Adial CEO Cary Claiborne on Treating Alcohol Addiction with Genetics

Adial Pharmaceuticals' CEO, Cary Claiborne, discusses the company's precision treatment approach to alcohol use disorder (AUD). Claiborne highlights the significant unmet need in AUD treatment, noting that existing treatments often require abstinence and have undesirable side effects. Adial's drug, a repurposed low-dose Ondansetron, targets specific genetic biomarkers to reduce cravings and the impulse to drink without requiring abstinence. The treatment utilizes a companion diagnostic cheek swab to identify suitable candidates, potentially broadening access to care by framing AUD as a biological issue rather than a moral failing. Claiborne also mentions the potential of the drug to address other impulse-driven addictions and the company's use of AI to optimize their Phase 3 study design.