Comparative Study of REMAXA®, Enteric-coated Tablets and REMAXOL®, Solution for Infusions, in Intrahepatic Cholestasis

Multicenter Comparative Randomized Study to Assess Safety and Efficacy and Select the Optimal Dosage Regimen of REMAXA®, Enteric-coated Tablets, in Comparison With REMAXOL®, Solution for Infusions, in Patients With Intrahepatic Cholestasis Caused by Chronic Diffuse Liver Diseases

Chronic diffuse liver disease implies liver damage of various origin - viral hepatitis, the effect of xenobiotics (alcohol, drugs, medications, industrial toxins), metabolic disorders, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Intrahepatic cholestasis syndrome, or bile retention, occurs in 11-55% of cases of diffuse chronic liver diseases, usually leads to a worsening of the liver disease, a decrease in the effectiveness of treatment. The drug REMAXOL® is a solution for infusion, which has shown high effectiveness in the syndrome of intrahepatic cholestasis in cases of liver dysfunction due to acute or chronic damage. The study drug REMAXA® enteric-coated tablets is a hybrid drug which contains the same active metabolites as REMAXOL, i.e. inosine, methionine, nicotinamide, and succinic acid. The purpose of this study is to select the optimal dose and dosage regimen followed by evaluation safety and efficacy of REMAXA®, enteric-coated tablets, in comparison with REMAXOL®, solution for infusion, in patients who suffer from chronic diffuse liver diseases and have intrahepatic cholestasis.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Men and women aged 18 to 70 years (inclusive).
2. Patients with intrahepatic cholestasis syndrome in chronic diffuse liver diseases (alcoholic liver disease, toxic damage liver, liver fibrosis and sclerosis, fatty liver degeneration, chronic hepatitis) and/or with other liver dysfunction due to acute or chronic damage (toxic, alcoholic, viral, drug hepatitis).
3. Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP) exceeds the upper normal limit by 3 times or more and/or alkaline phosphatase (ALP) exceeds the upper normal limit by 1.5 times or more.
4. Negative pregnancy test in female patients.
5. Consent to the use of adequate contraceptive methods or complete abstinence from sexual activity for the study period.
6. Agreement to limit alcohol consumption to a maximum of 2 units alcohol per month (1 unit of alcohol is equivalent to 0.5 liters of beer, 200 ml of dry wine or 50 ml strong alcoholic drinks), or complete abstinence from drinking alcohol for period of the study.
7. Signed informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Cirrhotic stage of chronic liver disease (Class A-C by Child-Pugh).
2. Hyperbilirubinemia more than 100 µmol/l.
3. GGTP level is more than 10 upper normal limits.
4. History of autoimmune liver disease.
5. Acute viral hepatitis (B, C, D).
6. Any somatic diseases in the stage of decompensation.
7. Regular use by the patient of medications prohibited in within the framework of this study, within 4 weeks before inclusion in the study and at throughout this study.
8. Hypersensitivity and/or intolerance to any component of the study drug /comparator drug.
9. Pregnancy or lactation period.
10. Peptic ulcer of the stomach and/or duodenum, and/or erosive gastritis in the acute phase.
11. History of chronic kidney disease C4-C5 and/or known glomerular filtration rate <30 ml/min.
12. Regular intake of more than 2 units. alcohol per week.
13. Unstable angina.
14. Myocardial infarction 3 months or less before the expected date of inclusion.
15. Chronic heart failure of III-IV functional class by New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification.
16. History of cancer within the last 5 years, mental illness, HIV infection, tuberculosis, drug addiction.
17. Mental, physical and other reasons that prevent the patient adequately behave and correctly fulfill the conditions of the study protocol.