GLP-1R Agonist Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder

The purpose of this study is to determine whether 12 weeks of once-weekly treatment with the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist, semaglutide, will reduce illicit opioid use over a 19 week period (129-172 days) among individuals in outpatient treatment for opioid use disorder, and who are receiving either buprenorphine or methadone maintenance treatment (i.e., medication for opioid use disorder; MOUD). Following successful consent and initiation of screening, participants will complete a baseline evaluation and begin a baseline data collection period. If screened into the study, they will be randomly assigned to semaglutide or placebo control arms, in a 1:1 ratio using a permuted-block randomization algorithm stratified by site and MOUD, and begin a 1-week baseline period. Semaglutide (injector pen) or placebo will be administered as a subcutaneously (SC) once per week for 12 weeks, starting at a dose of 0.25 mg SC and advanced on a fixed-flexible dose schedule, based on tolerability, to a dose of 1.0 mg SC per week, or the maximum tolerated dose if less than 1.0 mg. Participants will receive study intervention in an outpatient setting for a total of 12 weeks. After the 12-week intervention, participants will discontinue semaglutide or placebo and be observed for an additional week (wash-out period). A final follow-up visit will then take place approximately 4 weeks after the washout visit (calculated as 18 weeks after Baseline/Treatment Visit 1). During each study visit, participants will undergo urine drug screening and pregnancy testing, vital signs collection, and complete mental health and drug use questionnaires. Participants will also complete smartphone surveys sent at set times during the study. Blood samples will be collected at 2 of the visits (screening and the study week 14) and a physical examination and medical history collection will be done at the baseline visit.