Odevixibat treatment in progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis: a randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial

Abstract

Background: Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) is a group of inherited paediatric liver diseases resulting from mutations in genes that impact bile secretion. We aimed to evaluate the effects of odevixibat, an ileal bile acid transporter inhibitor, versus placebo in children with PFIC.

Methods: Patients eligible for this 24-week, randomised, double-blind, completed, phase 3 study were paediatric outpatients diagnosed with PFIC1 or PFIC2 who had pruritus and elevated serum bile acids at screening. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1:1) using an interactive web-based system to once a day oral placebo, odevixibat 40 μg/kg, or odevixibat 120 μg/kg. Randomisation was done in a block size of six and stratified by PFIC type and patient age; patients, clinicians, and study staff were blinded to treatment allocation. Patients were enrolled at one of 33 global sites. Two primary endpoints were evaluated: proportion of positive pruritus assessments (PPAs; ie, scratching score of ≤1 or ≥1-point decrease as assessed by caregivers using the Albireo observer-reported outcome [ObsRO] PRUCISION instrument) over 24 weeks, and proportion of patients with serum bile acid response (ie, serum bile acids reduced by ≥70% from baseline or concentrations of ≤70 μmol/L) at week 24. Efficacy and safety were analysed in randomly allocated patients who received one or more doses of study drug. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03566238.

Findings: Between June 21, 2018, and Feb 10, 2020, 62 patients (median age 3·2 [range 0·5-15·9] years) were randomly allocated to placebo (n=20), odevixibat 40 μg/kg per day (n=23), or odevixibat 120 μg/kg per day (n=19). Model-adjusted (least squares) mean proportion of PPAs was significantly higher with odevixibat versus placebo (55% [SE 8] in the combined odevixibat group [58% in the 40 μg/kg per day group and 52% in the 120 μg/kg per day group] vs 30% [SE 9] in the placebo group; model-adjusted mean difference 25·0% [95% CI 8·5-41·5]; p=0·0038). The percentage of patients with serum bile acid response was also significantly higher with odevixibat versus placebo (14 [33%] of 42 patients in the combined odevixibat group [10 in the 40 μg/kg per day group and four in the 120 μg/kg per day group] vs none of 20 in the placebo group; adjusting for stratification factor [PFIC type], the proportion difference was 30·7% [95% CI 12·6-48·8; p=0·0030]). The most common treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were diarrhoea or frequent bowel movements (13 [31%] of 42 for odevixibat vs two [10%] of 20 for placebo) and fever (12 [29%] of 42 vs five [25%] of 20); serious TEAEs occurred in three (7%) of 42 odevixibat-treated patients and in five (25%) of 20 placebo-treated patients.

Interpretation: In children with PFIC, odevixibat effectively reduced pruritus and serum bile acids versus placebo and was generally well tolerated. Odevixibat, administered as once a day oral capsules, is a non-surgical, pharmacological option to interrupt the enterohepatic circulation in patients with PFIC.

Funding: Albireo Pharma.

Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interests RJT is a consultant at Albireo, Generation Bio, Mirum, and Rectify and is a stockholder at Generation Bio and Rectify. HA is an advisor at Mirum and receives honoraria from Baxter Healthcare. UB is a consultant at Albireo and Mirum. PC is an investigator with clinical trial contracts at Mirum and Albireo. LD is a consultant at Albireo. EG is a consultant at Albireo, CTRS Laboratories, Mirum, and Vivet; and advisory board member at Albireo and Mirum. BMK is a consultant at Albireo, Audentes and Mirum and receives unrestricted educational grants to SickKids Foundation from Albireo and Mirum. SJK is a consultant at Albireo, Intercept, and Mirum. LK is a former employee and stockholder at Albireo. EL is a treasurer of GPGE congress, receives honoraria for presentation from Albireo, and participated in the PEDFIC 1 clinical trial. JPM is an employee and stockholder at Albireo, and has a patent planned and pending at Albireo. ESt reports grants paid to institution from Albireo and Mirum; honoraria from Albireo (paid to institution), Mirum, Univar, and GMP Orphan; travel support from Albireo, Mirum, and Astellas; he is a consultant at Mirum and advisor at Albireo, and Mirum. HJV reports grants to institution from Albireo and Mirum; consultant fees paid to institution from Ausnutria BV, Albireo, Danone/Nutricia Research, Intercept, Mirum, Orphalan, and Vivet; advisor fees paid to institution from Albireo and Mirum; and unpaid leadership role at Medical Advisory Board PFIC Network. PH is a former employee and stockholder at Albireo. All other authors declare no competing interests.

Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 license. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.