Tirzepatide for adults with alcohol use disorder and overweight or obesity
Official title: Phase II Evaluation of Tirzepatide in Adults with Alcohol Use Disorder and Overweight or Obesity
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-11192379 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This will see if the weight-loss medication tirzepatide can help adults with alcohol use disorder who are overweight or obese cut back on drinking and improve health measures.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 15, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $184,782 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AA031892-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11192379 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 21 or older with a diagnosis of alcohol use disorder who are overweight or obese and willing to try a prescription injectable medication and attend follow-up visits are the best fit.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not have alcohol use disorder, who are not overweight, or who have medical contraindications to tirzepatide (for example pregnancy or other safety concerns) are unlikely to benefit from participation.
What this research studies
If you join, you would be an adult with alcohol use disorder and overweight/obesity who receives the study medication tirzepatide and regular follow-up visits. The research team will track alcohol consumption, body weight, and cardiometabolic health markers over the treatment period. The project builds on evidence that drugs acting on incretin hormones (like GLP-1) may reduce drinking while producing weight loss. This Phase II effort tests whether tirzepatide’s dual action can provide both drinking and weight benefits for people with these co-occurring conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, tirzepatide could help people with alcohol use disorder who are overweight lose weight, reduce drinking, and lower cardiovascular risk.
How similar studies have gone: Some GLP-1 receptor agonists have shown promise in animal studies and early human observations for reducing alcohol intake, but using tirzepatide specifically for AUD is a newer clinical approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hendershot, Christian S — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Hendershot, Christian S
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Evaluating Tirzepatide for treating alcohol use disorder and obesity in adults
This study is looking at how well Tirzepatide, a new weight loss medication, can help adults who are overweight or obese and also have trouble with alcohol use, by seeing if it can reduce their drinking and help them lose weight for better health.
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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.