Study wrapper · #1356
Acute glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, semaglutide, attenuates cue-, drug-, and stress-induced fentanyl seeking in male Sprague-Dawley rats.
Evans B, Acharya N, Brandl CG, et al. Behavioural pharmacology. 2026.
DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000880PubMed: 42228850
Editor's note
A well-controlled preclinical study that extends the GLP-1-and-addiction literature from exenatide and liraglutide to semaglutide, and from alcohol to opioids. The reinstatement model is the standard animal proxy for relapse, but it remains a proxy — acute dosing in male rats says nothing about chronic use or human outcomes. Human trials of semaglutide in substance use disorders are the necessary next step, and several are underway.
Plain-language abstract
In male rats trained to self-administer fentanyl, single doses of semaglutide fully blocked relapse-like drug seeking triggered by a fentanyl re-exposure or by a stress-mimicking drug, and the two higher doses also reduced seeking triggered by drug-associated cues.
Related coverage
Mixed
Hunger pain and its reduction; qualitative insight from people with schizophrenia on semaglutide.
International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-beingn=——2026
Weak / none
Design, synthesis, and stability evaluation of semaglutide-derived lactam-stapled peptide scaffolds for GLP-1R targeting.
Journal of enzyme inhibition and medicinal chemistryn=——2026
Mixed
Comparison of lifestyle, surgery, and semaglutide for weight management in endometrial cancer: a prospective observational study.
Journal of obstetrics and gynaecologyn=——2026