In it for the long game

“Yet despite the significant social and economic burden of this disease, no new treatments have been approved in Australia in over two decades”.

The team’s dedication in bringing a potential treatment to clinic has now paid off.

In October 2019, the Florey commenced a world-first clinical study with St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne trialling the treatment of Suvorexant in 128 participants with cooccurring sleep and alcohol use disorders.

Professor Lawrence and Dr Erin Campbell are leading the research investigation at the Florey. They believe that Suvorexant, a therapy currently approved in Australia for insomnia, could be repurposed in an integrative approach to reduce alcohol intake and relapse in alcohol use disorder, whilst remedying sleep disorder at the same time.

“The orexin system demonstrates just how complicated addiction can be. We know that the chronic intake of alcohol greatly disrupts sleep and wake patterns which, in turn, can drive the brain to further seek and consume alcohol,” said Professor Lawrence.

Suvorexant is understood to block the binding of orexin in parts of the brain involved in addiction. The drug also targets the amygdala, a brain region associated with mood disorders, including depression and anxiety.

Associate Professor Yvonne Bonomo, Head of St. Vincent’s Addiction Department, is overseeing the trial in Hospital.

“We are examining sleep measures in trial participants, as well as looking at alcohol withdrawal symptoms and ongoing alcohol use,” explained A/Prof Bonomo.

In the double blinded study, participants will receive either Suvorexant or placebo treatment daily for 7-10 days in hospital before continuing treatment for up to six months with regular follow up.

The success of the study could see the drug trialled in larger populations and other forms of substance abuse.