Using a GLP-1 Agonist to Help Treat Opioid Addiction
Official title: Use of a GLP-1 Agonist to Treat Opioid Use Disorder in Rats and Man
Funded at Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr · NIH-11077300 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hershey, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2019 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $4,444,024 |
| NIH project number | 5UH3DA050325-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11077300 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults diagnosed with opioid use disorder who are seeking new treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not struggling with opioid addiction or those who have contraindications to GLP-1 receptor agonists may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the potential of a GLP-1 receptor agonist to reduce opioid cravings and relapse in individuals with opioid use disorder. The study will involve a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial to assess the effectiveness of this treatment in humans, following promising results observed in animal models. By targeting the brain's reward and need pathways, the research aims to provide a new therapeutic approach to combat the high relapse rates associated with opioid addiction.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could offer a novel treatment option that significantly reduces relapse rates in patients with opioid use disorder.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that GLP-1 receptor agonists can reduce substance-seeking behavior in animal models, indicating potential for success in human applications.
Where this research is happening
-
Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr
Hershey, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Grigson, Patricia Sue — Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Grigson, Patricia Sue
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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GLP-1 medications to help prevent and treat opioid use disorder
This project looks at whether GLP-1 receptor agonists, already used for diabetes and obesity, can help people with opioid use disorder.
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Systems analysis to improve opioid use disorder care after jail release (SAIA-MOUD)
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Increasing Access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder for Unhoused Montanans
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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.