Ibudilast for Treating Alcohol Use Disorder

Running, not enrolling · Phase 2 · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), Alcoholism

In brief

This is a research study involving 6 weeks of study medication, Ibudilast or a placebo (an inactive substance) and medical management counseling to reduce or stop drinking. Ibudilast is not approved by the U.S. FDA for clinical use in the United States, but it is has been used for many years in Japan for its anti-inflammatory effects. Its use in the treatment of alcohol dependence is experimental. By reducing inflammation, Ibudilast may help some people reduce or stop drinking. We have obtained an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) approval for this study from the FDA. Ibudilast has been used clinically for 20 years in Asia for treating bronchial asthma and, more recently, for post-stroke dizziness and ocular allergies and has been shown to be safe and well tolerated.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT05414240

Run by

University of Pennsylvania

People needed

50

Starts

2023-01-14

Expected to finish

2027-12-31

Last updated by the study team

2026-06-03

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 70. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Physically healthy, based on medical history and physical examination and approval of the study physician
• Meets current DSM-5 criteria for AUD
• Average weekly ethanol consumption of >24 standard drinks for men and >18 standard drinks for women, with a weekly average of > 2 HDDs during the month before screening
• Stated goal to reduce drinking to safe levels or to stop drinking
• Able to read English at an 6th grade or higher level and no gross cognitive impairment
• Willingness to nominate an individual who will know the subject's whereabouts to facilitate follow up during the study
• Women of child-bearing potential (i.e., who have not had a hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, tubal ligation or less than two years postmenopausal) must be non-lactating and practicing a reliable method of birth control and have a negative urine pregnancy test prior to the initiation of treatment. Examples of medically acceptable methods for this protocol include: the birth control pill, intrauterine device, injection of Depo-Provera, Norplant, contraceptive patch, contraceptive ring, double-barrier methods (such as condoms and diaphragm/spermicide), male partner sterilization, abstinence (and agreement to continue abstinence or to use an acceptable method of contraception, as listed above, should sexual activity commence), and tubal ligation.
• Willingness to provide signed, informed consent and commit to completing the procedures in the study

You may not qualify if…

• A current, clinically significant physical disease or abnormality based on medical history, physical examination, or routine laboratory evaluation, including direct bilirubin elevations of >110% or a transaminase elevation >300% of normal
• Current, serious psychiatric illness (i.e., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe or psychotic major depression, panic disorder, borderline or antisocial personality disorder, organic mood or mental disorders, eating disorder, or imminent suicide or violence risk)
• Current DSM-5 diagnosis of dependence on a drug other than alcohol, marijuana or nicotine
• Current regular treatment with a psychotropic medication (e.g., benzodiazepines, anticonvulsants), which affect neurotransmitter systems, or a medication to treat alcohol dependence. Stable antidepressant treatment for at least 1 month is acceptable.
• Urine drug screen positive for recent use of opioids, cocaine, or amphetamines (may be repeated once and if the result is negative on repeat it is not exclusionary)
• Judged by the principal investigator or his designee to be an unsuitable candidate for receipt of an investigational drug

Where it is running

• University of Pennsylvania Center for Studies of Addiction — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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