Semaglutide (SEMA) for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) After Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (MBS)

Purpose

The purpose of this research study is to evaluate the feasibility of treating Alcohol Use Disorder with Semaglutide after metabolic and bariatric surgery in adults with overweight or obesity.

Conditions

  • Alcohol Use Disorder
  • Weight Loss
  • Bariatric Surgery Patients

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Over 18 Years
Eligible Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • Provision of signed and dated informed consent form - Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study (up to 6 months: 3-month treatment plus 3-month follow up) - Age 18 and older - Have a BMI ≥30 (or BMI ≥27 with a medical comorbidity) and BMI ≤50 kg/m2 - Have had laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy within the past seven years - Meet current DSM-5 criteria for Alcohol Use Disorder - Be an otherwise healthy subject without uncontrolled medical problems, as determined by the study physician and medical co-investigators - Read, comprehend, and write English at a sufficient level to complete study-related materials - For females of reproductive potential: use of highly effective contraception and agreement to use such a method during study participation

Exclusion Criteria

  • Any of the following: myocardial infarction, stroke, hospitalization for unstable angina, or transient ischemic attack within the past 60 days prior to screening - History or presence of chronic or recurrent pancreatitis - History of malignant neoplasms within the past 5 years prior to screening - Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or in patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 - Is currently using other medications for weight loss or other GLP-1 receptor agonists - Has a history of allergy or sensitivity to Semaglutide - Has a co-existing psychiatric condition that requires hospitalization or more intensive treatment (such as bipolar mood disorders, psychotic illnesses, or severe depression) - Has untreated hypertension with a seated systolic blood pressure > 160 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure > 100 mmHg, or heart rate > 100 beats/minute - Has current uncontrolled hypertension - Has current uncontrolled Type I or Type II diabetes mellitus - Has untreated hypothyroidism with a TSH > 1.5 times the upper limit of normal for the test laboratory with repeat value that also exceeds this limit - Has active gallbladder disease - Has a history of severe renal, hepatic, neurological, chronic pulmonary disease, or any other unstable medical disorder - Has a recent history of substance use disorder (with the exception of cannabis or tobacco use disorder) within the past 12 months - Is currently engaging in other treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder or making intentional efforts to quit alcohol use - Is currently participating in another clinical study in which the subject is or will be exposed to an investigational or a non-investigational drug or device - Is breast-feeding, pregnant, or not using a reliable form of birth control - Reports active suicidal or homicidal ideation - Any disorder, unwillingness or inability, not covered by any of the other exclusion criteria which, in the investigator's opinion, might have jeopardized the participant's safety or compliance with the protocol

Study Design

Phase
Phase 1
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Intervention Model Description
Participants will be randomized to a medication (Semaglutide) or a wait-list control for three months with a subsequent three-month follow-up (total 6 months).
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Masking Description
Post-treatment and six-month follow-up assessments will be completed by a study clinician that is blind to treatment group.

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
Semaglutide
Participants randomized to Semaglutide will be initiated on a 0.25 mg dose (injection) once weekly for 4 weeks (first month) with an escalation to 0.5 mg for the second month, and 1.0 mg in the final month. Participants will be on Semaglutide for three months total.
  • Drug: Semaglutide 1.0 mg
    Participants randomized to Semaglutide will be initiated on a 0.25 mg dose (injection) once weekly for 4 weeks (first month) with an escalation to 0.5 mg for the second month, and 1.0 mg in the final month (three months total).
No Intervention
Wait-list control
Participants randomized to wait-list control will be followed for three months but no treatment will be administered. At the conclusion of the study, participants in the wait list control group will be offered a three-month behavioral intervention to treat Alcohol Use Disorder, although this is not required.

Recruiting Locations

Yale School of Medicine
New Haven, Connecticut 06520

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
Yale University

Study Contact

Valentina Ivezaj, PhD
203-785-7807
valentina.ivezaj@yale.edu

Detailed Description

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of treating Alcohol Use Disorder with Semaglutide after metabolic and bariatric surgery in adults with overweight/obesity. This study will also examine changes in alcohol use disorder and weight. It is hypothesized that the treatment will be feasible and acceptable to participants, and result in reductions in alcohol use and weight. A recently published randomized controlled trial provided preliminary evidence that Semaglutide can reduce some alcohol craving and drinking outcomes; however, this has not been examined in individuals with a history of bariatric surgery who are at increased risk of alcohol misuse and Alcohol Use Disorder.