Long-term treatment with elafibranor for adults with primary biliary cholangitis
Official title: A Phase III Randomised, Parallel-Group, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Two-Arm Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Elafibranor 80 mg on Long-Term Clinical Outcomes in Adult Participants With Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC)
Run by Ipsen · NCT06016842 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing if the medication elafibranor can help adults with primary biliary cholangitis and cirrhosis avoid getting worse and needing a liver transplant or facing death.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 3 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 276 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Ipsen Industry-sponsored |
| Drugs / interventions | methotrexate |
| Locations | 198 sites (Tucson, Arizona and 197 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | August 31, 2023 |
| Main results expected | May 31, 2029 |
| Study ends | May 31, 2029 |
| Registry record updated | October 23, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06016842 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older with a confirmed diagnosis of primary biliary cholangitis and cirrhosis.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with other liver diseases or those who do not meet the eligibility criteria may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This clinical trial evaluates the effectiveness of elafibranor in adults diagnosed with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and cirrhosis. Participants will receive either elafibranor or a placebo daily for up to 3.5 years. The primary goal is to determine if elafibranor can prevent worsening of the disease, including the need for liver transplant or death. Additionally, the study will assess the long-term safety of elafibranor treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could significantly improve outcomes for patients with primary biliary cholangitis and cirrhosis.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies have shown promise in treating primary biliary cholangitis, but the specific use of elafibranor in this context is being evaluated for the first time.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria : * Male or female participants must be ≥18 years of age at the time of signing the informed consent. * Participants with a definite or probable diagnosis of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) * Participants with cirrhosis at SV1. • Participants must be Child Pugh A or Child Pugh B. * Contraceptive use by men or women should be consistent with local regulations regarding the methods of contraception for those participating in clinical studies. * Capable of giving signed informed consent which includes compliance with the requirements and restrictions listed in the informed consent form (ICF) and in this protocol. Exclusion Criteria : * History or presence of other concomitant liver disease including but not limited to: * i) Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). * ii) Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) by simplified Diagnostic Criteria of the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group (IAIHG) ≥6, or if treated for an overlap of PBC with AIH, or if there is clinical suspicion and evidence of overlap AIH features, that cannot be explained alone by insufficient response to UDCA. * iii) Positive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Participants with negative HBsAg and positive hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) may be eligible if hepatitis B virus deoxyribonucleic acid (HBV DNA) is negative. * iv) Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection defined by positive anti-HCV antibody and positive HCV ribonucleic acid (RNA) (Note: Participants with positive anti-HCV antibody due to previously treated HCV infection, may be enrolled if a confirmatory HCV RNA is undetectable and sustained viral response has been documented). * v) Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD). * vi) Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). * vii) Other chronic liver diseases, such as alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. * History or presence of clinically significant hepatic decompensation, including: * i) History of liver transplantation, current placement on a liver transplant list, current model for end-stage liver disease including (MELD) 3.0 score \>12 due to hepatic impairment. * ii) Evidence of complications of cirrhosis, including hepatic decompensation or evidence of significant portal hypertension complications including presence of uncontrolled ascites; history of variceal bleeding or related interventions (e.g. variceal banding, or transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt placement); presence of hepatic encephalopathy Grade 2 or higher per West-Haven criteria; history or presence of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Note: participants with low-risk varices (Grade I) without history of bleeding or other treatment may be eligible to enrol. * iii) Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) (type I or II ). • vi) Hospitalisation for liver-related complication within 12 weeks prior to