When alcohol is taken away from individuals who are dependent on it, they tend to consume more when alcohol is reintroduced. A new drug developed by researchers at CU Anschutz has shown promise in the lab to reduce this escalation of drinking.
The drug, Nezavist, is currently being tested for safety in humans after completing safety and toxicology studies in animals, said Paula Hoffman, PhD, professor emerita in the Department of Pharmacology at the CU Anschutz School of Medicine.
In the lab, Nezavist interrupts the cycle and reduces the escalation of alcohol consumption that occurs as a consequence of alcohol withdrawal in alcohol-dependent lab animals. In this Q&A, Hoffman shares how the drug was created and what her team has learned about the drug’s potential to help reduce relapse for people living with AUD.
The takeaway:
A novel drug developed by CU Anschutz researchers may offer a new approach to treating alcohol use disorder by targeting gut-brain communication rather than acting directly on the brain. In animal studies, the experimental drug Nezavist reduced the increased alcohol consumption that often follows withdrawal, potentially by lowering neuroinflammation through vagus nerve signaling. The drug is now in Phase 1 human safety trials, and researchers are working to determine whether its promising preclinical results can help prevent relapse in people.