Shorter clinical trials of medication for alcohol use disorder can be as useful or more useful than longer trials

Article excerpt

Shorter clinical trials, under 12 weeks, work just as well as longer ones for testing medications that treat alcohol use disorder, according to a meta-analysis in Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research. When a drug showed strong effects, the shorter trials actually produced more reliable results than extended studies. The finding could accelerate FDA approval timelines for new treatments, since the agency currently expects lengthier trials to demonstrate a medication's effectiveness in helping patients reduce or stop drinking.