Dual GLP-1/FGF21 agonism suppresses voluntary alcohol consumption, alcohol choice, and nucleus accumbens dopamine modulation

Cooley, B. J.; Sirohi, P.; Gilroy, C. A.; Tong, J.; Price, C. G.; Mitchell, E.; Heler, W.; Chilkoti, A.; Lawrence, A. J.; McNally, G.; Millan, Z.

doi:10.64898/2026.04.30.721773

bioRxiv · 10.64898/2026.04.30.721773

Dual GLP-1/FGF21 agonism suppresses voluntary alcohol consumption, alcohol choice, and nucleus accumbens dopamine modulation

Cooley, B. J.·Sirohi, P.·Gilroy, C. A.·Tong, J.·Price, C. G.·Mitchell, E.·Heler, W.·Chilkoti, A.·Lawrence, A. J.·McNally, G.·Millan, Z.

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Abstract

Excessive alcohol consumption remains a major public health challenge with limited therapeutic options. Both glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF21) independently regulate alcohol intake through complementary metabolic and reward pathways, but their combined potential has not been explored. Here, we report that a long-acting dual agonist, GLP1-ELP-FGF21 modulates behavioural, neurophysiological, and cognitive components of alcohol seeking in mice. A single GLP1-ELP-FGF21 dose reversibly reduces voluntary alcohol intake for at least 72 hours in male mice, has sustained effects in female mice, and markedly blunts nucleus accumbens dopamine transients aligned to the initiation and termination of lick bouts during alcohol consumption. To assess its effects on decision-making, we used a novel two-choice (alcohol versus food) decision task modelled with evidence-accumulation frameworks. Alcohol choice behaviour conformed to evidence accumulation decision models: Linear Ballistic Accumulator (LBM) and Racing diffusion models (RDM). Critically, GLP1-ELP-FGF21 selectively reduces choices for alcohol and slows the latent accumulation rate for alcohol options, without affecting food-directed choice or non-decision processes. Sensory-specific satiety devaluation confirms that reductions in reward value are explained by reductions in accumulation rates. Together, these results highlight GLP1-ELP-FGF21 as a therapeutic strategy for alcohol use disorder via modulation of central reward pathways and decision-making when confronted with alcohol reward

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Cooley, B. J., Sirohi, P., Gilroy, C. A., Tong, J., Price, C. G., Mitchell, E., Heler, W., Chilkoti, A., Lawrence, A. J., McNally, G., Millan, Z.. 2026-05-04. Dual GLP-1/FGF21 agonism suppresses voluntary alcohol consumption, alcohol choice, and nucleus accumbens dopamine modulation. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.04.30.721773

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