A trial of 108 adults with obesity seeking treatment for alcohol use finds a once-weekly semaglutide injection reduced heavy drinking days in the past 30 days by an average of roughly 12 days, 50% higher than the eight day reduction seen in the placebo group. The study is published in The Lancet .
Alcohol use disorder accounts for 5% of deaths worldwide annually, and there is an urgent need for new treatments. This study is the first randomised controlled trial investigating if GLP-1s can reduce alcohol intake in patients with obesity who are seeking treatment for alcohol use disorder.
The trial took place at a mental health centre in Denmark. All participants were offered cognitive behavioural therapy and were randomised to receive either a weekly dose of semaglutide or a placebo. At the start of the trial, patients had on average 17 days of heavy drinking over the last 30 days. After six months, patients receiving semaglutide had an average of roughly five heavy drinking days over the previous 30 days, compared to nine days in the placebo group. Additionally, at the start of the trial participants had an average of approximately 2200g of alcohol over the previous 30 days which decreased to roughly 650g/30 days with semaglutide and 1175g/30 days with placebo after six months.
Authors highlight key limitations including that the study is small and there was no follow up after the trial to see if alcohol consumption changed. However, they say the study adds to the growing evidence for use of GLP-1s in alcohol use disorder, potentially affecting millions of people, given the global rates of alcohol use disorder and obesity.
Post-embargo URL: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(26)00305-3/fulltext
The Lancet
Randomized controlled/clinical trial
People
Once-weekly semaglutide versus placebo in patients with alcohol use disorder and comorbid obesity: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
30-Apr-2026
MKK has served as a consultant for Phamacotherapies for Alcohol and Substance Use Disorders Alliance and Guidepoint. AFJ has received an unrestricted grant from Novo Nordisk to investigate the effects of semaglutide on metabolic disturbances in participants with schizophrenia treated with antipsychotics; serves on a RCT advisory panel for Novo Nordisk, receiving no honorarium; and has served as a consultant for Phamacotherapies for Alcohol and Substance Use Disorders Alliance and Guidepoint. TV has served on scientific advisory panels and been part of speaker’s bureaus for Amgen, Astra-Zeneca, BMS, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Gilead, GSK, Mundipharma, Novo Nordisk, Carmot/Roche, Sanofi, Sun Pharmaceuticals, and Zealand Pharma; and served as a consultant for Amgen, Astra-Zeneca, BMS, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Gilead, GSK, Mundipharma, Novo Nordisk, Carmot/ Roche, Sanofi, Sun Pharmaceuticals, and Zealand Pharma. JJH has received a grant from the Novo Nordisk Foundation to the Center for Basic Metabolic Research at Copenhagen University (NNF23SA0084103); has given lectures and received travel support from AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, and Decheng Capital Global Lifesciences Fund; has served as a consultant for Third Bridge, Metaphor Biotechnologies, Vial Health Technology, Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Immunic Therapeutics, Guidepoint, Fractyl Health, Alcimed, Soffinova Partners, and Jefferies International; JJH has received support for attending meetings and/or travel from the Endocrine Society and Eli Lilly; participates on an advisory board for Novo Nordisk; is a cofounder and board member of Antag Therapeutics and Bainan Biotech, and sits on the boards of both, unpaid; and has stock options with Antag Therapeutics. All other authors declare no competing interests.