CompletedPhase 1/2

Manipulating Ghrelin Signaling Via GOAT Inhibition in Alcohol Use Disorder

United States21 participantsStarted 2021-06-22

Plain-language summary

Background: People with alcohol use disorder (AUD) have trouble controlling their drinking. Medications can help some people with AUD but are not effective for many others. Researchers want to test new drugs to better treat the disease. Objective: To see if the investigational drug GLWL-01 is safe to use in people with alcohol problems. Also, to find out if the drug reduces the urge to drink alcohol. Eligibility: People ages 18-70 with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) Design: Participants will be screened under protocol 06-DA-N415. Participants will be admitted to the inpatient facility, Clinical Research Unit (CRU) on the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center for up to 21 days. They may leave the CRU on specified days pending approval. All their meals will be provided. They cannot drink alcohol. Participants will take either the study drug or a placebo by mouth twice daily. They will not know which they are receiving. Participants will complete many questionnaires. Participants may have urine tests. Participants will complete tasks on a computer. Participants will have blood samples obtained on some study days. Participants will taste and indicate their preference for sweet liquids. Participants' blood pressure, pulse, respiratory rate, body temperature and weight, heart rate and rhythm will be measured. Participants will have breath testing to obtain information about smoking. Participants will be exposed to alcohol cues, water, and food cues in a bar-like room. Cues are things that might make them feel the urge to eat or drink alcohol. Participants will take part in a virtual buffet experiment - They will wear a virtual reality headset, walk around a virtual room, and select virtual food and drink.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 70 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion criteria

Males agrees agree to sexual abstinence or to use a reliable method of birth control during the study and three months following the last dose of the study drug. Acceptable methods of birth control may include: 1) condom with spermicide; 2) diaphragm with spermicide; or 3) female condom with spermicide.
Women of child-bearing potential may participate in the study:
Women not of child-bearing potential may participate in the study and include those who have

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Number of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs)

Timeframe: Up to one month

Alcohol Cue-elicited Craving Assessed in a "Bar-like" Laboratory

Timeframe: AUQ scores were collected 5-6 days per intervention [initial dosing days (2-3 days), the virtual reality buffet day (1 day), the cue-reactivity day (1 day), and the final study day (1 day)]

Trial details

NCT IDNCT03896516

SponsorNational Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Sponsor typeNIH

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2023-12-04

Results submitted2024-12-02

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Alcohol Use Disorder trials