Adial Supports Bipartisan U.S. Bill Expanding Veteran Access To Emerging Alcohol Use Disorder Therapies

Adial Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has welcomed the introduction of H.R. 7091, the Expanding Veterans’ Access to Emerging Treatments Act, a bipartisan bill in the U.S. Congress that aims to accelerate research into innovative therapies for conditions affecting military veterans. The proposed legislation specifically highlights Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), an area of significant unmet need within the veteran community.

AUD affects a substantial proportion of veterans, with estimates suggesting nearly 40% experience the disorder at some point. Despite its prevalence, currently approved treatments from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration largely focus on abstinence-based approaches, limiting options for patients who may benefit from alternative treatment strategies.

“We applaud members of Congress for introducing this important bipartisan legislation and for specifically recognising AUD as a critical issue affecting our nation’s veterans,” said Cary Claiborne, Chief Executive Officer of Adial Pharmaceuticals. “By expanding support for emerging therapies that align with the government’s updated definition of recovery, including non-abstinence treatment options, this bill represents meaningful progress for veterans in need of additional treatment options.”

The bill explicitly includes AUD among conditions eligible for expanded research and supports investigational pharmaceutical therapies aligned with the federal government’s updated definition of recovery. This revised framework recognises harm reduction and reduced heavy drinking as meaningful clinical outcomes, signalling a shift toward more flexible, patient-centred treatment goals.

Adial’s lead candidate, AD04, is being developed as a genetically targeted therapy for AUD that follows a non-abstinence-based model consistent with FDA-supported harm-reduction endpoints and recent Congressional policy direction. The legislation, now under review by the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, reflects growing bipartisan momentum to advance innovative solutions for substance use disorders. Adial noted that the measure could help accelerate the development of emerging treatments such as AD04.