SV1. * Known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or having a positive confirmatory test for HIV type 1 or 2. * Medical conditions that may cause non-hepatic increases in ALP (e.g. Paget's disease). * Evidence of any other unstable or untreated clinically significant immunological, endocrine, hematologic, gastrointestinal, neurological, or psychiatric disease as evaluated by the investigator; other clinically significant conditions that are not well controlled. * Non-hepatic medical conditions that may diminish life expectancy to \<2 years, including known cancers. * History of hepatocellular carcinoma. * Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) \>20 ng/mL with 4-phase liver computerised tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) imaging suggesting presence of hepatocellular carcinoma. * Known malignancy or history of malignancy within the last 5 years. Participants with non-melanoma skin cancer, or carcinoma in situ (e.g. breast carcinoma, cervical cancer in situ) that have undergone potentially curative therapy are not excluded. * Administration of the following medications is prohibited during the study, and prior to the study as per the timelines specified below: • i) 3 months prior to baseline: fibrates, seladelpar, glitazones, obeticholic acid, azathioprine, cyclosporine, methotrexate, mycophenolate, pentoxifylline, budesonide and other systemic corticosteroids (parenteral and oral chronic administration only); potentially hepatotoxic drugs (including α-methyl-dopa, sodium valproic acid, isoniazid or nitrofurantoin). * Participants who are currently participating in, plan to participate in, or have participated in an investigational drug study or medical device study containing active substance within 30 days or 5 half-lives, whichever is longer, prior to the screening period. i) If the previous study was for an experimental therapy being studied for potential benefit in PBC, and the potential therapeutic agent was proven to have no beneficial effect in PBC and there are no safety concerns, the participant may enrol after 30 days or 5 half-lives from the last dose of the therapeutic agent, whichever is longer.ii) For therapeutic agents being studied for potential benefit in PBC for which it is still unclear if there may be a potential benefit, participants may enrol after 6 months from the last dose of the therapeutic agent. * Electrocardiogram (ECG) with QT interval corrected by Fridericia's formula (QTcF) \>450 msec in males or QTcF \>470 msec in females for participants without bundle branch block. For participants with bundle branch block or other intraventricular conduction delay, a longer QTcF \>480 msec would be exclusionary. * Total bilirubin (TB) \>5x ULN * Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and/or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) \>5x ULN at SV1 * Creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) \>2x ULN. * Platelet count \<50,000/μL * International normalised ratio (INR) \>1.8 in the absence of anticoagulant therapy. * Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) \<45 mL/min/1.73m2 per the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD)-6 Study formula at SV1. * Significant renal disease, including nephritic syndrome, chronic kidney disease (CKD) (defined as participants with evidence of significantly impaired kidney function or underlying kidney injury). * For female participants: known current pregnancy, or has a positive serum pregnancy test, or is breastfeeding. * Participants unwilling or unable to be abstinent from alcohol during the study. * History of alcohol abuse, or other substance abuse within 1 year prior to SV1. * Known hypersensitivity to elafibranor or to any of the excipients of the investigational product(s). * Mental instability or incompetence, such that the validity of informed consent or ability to be compliant with the study is uncertain. * Any other condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere with study participation or completion, or would put the participant at risk, including a potential participant assessed as being at high risk of noncompliance with the study. * Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) ≥10x ULN. * Albumin \<2.8 g/dL due to impaired hepatic function.
Where it's running
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Arizona Liver Health
Tucson, Arizona, United States Recruiting -
Southern California Research Center
Coronado, California, United States Recruiting -
University of California Davis Medical Center
Sacramento, California, United States Recruiting -
University of Colorado
Aurora, Colorado, United States Recruiting -
Peak Gastroenterology Associates
Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States Recruiting -
Rocky Mountain Gastroenterology
Littleton, Colorado, United States Recruiting
Show 44 more locations
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University Of Miami School Of Medicine, Center For Liver Diseases
Miami, Florida, United States Recruiting -
Bolanos Clinical Research
Pembroke Pines, Florida, United States Recruiting -
International Center for Research
Tampa, Florida, United States Recruiting -
Louisiana Research Center, LLC
Shreveport, Louisiana, United States Recruiting -
University of Michigan Health System
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States Recruiting -
