Laboratory Screening of Lorcaserin for Alcohol Use Disorder

Alcohol Use Disorder Clinical Trial

Official title: Human Laboratory Screening of Lorcaserin in Smokers With Alcohol Use Disorder

Status Terminated

Clinical Trial Summary

Heavy-drinking smokers, including those with alcohol use disorder (AUD), are at increased risk for numerous negative health outcomes relative to those who use alcohol or cigarettes only. Although heavy-drinking smokers are recognized as an important subgroup for clinical and public health interventions, there are presently no approved medications for the joint indication of alcohol reduction and smoking cessation. Based on evidence that the serotonin system plays a role in alcohol and nicotine consumption and relapse, this study aims to examine whether a serotonin medication alters alcohol and nicotine responses in smokers with AUD, informing its potential utility as a candidate therapy for this clinical subgroup.

Clinical Trial Description

Pharmacotherapy development remains a critical objective for reducing health and societal burdens associated with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Developing targeted treatments for specific AUD subgroups is a key objective. Among those with AUD, cigarette smokers comprise a sizable and critical subgroup with disproportionally high long-term health risks, making it a key priority to advance therapies for concurrent AUD and cigarette smoking. The serotonin (5-hydroxtytryptamine; 5-HT) system is broadly implicated in addictive behaviors, in part reflecting the role of 5-HT in modulating dopamine function. Preclinical studies of 5-HT receptor drugs have shown that targeted modulation of the 5-HT2C receptor (implicated in 5-HT-related inhibition of DA function) alters the consumption and reinstatement of addictive drugs, including alcohol and nicotine. Of the selective 5-HT2C receptor agonists, lorcaserin has superior near-term potential for repurposing as an AUD therapy, having been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for weight management. Human laboratory medication trials offer a time- and cost-effective option for validating preclinical findings prior to larger randomized controlled trials, and for testing candidate treatment mechanisms. This Phase II human laboratory screening trial will evaluate lorcaserin as a novel candidate therapy for smokers with AUD. Effects of lorcaserin vs. placebo will be evaluated in a double-blind, within-subjects, crossover study with human laboratory endpoints. This study will provide early human data on the effects of a 5-HT2C receptor agonist in relation to alcohol-related outcomes, informing its potential for further evaluation as a candidate treatment for AUD. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Alcohol Drinking
• Alcohol Use Disorder
• Alcoholism
• Tobacco Smoking

• NCT number: NCT04396847
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: The Mind Research Network
• Status: Terminated
• Phase: Phase 2
• Start date: October 25, 2019
• Completion date: February 26, 2020