bioRxiv preprint

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

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

animal behavior and cognition