10-Butyl Ether Minocycline Reduced High Alcohol Consumption in a Dependence Mouse Model

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) poses a significant public health concern, with limited, high-efficacy, treatment options. Our lab has demonstrated that minocycline, an antibiotic with neuroprotective and immunomodulatory properties, is effective in reducing alcohol consumption in rodent models. We then synthesized antimicrobial-free minocycline derivatives to utilize their neuroprotective and immunomodulatory activities while mitigating antibiotic-related side effects. 10-Butyl Ether Minocycline (BEM) was chosen as a lead molecule based on efficacy and physicochemical properties from the library of compounds synthesized. Here, we report that BEM significantly reduced alcohol consumption in the Chronic Intermittent Ethanol (CIE) mouse model of alcohol dependence.