Intranasal Insulin for Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder

Phase 1

Recruiting

• Conditions: Alcohol Use Disorder
• Interventions: Drug: Regular Human Insulin then Placebo; Drug: Placebo then Regular Human Insulin

• Registration Number: NCT05988632
• Lead Sponsor: Brown University

Brief Summary

This is a randomized controlled trial (RCT), within-subject, crossover, double-blind, placebo-controlled in non-treatment-seeking individuals with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) (N=40, 50% female) randomized to IN insulin or placebo. In a bar laboratory setting, randomized participants will receive a single dose of IN insulin (80IU) or an IN matched placebo (0.9% Saline). Participants will undergo a cue-reactivity paradigm followed by an alcohol challenge that includes an alcohol drink designed to raise the breath alcohol content (BrAC) to 0.08g/dL.

Detailed Description

Aims in this RCT testing the effect of IN insulin, compared to placebo, in individuals with AUD include the following:

AIM 1: to assess the safety, tolerability and acceptability of IN insulin as a pharmacological intervention for AUD. The data collected in this aim will monitor possible adverse events and yield qualitative and quantitative data to finalize the feasibility and acceptability of IN insulin as an AUD pharmacotherapy.

Aim 2 (alcohol-drug interaction): to assess the safety and tolerability of IN insulin when administered with alcohol. The investigators will use a battery of physiological/psychological assessments that measures potential adverse events, alcohol subjective response and alcohol pharmacokinetics endpoints.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2023-07-25
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-08-09
• Study First Posted: 2023-08-14
• Status Verified: 2024-03
• Study Start: 2024-03-25
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-03-25
• Last Update Posted: 2024-03-26
• Primary Completion: 2025-03-25
• Study Completion: 2025-03-30

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 40

Inclusion Criteria

• ≥21 years

  • meet any DSM-5 criteria score for AUD
  • Individuals who, in the last month, have consumed at least the same amount of alcohol that will be administered in the laboratory procedure (i.e. to reach BrAC levels of 0.08g/dl, ~two drinks in one occasion)
  • BrAC=0.00g/dL at each visit
  • good health as confirmed by medical history, physical examination and lab tests
  • willing to adhere to the study procedures
  • understand informed consent and questionnaires in English at an 8th grade level
  • willing to have glucose monitored by finger stick during the laboratory procedures

Exclusion Criteria

• • female identifying who are breastfeeding or pregnant (assessed by a urine screen)

  • individuals with diabetes
  • history of suicide attempts in the last three years
  • current diagnosis of other substance use disorder (other than nicotine or cannabis)
  • use of drugs (e.g. stimulants/opioids) at each alcohol administration session (by urine tox screen)
  • cannabis intoxication (by clinical assessments)
  • use of medications that may interact with insulin and alcohol (by Micromedex database)
  • hypersensitivity to insulin
  • any nasal disease/congestion that may interfere with intranasal drug absorption;
  • baseline hypoglycemia (blood glucose ≤65mg/dL) or hyperglycemia (blood glucose >200mg/dL) (by finger stick)

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Insulin, Then Placebo	Regular Human Insulin then Placebo	There will be one single administration of intranasal human insulin (80IU) before alcohol self-administration. After a one week washout period, there will be one single intranasal administration of placebo (saline, 0.9% solution) before alcohol self administration.
Placebo, Then Insulin	Placebo then Regular Human Insulin	There will be one single intranasal administration of placebo (saline, 0.9% solution) before alcohol self administration. After a one week washout period, there will be one single administration of intranasal human insulin (80IU) before alcohol self-administration.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
intranasal adverse events	From baseline to post-treatment (1 day)	Adverse event reported during the drug administration

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
insulin alcohol interaction	From baseline to post-treatment (1 day)	Adverse event reported during the alcohol administration

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Brown University; 🇺🇸 Providence, Rhode Island, United States