New research into GLP-1 receptor has opened a realm of new treatment possibilities to treat opioid use disorder (OUD), a report said on Tuesday.A three-week Phase I study conducted at the Caron Treatment Centers in Pennsylvania in the US, enrolling 20 participants undergoing residential treatment for OUD, assessed Novo Nordisk’s Saxenda (liraglutide), a GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA), as a monotherapy for OUD.
The study displayed its potential to rival existing treatments and showed a 40 per cent reduction in opioid cravings among those taking Saxenda, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
Originally developed for treating diabetes, GLP-1RAs work by stimulating insulin secretion and suppressing glucagon release, thereby helping regulate blood sugar.