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NCT Number: NCT07325266

Human Laboratory Study of Apremilast for Alcohol Use Disorder

Primary: The primary objective of this study is to compare the efficacy of two different maintenance doses of apremilast (tablets) in reducing alcohol craving among subjects with moderate to severe alcohol use disorder (AUD) after two weeks of daily dosing.

Secondary: Secondary objectives include evaluation of two different maintenance doses of apremilast compared with matched placebo on other measures of self-reported alcohol consumption, alcohol craving, alcohol-related negative consequences, AUD symptoms, pain, sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety, quality of life, cigarette smoking, other nicotine use, cannabis use, retention in the study, and safety.

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Key information

Conditions

Alcohol Use Disorder Alcohol Misuse Alcohol-Related Disorders Alcoholism Chemically-Induced Disorders Mental Disorders Substance-Related Disorders

Age range

21 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States

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Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

(not exhaustive list):

  • Be at least 21 years of age.
  • Have a current (past 12 months) DSM-5 diagnosis of AUD (4 or more symptoms) assessed using the MINI neuropsychiatric interview version 7.0.2 (at least moderate severity).
  • Have a BAC by breathalyzer equal to 0.000 when s/he signed the informed consent document (either just prior to or immediately after signing consent).
  • Be seeking treatment for problems with alcohol and express a goal of abstinence or a reduction in drinking.
  • Be able to verbalize an understanding of the consent form, able to provide written informed consent, verbalize willingness to complete study procedures, able to understand written and oral instructions in English and able to complete the questionnaires required by the protocol.
  • Agree (if the participant is female and of childbearing potential) to use at least one of the following methods of birth control, unless she is surgically sterile, partner is surgically sterile or she is postmenopausal:
  • oral contraceptives,
  • contraceptive sponge,
  • patch,
  • double barrier (diaphragm/spermicidal or condom/spermicidal),
  • intrauterine contraceptive system,
  • etonogestrel implant,
  • medroxyprogesterone acetate contraceptive injection,
  • complete abstinence from sexual intercourse, and/or
  • hormonal vaginal contraceptive ring.
  • Be willing to adhere to the investigational product dosing schedule.
  • Complete all assessments required at screening and baseline.
  • Have a place to live in the 2 weeks prior to randomization and not be at risk that s/he will lose his/her housing by Study Week 6.
  • Not anticipate any significant problems with transportation arrangements or available time to travel to the study site by Study Week 6.
  • Not have any plans to move within Study Week 6 to a location which would make continued participation in the study impractical.
  • Provide contact information of someone, such as a family member, spouse, or significant other, who may be able to contact the participant in case of a missed clinic appointment.
  • Be someone who in the opinion of the investigator would be expected to complete the study protocol.
  • Agree to the schedule of visits, verbally acknowledge that s/he will be able to attend each scheduled visit, participate in phone visits and that s/he does not have any already scheduled events or a job that may substantially interfere with study participation.
  • If taking a medication for depression, must have been taking a stable dose in the 2-months prior to randomization and plan to continue during the study. This includes drugs such as the following:
  • SSRIs
  • Dual uptake inhibitors
  • SNRIs
  • Tricyclic antidepressants
  • MAOIs
  • Bupropion
  • Not currently taking apremilast and agree not to take non-study supplied apremilast for the duration of the study.
  • Have normal renal function defined as creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL per minute by the Cockcroft-Gault equation.

Exclusion criteria

Contact study site for exclusion criteria

Treatment and study plan

Placebo

Drug

Matched Placebo Capsule

Apremilast

Drug

30 mg capsule

Other names: Otezla

Primary outcomes

  1. Alcohol Craving

    Time frame: Week 4

    The primary outcome measure of this study is to compare the efficacy of two different maintenance doses of apremilast (tablets) in reducing alcohol craving among participants with moderate to severe alcohol use disorder (AUD) after two weeks of daily dosing.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Participants with no heavy drinking days

    Time frame: Weeks 2-5

    Percentage of participants with no heavy drinking days over the last 4 weeks of the treatment period. A "heavy drinking day" is 4 or more drinks per drinking day for women and 5 or more drinks per drinking day for men.

  2. Participants abstinent from alcohol

    Time frame: Weeks 2-5

    Percentage of participants abstinent from alcohol over the last 4 weeks of the treatment period of treatment.

  3. Days abstinent from alcohol per week.

    Time frame: Weeks 2-5

    Percentage of days abstinent from alcohol per week.