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, Minnesota, United States Recruiting -
NYU Langone Gastroenterology and Hepatology Associates
New York, New York, United States Recruiting -
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States Recruiting -
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina, United States Recruiting -
Gastroenterology Center of the Midsouth
Cordova, Tennessee, United States Recruiting -
Texas Clinical Research Institute
Arlington, Texas, United States Recruiting -
American Research Corporation
Austin, Texas, United States Recruiting -
Methodist Transplant Physicians
Dallas, Texas, United States Recruiting -
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
Dallas, Texas, United States Recruiting -
Liver Associates of Texas
Houston, Texas, United States Recruiting -
American Research Corporation at The Texas Liver Institute
San Antonio, Texas, United States Recruiting -
Starhope Liver Center, PA - Starhope Clinical Research, LLC
San Antonio, Texas, United States Recruiting -
University of Virginia Medical Center
Charlottesville, Virginia, United States Recruiting -
Bon Secours St. Mary's Hospital of Richmond, Inc
Richmond, Virginia, United States Recruiting -
Velocity Clinical Research at Liver Institute Northwest
Seattle, Washington, United States Recruiting -
University Physicians and Surgeons Inc, dba Marshall Health
Huntington, West Virginia, United States Recruiting -
DIM Centro Medico
Buenos Aires, Argentina Recruiting -
Fundacion Respirar (Centro Medico Dra. De Salvo) - Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones Clinicas (IAIC) S.R.L
Buenos Aires, Argentina Recruiting -
Hospital Britanico de Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires, Argentina Recruiting -
Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires, Argentina Recruiting -
Centro Medico Colon
Córdoba, Argentina Recruiting -
Hospital Universitario Austral
Pilar, Argentina Recruiting -
Hospital El Cruce
San Juan Bautista, Argentina Recruiting -
Sunshine Coast University Hospital
Birtinya, Australia Recruiting -
Footscray Hospital, Western Health
Footscray, Australia Recruiting -
Westmead Hospital
Westmead, Australia Recruiting -
Gent University Hospital
Ghent, Belgium Recruiting -
NUPEC Cardio
Belo Horizonte, Brazil Recruiting -
Universidade Federal de Goias
Goiânia, Brazil Recruiting -
Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA)
Porto Alegre, Brazil Recruiting -
Instituto D'Or de Pesquisa e Ensino - Hospital Aliança
Salvador, Brazil Recruiting -
Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo
São Paulo, Brazil Recruiting -
Hospital de Base - Centro Integrado de Pesquisa ( CIP )
São Paulo, Brazil Recruiting -
Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio De Mesquita Filho (UNESP) Hospital das Clinicas Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu (HCFMB)
São Paulo, Brazil Recruiting -
Tokuda Hospital, Dept. of Internal Medicine
Sofia, Bulgaria Recruiting -
University Hospital City Clinic Cancer Center
Sofia, Bulgaria Recruiting -
University of Alberta - Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry - The Centre of Excellence for Gastrointestinal Inflammation and Immunity Research (CEGIIR)
Edmonton, Canada Recruiting -
University Health Network (UHN) - Toronto General Hospital (TGH) - Toronto General Research Institute (TGRI)
Toronto, Canada Recruiting -
Universidad De Los Andes
Las Condes, Chile Recruiting
+148 more sites. See ClinicalTrials.gov for the full list.
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Ipsen Clinical Study Enquiries
- Email: clinical.trials@ipsen.com
- Phone: See e mail
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
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Biochemical response and health outcomes in people with primary biliary cholangitis
We will follow adults with primary biliary cholangitis who are taking ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) to see if their alkaline phosphatase levels after treatment predict how long they stay free of complications.
-
Fenofibrate versus UDCA for first-line treatment of primary biliary cholangitis
This study will test whether fenofibrate works better than the standard medicine UDCA for adults with newly diagnosed primary biliary cholangitis who have not been treated before.
-
Early detection of primary biliary cholangitis in people with positive AMA and normal ALP
This project will test whether clinical features, blood markers, or a liver biopsy can identify early PBC in adults (18-80) who have positive AMA but normal ALP.
-
Multimodal prehabilitation to reduce fatigue in primary biliary cholangitis
This trial will try a combined program of supervised exercise, nutritional counseling, and mindfulness to reduce fatigue in adults with primary biliary cholangitis who have moderate-to-severe fatigue.
-
Long-term outcomes of primary biliary cholangitis in China
This project will follow about 4,000 people in China with primary biliary cholangitis to see how symptoms, disease stage, and treatments affect long-term survival.
-
Registry for autoimmune and cholestatic liver diseases in Spain
This study is collecting information from patients with liver diseases in Spain to better understand these conditions and improve care for those affected.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.