Efficacy and Safety of Obeticholic Acid in the Treatment of Primary Biliary Cholangitis

A Randomized, Double-blind, Multicenter, Placebo-controlled Phase III Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Obeticholic Acid in Patients With Primary Biliary Cholangitis

Obecholic acid is a modified bile acid and Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonist. FXR is a key regulator of bile acid synthesis and transport. Bile acids are used by the body to help with digestion. Conventional therapy with obecholic acid will improve liver function of patients with (primary biliary cholangitis)PBC.

The main objectives of the study were to assess the effects of Obeticholic Acid (OCA) on serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total bilirubin, together as a composite endpoint and on safety in participants with PBC.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age ≥18 and ≤75 years；
2. Definite PBC diagnosis, as demonstrated by the presence of ≥ 2 of the following 3 diagnostic factors: ① Indicators reflecting cholestasis such as elevated ALP；② Positive antimitochondrial antibody (AMA) or AMA-M2, or positive PBC-specific antibody (anti-GP210 and/or anti-SP100) if AMA negative；③ Liver biopsy consistent with PBC；
3. At least 1 of the following qualifying biochemistry values: ① ALP ≥ 1.67x ULN ；② Total bilirubin > ULN but < 2x ULN；
4. Taking UDCA for at least 6 months (stable dose for ≥ 3 months) prior to Day 0, or unable to tolerate UDCA (no UDCA for ≥ 3 months) prior to Day 0；
5. Understand the study, comply with the study protocol, and voluntarily sign the informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients who took obeticholic acid within 3 months prior to Day 0;
2. Known hypersensitivity to obeticholic acid, ursodeoxycholic acid;
3. History or presence of other concomitant liver diseases;
4. Cirrhosis-related complications or end-stage liver disease manifestations;
5. Serum creatinine (Cr) ≥ 1.5 × ULN and serum creatinine clearance < 60 mL/min;
6. Patients with severe pruritus or requiring systemic drug therapy within 2 months prior to Day 0;
7. Patients with HIV or syphilis infection;
8. Presence of diseases or physiological conditions that interfere with the absorption, distribution, metabolism or excretion of test drugs, such as inflammatory bowel disease and previous gastric bypass surgery;
9. Presence of diseases that may cause non-hepatogenic ALP elevation, or diseases that may lead to a life expectancy of less than 2 years;
10. Administration of the following drugs within 6 months prior to Day 0: azathioprine, colchicine, cyclosporine, methotrexate, mycophenolate mofetil, pentoxifylline; fenofibrate or other fibrates; budesonide and other systemic corticosteroids; hepatotoxic drugs (including α-methyldopa, sodium valproate, isoniazid, nitrofurantoin, etc.);
11. Administration of the following drugs within 12 months prior to Day 0: antibodies or immunotherapy against interleukins or other cytokines or chemokines;
12. Patients with serious cardiovascular system, digestive system, respiratory system, urinary system, nervous system, mental illness, immunodeficiency disease, and judge by investigators that they are not suitable for participating in the trial;
13. Other conditions that are not considered appropriate by the investigator.