Ketamine Treatment Reduced Heavy Drinking Days
Solvonis Therapeutics analysis shows a 67% decrease in heavy drinking days following a four-week course of infusions.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Substance Abuse
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A post hoc analysis has revealed that patients treated with SVN-001 saw a 67% reduction in heavy drinking days compared to a placebo group. The study tracked participants over several weeks following a four-week course of ketamine infusions.
Why it matters
Reducing heavy drinking days is a primary benchmark used by the European Medicines Agency to evaluate the effectiveness of new alcohol treatments. This data provides a potential new pathway for therapeutic interventions in substance abuse recovery.
The KARE trial phase II analysis showed a 67% reduction in heavy drinking days during weeks 17 to 20, though a 55% reduction observed in weeks 17 to 24 was not statistically significant.
The players
Solvonis Therapeutics
This pharmaceutical company specializes in developing new treatments for alcohol and substance use disorders.
European Medicines Agency
This agency is responsible for the scientific evaluation, supervision, and safety monitoring of medicines developed for the European Union.
The details
Patients received a four-week course of ketamine infusions as an add-on treatment, with secondary findings indicating a reduction in cravings and rumination at three months. The results are based on an analysis of separate patient groups and have not been adjusted for multiple comparisons.
Timeline
Weeks 17 to 20 marked the period of the 67% reduction in heavy drinking days.
Weeks 17 to 24 saw a 55% reduction in heavy drinking days.
Three months after treatment, participants showed a significant reduction in craving and rumination.
The Big Picture
This research follows the established regulatory standards set by the European Medicines Agency's alcohol treatment primary endpoint requirements. By utilizing these criteria, the study benchmarks its findings against the specific metrics required for international clinical approval.
Patients and healthcare providers should note that this remains an experimental add-on treatment currently under investigation in clinical trials. It is not yet available for general clinical use and requires further validation through large-scale, controlled Phase III studies.
The takeaway
This analysis suggests ketamine may offer a new method to reduce drinking-related symptoms, though statistical significance remains under investigation. Future clinical trials in the United Kingdom will be critical to confirming whether these findings translate into consistent, long-term patient outcomes.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest research into pharmacological interventions on the Substance Abuse page.
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