for specific AUD subgroups is a key aim
under the NIAAA medication development strategy. Among those with AUD, cigarette smokers comprise a
sizable and critical subgroup with disproportionally high long-term health risks, making it a key priority to
advance therapies for concurrent AUD and cigarette smoking. Recent preclinical evidence indicates that
glucagon-type peptide-1, an incretin hormone, impacts alcohol motivation and intake. So far, no studies have
reported on the effects of GLP-1 receptor medications on aspects of alcohol motivation and reward in human
participants. Human laboratory medication trials offer a time- and cost-effective option for validating preclinical
findings prior to carrying out larger randomized controlled trials. This project will utilize human laboratory
screening procedures to evaluate a GLP-1 receptor agonist as a novel candidate therapy for smokers with
AUD. Participants who meet criteria for AUD and report regular light-to-moderate smoking will complete
alcohol administration procedures in a within-subjects, counter-balanced design. This study will provide initial
human data on the effects of a GLP-1 receptor agonist in relation to alcohol-related outcomes, including both
alcohol and nicotine motivation, in participants with AUD. Validation of a candidate monotherapy for joint
alcohol and nicotine reduction could have substantial public health impact.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10406624
- **Project number:** 7R21AA026931-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- **Principal Investigator:** Christian S Hendershot
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $225,436
- **Award type:** 7
- **Project period:** 2019-04-10 → 2024-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10406624

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10406624, Human Laboratory Screening of Semaglutide for Alcohol Use Disorder (7R21AA026931-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10406624. Licensed CC0.

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