Markus Pröls

•There is an urgent need for novel drugs for PSC.•In this phase II clinical trial, norUDCA reduced serum ALP levels within 12 weeks.•norUDCA’s effects on liver enzymes were dose-dependent.•The safety profile of norUDCA was excellent. Background & AimPrimary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) represents a devastating bile duct disease, currently lacking effective medical therapy. 24-norursodeoxycholic acid (norUDCA) is a side chain-shortened C23 homologue of UDCA and has shown potent anti-cholestatic, anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties in a preclinical PSC mouse model. A randomized controlled trial, including 38 centers from 12 European countries, evaluated the safety and efficacy of three doses of oral norUDCA (500 mg/d, 1,000 mg/d or 1,500 mg/d) compared with placebo in patients with PSC.MethodsOne hundred sixty-one PSC patients without concomitant UDCA therapy and with elevated serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels were randomized for a 12-week treatment followed by a 4-week follow-up. The primary efficacy endpoint was the mean relative change in ALP levels between baseline and end of treatment visit.ResultsnorUDCA reduced ALP levels by −12.3%, −17.3%, and −26.0% in the 500, 1,000, and 1,500 mg/d groups (p = 0.029, p = 0.003, and p <0.0001 when compared to placebo), respectively, while a +1.2% increase was observed in the placebo group. Similar dose-dependent results were found for secondary endpoints, such as ALT, AST, γ-GT, or the rate of patients achieving ALP levels <1.5× ULN. Serious adverse events occurred in seven patients in the 500 mg/d, five patients in the 1,000 mg/d, two patients in the 1500 mg/d group, and three in the placebo group. There was no difference in reported pruritus between treatment and placebo groups.ConclusionsnorUDCA significantly reduced ALP values dose-dependently in all treatment arms. The safety profile of norUDCA was excellent and comparable to placebo. Consequently, these results justify a phase III trial of norUDCA in PSC patients.Lay summary: Effective medical therapy for primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is urgently needed. In this phase II clinical study in PSC patients, a side chain-shortened derivative of ursodeoxycholic acid, norursodeoxycholic acid (norUDCA), significantly reduced serum alkaline phosphatase levels in a dose-dependent manner during a 12-week treatment. Importantly, norUDCA showed a favorable safety profile, which was similar to placebo. The use of norUDCA in PSC patients is promising and will be further evaluated in a phase III clinical study.ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT01755507. Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) represents a devastating bile duct disease, currently lacking effective medical therapy. 24-norursodeoxycholic acid (norUDCA) is a side chain-shortened C23 homologue of UDCA and has shown potent anti-cholestatic, anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties in a preclinical PSC mouse model. A randomized controlled trial, including 38 centers from 12 European countries, evaluated the safety and efficacy of three doses of oral norUDCA (500 mg/d, 1,000 mg/d or 1,500 mg/d) compared with placebo in patients with PSC. One hundred sixty-one PSC patients without concomitant UDCA therapy and with elevated serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels were randomized for a 12-week treatment followed by a 4-week follow-up. The primary efficacy endpoint was the mean relative change in ALP levels between baseline and end of treatment visit. norUDCA reduced ALP levels by −12.3%, −17.3%, and −26.0% in the 500, 1,000, and 1,500 mg/d groups (p = 0.029, p = 0.003, and p <0.0001 when compared to placebo), respectively, while a +1.2% increase was observed in the placebo group. Similar dose-dependent results were found for secondary endpoints, such as ALT, AST, γ-GT, or the rate of patients achieving ALP levels <1.5× ULN. Serious adverse events occurred in seven patients in the 500 mg/d, five patients in the 1,000 mg/d, two patients in the 1500 mg/d group, and three in the placebo group. There was no difference in reported pruritus between treatment and placebo groups. norUDCA significantly reduced ALP values dose-dependently in all treatment arms. The safety profile of norUDCA was excellent and comparable to placebo. Consequently, these results justify a phase III trial of norUDCA in PSC patients.

BACKGROUND: Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic liver disease that is effectively treated with immunosuppressive therapy. Predniso(lo)ne, often in combination with azathioprine, is the basic therapeutic option to induce remission. However, this regimen can cause numerous side effects. The aim of the present study was to evaluate budesonide as a treatment option in the induction of remission in patients with previously untreated AIH. METHODS: Between October 1998 and August 1999, 12 patients were treated with 3 mg budesonide thrice daily for 3 months in this open one-arm multicenter phase IIa study. Primary end point was induction of remission indicated by a drop of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels below two times the upper limit of normal. RESULTS: Seven of the 12 patients (58%) reached complete remission, three patients (25%) had a partial response. Thus, 10/12 individuals (83.3%) responded to therapy. Therapy was tolerated well in 10/12 cases (83.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Budesonide monotherapy was effective in the induction of remission and well tolerated in treatment naïve patients with AIH. It should be further evaluated in prospective controlled trials and should be compared to predniso(lo)ne both in monotherapy and in combination with azathioprine.