The global pharmaceutical market has been hit by the weight-loss drug Wigobi (ingredient name semaglutide), with the first clinical trial results showing it is effective in treating alcohol addiction.
Previously, studies analyzing large-scale medical data had consistently suggested that Wigobi could be effective in treating alcohol addiction, but this is the first study confirming that through an actual clinical trial.
A research team led by Christian S. Hendershot from the University of Southern California noted on the 13th in the international journal "Journal of the American Medical Association Psychiatry" that administering semaglutide once a week to patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) resulted in reduced alcohol consumption and binge drinking frequency.
Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 class substance and is the main ingredient in Wigobi.
The research team conducted a Phase 2 clinical trial from September 2022 to February of this year, enrolling 48 alcohol addiction patients and administering semaglutide once a week for nine weeks. Half of the participants received semaglutide, while the other half received a placebo to compare the efficacy in treating alcohol addiction symptoms.
Participants were provided with their preferred alcoholic beverage before and after the clinical trial, waited for 50 minutes, and were then allowed to drink as much as they wanted over a two-hour period in an ad libitum assessment. They recorded their weekly alcohol consumption and also measured their craving for alcohol using the Alcohol Craving Assessment (PACS) score, which is one of the diagnostic criteria for alcohol use disorder.
As a result, patients administered semaglutide saw their weekly alcohol consumption decrease by 41% and a significant reduction in alcohol addiction symptoms. The number of days of binge drinking, where they consumed enough to be intoxicated, decreased by 84%, and craving scores decreased by 39%. However, there was no notable decrease in average daily alcohol consumption, indicating it does not aid in achieving complete abstinence.
Participants also experienced additional health benefits along with the alleviation of alcohol addiction symptoms. Patients administered semaglutide saw an average weight reduction of 5%, and those who smoked reduced their average cigarette consumption by 10%. Side effects, including nausea and diarrhea due to previously known gastrointestinal disorders, were observed in some cases.
The research team stated, "Since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved disulfiram as the first alcohol addiction treatment in 1951, only two new treatments have been licensed to date. If further studies prove that semaglutide can be used as a treatment for alcohol addiction, it could make treatment much easier."
This study is significantly important as it confirmed the alcohol addiction treatment effects of semaglutide in actual patients.
Previously, studies regarding the efficacy of GLP-1 class substances, including semaglutide, in treating alcohol addiction and opioid addiction have emerged, garnering attention as multi-purpose treatments. However, due to the efficacy for alcohol addiction being demonstrated through data analysis rather than clinical trials, the medical community has taken a cautious stance. The announcement of this clinical trial result has led to an increased likelihood of further related studies.
The research team emphasized, "There is a need for studies on the effects and side effects of long-term administration at high doses through Phase 3 clinical trials, and it is also valuable to research the efficacy of other GLP-1 class substances."
References
JAMA Psychiatry (2025), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2024.4789