Alcohol dependence (AD) is a chronic and relapsing condition affecting 10 million Americans. To date, only four pharmacotherapies are approved by the FDA for the treatment of alcoholism and their efficacy is modest. Therefore, medication development for AD represents a high priority area. Ibudilast (IBUD) is a glial cell modulator that inhibits phosphodiesterases (PDE) -4 and -10 and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF). Preclinical data suggest that neuroimmune modulation is critical to the rewarding properties of drugs of abuse, including alcohol. Further, IBUD has been shown to enhance GDNF release in vivo and GDNF modulation has been implicated in alcohol reinstatement in animals, while PDE inhibition has been shown to reduce alcohol intake in mice. Together, these findings suggest that neuroimmune modulation constitutes a novel target for the treatment of alcoholism. The objective of this Developmental/Exploratory (R21) application is to advance medication development for alcoholism by conducting an initial Phase II study of IBUD for AD. Consistent with our ongoing program of research, human laboratory models are proposed to obtain initial efficacy data and to translate promising preclinical findings. Specifically, the proposed study consists of a randomized, double- blind, placebo-controlled within-subject crossover design to determine the safety, tolerability, and initial human laboratory efficacy of IBUD in a sample of 24 non-treatment seeking individuals with either alcohol abuse or dependence treated with IBUD (50mg BID) and placebo. Participants will complete two separate 7-day inpatient stays at the UCLA CTRC during which they will take the study medication, complete an IV alcohol challenge, and take part in a stress-exposure and cue-exposure paradigms.
Specific aims are to test whether IBUD (a) is safe in the context of alcohol administration, (b) attenuates alcohol-induced reinforcement, and (c) dampens stress-induced and cue-induced alcohol craving. In sum, this study will efficiently evaluate safety and initial efficacy of IBUD thereby screening novel medications for AD and elucidating potential mechanisms by which IBUD may be clinically efficacious. Results from this study will inform a subsequent R01 application to conduct a randomized controlled trial of IBUD for alcoholism.

Public Health Relevance

The objective of this application is to advance medication development for alcoholism by conducting a safety and initial efficacy study of ibudilast, a neuroimmune modulator and phosphodiesterase inhibitor, for alcohol use disorders. This study has important clinical implications for the treatment of alcohol use disorders, as the available treatments are only modestly effective and testing novel medications is a high research priority.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
5R21AA022214-02
Application #
8699611
Study Section
Biomedical Research Review Subcommittee (AA)
Program Officer
Fertig, Joanne
Project Start
2013-07-15
Project End
2015-06-30
Budget Start
2014-07-01
Budget End
2015-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Los Angeles
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
City
Los Angeles
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
90095
Ray, Lara A; Bujarski, Spencer; Roche, Daniel James Olan et al. (2018) Overcoming the ""Valley of Death"" in Medications Development for Alcohol Use Disorder. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 42:1612-1622
Cummings, Jenna R; Tomiyama, A Janet; Ray, Lara A (2018) Does the Neuroimmune Modulator Ibudilast Alter Food Craving? Results in a Sample With Alcohol Use Disorder. J Addict Med 12:410-417
Ray, Lara A; Bujarski, Spencer; Shoptaw, Steve et al. (2017) Development of the Neuroimmune Modulator Ibudilast for the Treatment of Alcoholism: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Human Laboratory Trial. Neuropsychopharmacology 42:1776-1788
Cservenka, Anita; Yardley, Megan M; Ray, Lara A (2017) Review: Pharmacogenetics of alcoholism treatment: Implications of ethnic diversity. Am J Addict 26:516-525
Yardley, Megan M; Ray, Lara A (2017) Medications development for the treatment of alcohol use disorder: insights into the predictive value of animal and human laboratory models. Addict Biol 22:581-615
Yardley, Megan M; Mirbaba, Michael M; Ray, Lara A (2015) Pharmacological Options for Smoking Cessation in Heavy-Drinking Smokers. CNS Drugs 29:833-45