GLP-1 medications to help prevent and treat opioid use disorder
Official title: GLP-1 receptor agonists for the prevention and treatment of opioid use disorder
Funded at Mayo Clinic Rochester · NIH-11334041 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether GLP-1 receptor agonists, already used for diabetes and obesity, can help people with opioid use disorder.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $830,097 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DA065510-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11334041 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with opioid use disorder who have a prescription history in Optum Labs data and related healthcare records.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without opioid use disorder or those without exposure to GLP-1RAs in the data may not benefit.
What this research studies
If funded, researchers will analyze real-world data from U.S. health plans to see if GLP-1 receptor agonists are linked to better outcomes for people with opioid use disorder. The study uses large claims data and linked electronic health records to compare patients treated with GLP-1RAs to similar patients who did not receive them, applying causal inference methods to reduce bias. The goal is to generate evidence that can guide clinical decisions about using these diabetes medicines in OUD care. The work builds on limited prior trials and aims to provide insights applicable to routine practice in the United States.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could inform clinicians about a potential new use for GLP-1RAs in preventing and treating opioid use disorder.
How similar studies have gone: Prior trials were small or incomplete; this study uses real-world data to provide more generalizable evidence.
Where this research is happening
-
Mayo Clinic Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Savitz, Samuel T — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Savitz, Samuel T
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Using a GLP-1 Agonist to Help Treat Opioid Addiction
This study is looking at whether a new medication can help people with opioid addiction feel less cravings and reduce the chances of going back to using opioids, based on encouraging results seen in animals.
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This project helps unhoused people in Montana get life-saving medicines for opioid use disorder through clinics connected to syringe service programs, a nurse-led MOUD model, and peer support.
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Optimizing long-acting PrEP and opioid treatment for people in jails and prisons
This project tests a real-world approach to using long-acting PrEP and buprenorphine for HIV prevention and opioid treatment among incarcerated individuals and after release.
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Scaling up medications for opioid use disorder in residential treatment programs
This grant studies how to help residential treatment programs provide medications for opioid use disorder to reduce overdoses after discharge, focusing on real-world settings and policies.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.