Could a tiny implant curb alcohol cravings? new trial tests Long-Acting naltrexone
NCT ID NCT07333638
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This Phase 2 trial tested whether a naltrexone implant, placed under the skin, can help people with alcohol use disorder drink less heavily. 210 adults received either a low-dose, high-dose, or placebo implant, plus counseling. Researchers tracked heavy drinking days over 24 weeks and monitored safety for 48 weeks.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- naltrexone implant
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could provide a long-acting treatment option to help people with alcohol use disorder reduce heavy drinking.
- What could go wrong
- This is a Phase 2 trial with a moderate number of participants, so results may not confirm effectiveness or safety. The implant requires a minor surgical procedure, which carries infection or discomfort risks.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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210 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Apr 2023
- Finished
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Oct 2024
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Voluntarily participate in the clinical study; fully understand and are informed about the study and sign the informed consent form; willing and able to comply with and complete all trial procedures; \| 2. Age ≥18 years at the time of signing the informed consent form; \| 3. Diagnosis of moderate or severe Alcohol Use Disorder based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) (meeting four or more diagnostic criteria, see Appendix 1 for details); \| 4. Completed detoxification treatment and had no significant alcohol withdrawal symptoms for at least one week (≥7 days) prior to randomization/administration \[Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol-Revised (CIWA-Ar) score \<7 points (see Appendix 2 for specific assessment method)\]; \| 5. Able to provide Timeline Followback (TLFB) alcohol use information for the 2 weeks during detoxification and/or prior to screening; \| 6. Had at least two heavy drinking days per week during the 4 weeks of detoxification and/or prior to screening; \| 7. Qualified subjects of childbearing potential (male and female) must agree to use effective contraceptive methods (hormonal or barrier method or abstinence) with their partner during the trial period. Exclusion Criteria: 1. The investigator judges that participation in this study is not in the best interest of the subject, or any other condition that would make it unsafe for the subject to participate in the study; \| 2. Pregnancy, positive pregnancy test for women of childbearing potential, or lactating women, including women of childbearing potential planning to become pregnant during the study period. Note: Women of childbearing potential here refer to women capable of becoming pregnant. Must meet the following criteria, regardless of sexual orientation or tubal ligation: 1) No hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy; or 2) Have not been naturally postmenopausal for more than 12 consecutive months (i.e., have had menses at any time in the preceding 12 consecutive months); \| 3. Significant abnormal liver function (e.g., AST or ALT \>2 times the upper limit of normal) or liver failure \[including but not limited to: ascites, prolonged prothrombin time, International Normalized Ratio (INR) ≥1.7, esophageal variceal disease\] or hepatobiliary ultrasound shows results that significantly impact the judgment of the study drug's efficacy and safety; \| 4. Suffering from clinically uncontrolled active infectious diseases, such as active Hepatitis B \[Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive and Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA copy number \>1000 IU/ml\], active Hepatitis C \[Hepatitis C virus antibody positive and Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-RNA positive\], etc.; \| 5. History of congenital bleeding disorders (e.g., hemophilia) or any clinically significant active bleeding, or platelet dysfunction, or prothrombin time (PT) exceeding the upper normal limit by more than 3 seconds, or platelet count \<50×10⁹/L; \| 6. Previous history of severe pancreatitis or severe delirium tremens; 7. In the investigator's judgment, the subject has any severe/uncontrolled systemic disease (e.g., respiratory, circulatory, digestive, nervous, hematological, urogenital, endocrine systems) or mental illness (e.g., major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, etc.) or other major diseases that the investigator believes would prevent providing informed consent, make participation in the study unsafe, complicate the interpretation of study outcome data, or otherwise affect the achievement of study objectives; 8. Likely to require hospitalization or surgery during the study period, including planned elective surgery or hospitalization that cannot be postponed; 9. Diagnosed with substance use disorder (other than alcohol) according to DSM-5 criteria within the current (within one year prior to randomization/administration) period, such as: benzodiazepines, amphetamines, opioids, or cocaine, etc.; \| 10. Used medications for relapse prevention (e.g., naltrexone, etc.) or received systematic psychological support therapy within 30 days prior to randomization/administration; 11. Currently receiving treatment for opioid, amphetamine, alcohol, or other substance use disorders, or received opioids within 7 days prior to randomization/administration, likely to require opioid treatment during the study period, or positive urine test for opioids, marijuana, amphetamines, etc., or positive naloxone challenge test on the day of randomization/administration; 12. Allergy to the investigational drug or its excipients (polylactic acid, magnesium stearate), or local anesthetics; \| 13\. Currently participating in any investigational drug or device study, or used any investigational drug or device within 30 days prior to randomization/administration; 14. Skin infection at the implantation site or systemic skin disease judged to potentially affect the efficacy and safety evaluation of the investigational drug; \| 15. Clinical or laboratory evidence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) or syphilis carrier/infection. \|
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University Address: No. 139, Renmin Road Central, Changsha City
Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.