A study testing whether a new weekly shot, tirzepatide, can help people use less opioids.

Recruiting now. Registry record last updated August 11, 2026.

Who can join
Adults 18+, have opioid use disorder, BMI 23+.
What you take
tirzepatide, given as part of the study. Check ClinicalTrials.gov for this trial's study groups, including any placebo or comparison medicine.
How long it lasts
The full study runs about 1.8 years; your own time in it is usually shorter.
What you get
Many clinical trials pay for the study medication and the study visits. Some also pay for travel. Ask the study team what this one covers before you sign the consent form.
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Phase Phase 2Sponsor T. John Winhusen, PhDDrug tirzepatideClass GLP-1/GIPSites 9 USEnrollment target 310

What this study is for

Primary condition: Opioid Use Disorder. Also studied in: Opioid Use Disorder, Moderate, Opioid Use Disorder, Severe.

Full scientific study title: Evaluation of Tirzepatide as an Adjunct to Buprenorphine for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder.

Who can join

Age18 and upSexAnyBMI23 or higher

Adults 18+, have opioid use disorder, BMI 23+. A site coordinator confirms whether you qualify during a free screening visit. The exact medical requirements are below.

Full medical eligibility (for you and your doctor)verbatim from the registry

This is the exact wording from ClinicalTrials.gov, including clinical measures (lab values, imaging scores). Bring it to your doctor if any of it is unclear.

Key inclusion criteria

  • Must be ≥18 years of age;
  • Must have moderate to severe OUD;
  • Must, at the time of randomization, be newly initiated on BUP (i.e., within 7 to 80 days) during the current treatment episode, be taking ≥ 8 mg/day of generic buprenorphine-naloxone film/tablets (or the equivalent for other buprenorphine products), have documentation of receiving BUP, including dose and the start date of the current treatment episode, from their BUP provider, and, for participants prescribed transmucosal BUP, have at least one UDS positive for buprenorphine/norbuprenorphine;
  • Must be willing to be randomized to tirzepatide or placebo and to comply with study procedures, including weekly visits for 6 months;
  • Must be able to understand the study, and having understood, provide written informed consent in English;

Key exclusion criteria

  • have a history of type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus (other than pregnancy-related diabetes);
  • have a BMI \<23.0 kg/m²;
  • have any of the following cardiovascular conditions within 90 days prior to signing consent: acute myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident (stroke), unstable angina, or hospitalization due to congestive heart failure (CHF);
  • have a known history of chronic or acute pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, gastroparesis, gastric emptying abnormality, gastroesophageal reflux disease, or other severe gastrointestinal disease;
  • have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2);

Where this trial is enrolling

This trial has 9 sites across 7 states. Contact a site coordinator directly to start screening.

Florida2 sites
  • Gateway Community Services
    Jacksonville, Florida
    Candace Hodgkins, PhD.904-387-4661chodgkins@gwjax.com
  • IBIS Behavioral Health
    Tampa, Florida
    Alexander Sinu, MD813-384-4000asinu@ibishc.org
Illinois1 site
Missouri1 site
South Carolina1 site
Tennessee1 site
Utah1 site
  • University of Utah
    Salt Lake City, Utah
    Marcela Smid, MD, MS, MA385-977-2445tab@utah.edu
West Virginia2 sites
  • Marshall Health
    Huntington, West Virginia
    Zachary Hansen, MD304-696-8700hansen8@marshall.edu
  • Healthy Minds/Chestnut Ridge
    Morgantown, West Virginia
    Laura Lander, MSW, LICSW304-293-3965llander@hsc.wvu.edu

Timeline

Started enrolling: January 29, 2026. Expected completion: October 31, 2027. Last updated on ClinicalTrials.gov: August 11, 2026.

Official source

Every Monday we check this trial against ClinicalTrials.gov, the federal registry for clinical research. Last checked August 21, 2026. Confirm the current status there before you contact a site:

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

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