Investigating Therapeutic Targets for Alcohol Use Disorder: Pharmacological View of ClinicalTrials.gov Data

Abstract

Background: Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a pervasive and chronic condition that causes considerable individual and societal burden. Therapeutic interventions remain limited, highlighting the critical need for the development of more effective interventions. Objective: This study aims to explore therapeutic targets in AUD by analyzing interventional clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. It seeks to identify prevailing pharmacological and behavioral treatment strategies and emerging areas of investigation. Methods: A comprehensive search of ClinicalTrials.gov using the keywords "Alcohol Use Disorder" identified 209 completed interventional trials. Trials were categorized by intervention type, pharmacological targets, study phase, and participant demographics. Descriptive statistics were used to assess the prevalence and characteristics of the therapeutic strategies under investigation. Results: Pharmacological interventions were predominant, targeting systems such as cholinergic (nicotinic receptors), opioid, GABAergic, and glutamatergic pathways. Behavioral interventions were also common, frequently combined with pharmacological treatments. Trials investigating novel targets such as neuroinflammation and neuromodulation are emerging. Most studies were small in scale and were at early to mid-phase stages. Overall, the treatment outcomes showed modest to moderate success in reducing alcohol cravings, increasing abstinence duration, and preventing relapse, though larger confirmatory trials remain limited. Conclusion: The clinical trials for AUD reflects a strong focus on neurotransmitter-targeted pharmacotherapy, supplemented by behavioral approaches. Newer interventions targeting neuroimmune pathways and brain stimulation techniques show promise but require further investigation in larger, more advanced trials.