  4. Participants with at least a WHO 2-level decrease in alcohol consumption

    Time frame: Weeks 2-5

    Percentage of participants with at least a WHO 2-level decrease in alcohol consumption

  5. Heavy drinking days per week

    Time frame: Weeks 2-5

    Percentage of heavy drinking days per week

  6. Participants abstinent from cigarette smoking

    Time frame: Weeks 4-5

    Percentage of participants abstinent from cigarette smoking (among smokers at baseline)

  7. Number of drinks per week

    Time frame: Weeks 2-5

    Mean number of drinks per consumed week

  8. Number of drinks per drinking day

    Time frame: Weeks 2-5

    Weekly mean number of drinks consumed per drinking day.

  9. Alcohol Use Disorder Symptoms

    Time frame: Week 6

    Number of Alcohol User Disorder (AUD) symptoms as measured by MINI AUD

  10. Number of days of cannabis use per week

    Time frame: Weeks 4-6

    Mean number of days of cannabis use per week (among cannabis users at baseline)

  11. Global Health Score

    Time frame: Weeks 4,6

    The PROMIS (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System) Global Health Scale is QOL assessment to evaluate the clinical benefit of apremilast treatment. It is a 10-question self-report measure that rates items on a 5-item ordinal scale (5 = Excellent, 1 = Poor) over the past 7 days. It assesses five core health domains: physical function, pain, fatigue, emotional distress, and social health. Scores will be converted to T-scores (normalized for comparison across populations). Lower scores correspond to more severe problems. Global health score measured by the PROMIS-Global Health scale

  12. Alcohol Negative Consequences Score

    Time frame: Weeks 4,6

    For negative consequences for alcohol use, the short form of the PROMIS Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System) Alcohol Negative Consequences questionnaire will be used to assess outcomes of alcohol use over the past 7 days. This 7-item questionnaire assesses physical and social consequences of drinking. Scores will be converted to T-scores (normalized for comparison across populations).

  13. Sleep Disturbance

    Time frame: Weeks 4,6

    The PROMIS (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System) Sleep Disturbances Scale - short form is an 8-item scale asking questions about sleep disturbances in the past 7-days. Each item on the measure is rated on a 5-point scale (1=never; 2=rarely; 3=sometimes; 4=often; and 5=always) with a range in score from 8 to 40 with higher scores indicating greater severity of sleep disturbance. Scores will be converted to T-scores (normalized for comparison across populations).

  14. PROMIS pain intensity score

    Time frame: Weeks 4,6

    The PROMIS (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System) Adult Short Form version 1.0 Pain Intensity will be used to assess pain intensity using a 7-day recall period (2 items) and pain intensity right now (1 item). Each item has a 5-point scale with anchors at "had no pain" and "very severe". The responses to each item will be summed to calculate a total pain intensity score. Scores will be converted to T-scores (normalized for comparison across populations).

  15. PROMIS-Anxiety Scale score

    Time frame: Weeks 4-6

    The PROMIS (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System) Anxiety Scale - short form is a 8-item scale asking questions about anxiety in the past 7 days with anchors at 1 (never) and 5 (always). Interpretation of scoring is as follows:

    Score 0-4: Minimal Anxiety. Score 5-9: Mild Anxiety. Score 10-14: Moderate Anxiety. Score greater than 15: Severe Anxiety.

    Scores will be converted to T-scores (normalized for comparison across populations).

  16. HAM-D17 score

    Time frame: Weeks 2,4,6

    A 17-item clinician administered Hamilton Depression scale (HAM-D17) will be used to monitor the development of depressive symptom throughout the study. A structed interview guide must be followed by the administrator performing this assessment.

    HAM-D17 scores of below 7 (no depression), 7 to 17 (mild depression), 18 to 24 (moderate depression) and 25 and above (severe depression) (Carrozzino-2020). This questionnaire will be completed by the interviewer and will be both the source and eCRF.

  17. Urge to Drink scale scores

    Time frame: Weeks 2-5

    Urge to Drink craving score during the minimum period. Minimum score of = 0 and maximum = 35

  18. Inflammatory Markers

    Time frame: Weeks 3, 6

    Clinical chemistry and hematology laboratory tests will be performed at the clinical site's local clinical laboratory.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Megan Ryan, MBA

CONTACT

[email protected]

3014434225

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Nih

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Jan 8, 2026
Registry last updated
May 1, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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