Pharma firms accelerate GLP-1 drug trials for addiction and mental-health disorders

Pharmaceutical companies have intensified efforts to repurpose GLP-1 receptor agonists, originally developed for obesity, for a range of brain disorders. Eli Lilly presented first-in-human data on brenipatide, a GLP-1/GIP dual agonist, showing promise in reducing alcohol cravings, and highlighted its 9-12-day half-life as advantageous for chronic conditions. Kariya Pharmaceuticals shared early trial outcomes for KP405, targeting Parkinson’s disease, and Baseline Therapeutics announced plans to begin phase-III testing of BT-001 for alcohol use disorder by early 2027.

Academic scientists, including Lorenzo Leggio and Christian Hendershot, note that patients on existing GLP-1 drugs often report decreased alcohol and tobacco use, supporting the therapeutic rationale. While the new compounds share mechanisms with approved obesity drugs, experts like Randy Seeley caution that differences may be limited beyond pharmacokinetics. Ongoing trials across addiction, depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder could lead to the first FDA approvals of GLP-1 therapies for psychiatric indications.