Clinical trial Recruiting at 140 sites Phase 3 Interventional Ages 18 and up

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

PhasePhase 3
Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
Enrollment276 (estimated)
SponsorIpsen
Industry-sponsored
Drugs / interventionsmethotrexate
Locations198 sites (Tucson, Arizona and 197 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedAugust 31, 2023
Main results expectedMay 31, 2029
Study endsMay 31, 2029
Registry record updatedOctober 23, 2026
Trial IDNCT06016842 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

  • 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
  • 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

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.