Awakn Life Sciences Advances Phase 3 Trial for Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment

LOS ANGELES- Awakn Life Sciences Corp. announced the screening of its first patient for the Phase 3 trial of AWKN-001, a new treatment targeting severe Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). The trial, known as MORE-KARE, represents a significant milestone in assessing the effectiveness of AWKN-001.

AWKN-001 combines intravenous ketamine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor modulator, with structured psycho-social support. The treatment aims to reduce heavy drinking days and improve overall outcomes for individuals with severe AUD.

The MORE-KARE study, co-funded by the UK’s Medical Research Council (MRC), the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and Awakn Life Sciences, will be conducted at eight NHS sites across the UK. The trial will measure various outcomes, including reductions in heavy drinking days and continuous abstinence over a six-month period.

Professor Celia Morgan, the trial’s lead from the University of Exeter, emphasized the need for more effective treatments for AUD, noting the low success rates of existing options. Awakn’s Chief Scientific Officer, Professor David Nutt, highlighted the potential of this trial to reshape the treatment landscape for severe AUD, offering new hope to those with limited alternatives.

This Phase 3 trial builds on the positive results from a successful Phase 2 study, which showed high abstinence rates and a significant reduction in heavy drinking days.