Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) is a serious, life-threatening, bile acid related liver disease of unknown cause. Without treatment, it frequently progresses to liver fibrosis and eventual cirrhosis requiring liver transplantation or resulting in death. The investigational drug, Obeticholic Acid (OCA) is a modified bile acid and FXR agonist that is derived from the primary human bile acid chenodeoxycholic acid. The key mechanisms of action of OCA, including its choleretic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fibrotic properties, underlie its hepatoprotective effects and result in attenuation of injury and improved liver function in a cholestatic liver disease such as PBC. The study will assess the effect of OCA compared to placebo, combined with stable standard care, on clinical outcomes in PBC participants.
This Phase 4, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter study is being undertaken at up to 170 sites internationally to evaluate the effect of OCA on clinical outcomes in 428 participants with PBC. The study will include a screening period of up to 8 weeks, requiring two clinic visits. Eligible participants will be randomly allocated (1:1) to treatment with either OCA 5 mg or matching placebo tablets, taken orally once daily for the majority of participants; dose and frequency will be modified for participants with cirrhosis and classified as Child-Pugh (CP) B or C. Randomization will be stratified by standard treatment with UDCA (yes/no) and baseline liver function. The treatment period involves clinic visits approximately every 3 months. At the 3 month visit or any study visit thereafter, if study treatment is tolerated, participants' dose should be titrated per protocol in a blinded manner eg for participants who are non-cirrhotic or classified as CP A and randomized to OCA, they should receive the maximum daily dose of 10 mg OCA, those on placebo continue to receive placebo. Subsequently, daily dosage may return to 5 mg if necessary for these participants who are non-cirrhotic or classified as CP A, but should be increased to 10 mg if possible, based on tolerability and clinical judgment. Safety and tolerability will be assessed by monitoring adverse events and vital signs, and blood and urine testing. The study is event driven and total duration will be determined by the time required to accrue approximately 127 primary endpoint events, estimated to be approximately 10 years. Participants are expected to have a minimum follow-up time of approximately 6 years.
Non-cirrhotic and classified as CP Class A: 5 mg tablet of OCA once daily titrating up to a maximum of 10 mg OCA once daily based on tolerability at 3 months for the duration of the study (majority of participants). Cirrhotic and classified as CP Class B and C: 5 mg tablet of OCA once weekly for at least 3 months, subsequently titrating up to a maximum dose and frequency of 10 mg OCA twice weekly based on tolerability and biochemical response for the duration of the study.
One tablet daily (or a lower frequency depending on CP score) for the remainder of the study
La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Presidente Derqui, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Ramos Mejía, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Córdoba, Córdoba Province, Argentina
Rosario, Santa Fe Province, Argentina
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Buenos Aires, Argentina