Semaglutide Shown to Reduce Heavy Drinking in People With AUD and Obesity

Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.

An international clinical trial with 108 participants assessed the effects of the GLP-1 receptor agonist semaglutide on alcohol consumption in people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and obesity. Participants received weekly injections of semaglutide or placebo for 26 weeks, alongside standard cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for AUD. The study, led by Dr. Anders Fink-Jensen at Copenhagen University Hospital and involving NIH scientists, was published in The Lancet on May 2, 2026.

During the trial, all participants showed a decrease in heavy drinking days, but those treated with semaglutide had a significantly greater reduction. The semaglutide group also reported larger decreases in total monthly alcohol intake, number of drinks per drinking day, and self-reported craving, as well as improvements in measures of harmful alcohol use.

Biomarkers related to alcohol consumption and liver damage dropped more in the semaglutide group compared to placebo. Participants treated with semaglutide also experienced reductions in body weight, waist circumference, body mass index, and average blood sugar levels.

The most common adverse events in the semaglutide group were mild to moderate gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea, constipation, loss of appetite, diarrhea, reflux, and abdominal pain.