Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogues: A potential new treatment for alcohol use disorder?

The pharmacological armamentarium for the maintenance of alcohol abstinence in patients with alcohol use disorder has not gained widespread dissemination and novel molecular targets for the medical treatment of alcohol use disorder are needed. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an incretin hormone, which is secreted from endocrine L cells of the intestine in response to nutrients in the gut lumen. Recent studies have demonstrated inhibitory effects of GLP-1 analogues on alcohol consumption and alcohol-mediated behaviour in rodents. Based on the urgent need for novel pharmacological treatment strategies for alcohol use disorder and the promising pre-clinical data on the effects of GLP-1-analogues on alcohol consumption, we suggest that clinical trials rigorously testing whether GLP-1 analogues will reduce alcohol consumption in alcohol use disorder patients should be carried out.