Glycerol phenylbutyrate (GPB) lowers ammonia by providing an alternate pathway to urea for waste nitrogen excretion in the form of phenylacetyl glutamine, which is excreted in urine. This randomized, ...double‐blind, placebo‐controlled phase II trial enrolled 178 patients with cirrhosis, including 59 already taking rifaximin, who had experienced two or more hepatic encephalopathy (HE) events in the previous 6 months. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with HE events. Other endpoints included the time to first event, total number of events, HE hospitalizations, symptomatic days, and safety. GPB, at 6 mL orally twice‐daily, significantly reduced the proportion of patients who experienced an HE event (21% versus 36%; P = 0.02), time to first event (hazard ratio HR = 0.56; P < 0.05), as well as total events (35 versus 57; P = 0.04), and was associated with fewer HE hospitalizations (13 versus 25; P = 0.06). Among patients not on rifaximin at enrollment, GPB reduced the proportion of patients with an HE event (10% versus 32%; P < 0.01), time to first event (HR = 0.29; P < 0.01), and total events (7 versus 31; P < 0.01). Plasma ammonia was significantly lower in patients on GPB and correlated with HE events when measured either at baseline or during the study. A similar proportion of patients in the GPB (79%) and placebo groups (76%) experienced adverse events. Conclusion: GPB reduced HE events as well as ammonia in patients with cirrhosis and HE and its safety profile was similar to placebo. The findings implicate ammonia in the pathogenesis of HE and suggest that GPB has therapeutic potential in this population. (Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT00999167). (Hepatology 2014;59:1073‐1083)
Mericitabine is a selective nucleoside analog inhibitor of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS5B RNA‐dependent RNA polymerase, with activity across all HCV genotypes. Treatment‐naïve patients infected ...with HCV genotype 1 or 4 were randomized to 24 weeks of double‐blind treatment with either mericitabine 1,000 mg (N = 81) or placebo (N = 85) twice‐daily (BID) in combination with pegylated interferon alpha‐2a (Peg‐IFNα‐2a)/ribavirin (RBV). Patients randomized to mericitabine with HCV RNA <15 IU/mL from week 4 to 22 (extended rapid virologic response; eRVR) stopped all treatment at week 24; all other patients continued Peg‐IFNα‐2a/RBV to complete 48 weeks of treatment. The primary efficacy endpoint was sustained virologic response (SVR; HCV RNA <15 IU/mL after 24 weeks of treatment‐free follow‐up). SVR was achieved in 56.8% (95% confidence interval CI: 45.9‐67.0) of mericitabine‐treated patients and 36.5% (95% CI: 27.0‐47.1) of placebo‐treated patients (Δ = 20.3%; 95% CI 5.5‐35.2). SVR rates were higher in mericitabine‐ than placebo‐treated patients when subdivided by IL28B genotype (CC, 77.8% versus 56.0%; non‐CC, 44.1% versus 16.2%) and hepatic fibrosis (noncirrhotic, 63.3% versus 41.9%; cirrhotic, 38.1% versus 21.7%). Overall relapse rates were 27.7% and 32.0% in mericitabine‐ and placebo‐treated patients, respectively. No evidence of NS5B S282T‐variant virus or phenotypic resistance to mericitabine was observed in the one patient who experienced partial response. No S282T variants were detected in any baseline samples. The safety profile of mericitabine was similar to that of, and fewer patients in the mericitabine than in the placebo group discontinued treatment for safety reasons. Conclusion: A 24‐week response‐guided combination regimen of mericitabine 1,000 mg BID plus Peg‐IFNα‐2a/RBV is well tolerated and more effective than a standard 48‐week course of Peg‐IFNα‐2a/RBV. (HEPATOLOGY 2013;58:514–523)
The etiopathogenesis of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) remains undefined. Immunopathogenetic mechanisms appear to be involved, based on human leukocyte antigen complex susceptibility ...associations, existence of multiple autoantibodies, and presence of inflammatory bowel disease in > 75% of patients. PSC may represent an autoimmune disease with atypical features or an immune-mediated inflammatory disease, similar to inflammatory bowel disease itself. Immunogenetic susceptibility is closely linked to ligands for innate immune cells and capacity for sustained production of proinflammatory cytokines. Immunopathogenesis involves a multistep process initiated by the activation of cholangiocyte by bacterial pathogen-associated molecular patterns (stimuli of innate immunity) and proinflammatory cytokines in conjunction with aberrant expression of gut-specific chemokines and endothelial cell adhesion molecules in the liver. After recruitment of gut-primed memory T cells into the portal tracts and peribiliary space, additional mechanisms produce focal, fibrous, obliterative lesions. Progressive periductal fibrosis, chronic inflammation, and ischemic atrophy of biliary epithelia result in ductopenia, cholestasis, and obstructive strictures, culminating in secondary biliary cirrhosis.
Interferon lambda 1 (IFN‐λ1) is a type III IFN that produces intracellular responses similar to those of IFN‐α but in fewer cell types because of differences in the receptor distribution pattern, and ...this could potentially result in an improved safety profile. This was an open‐label three‐part study of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 infection. Part 1 evaluated single‐agent pegylated interferon lambda (PEG‐IFN‐λ) at 1.5 or 3.0 μg/kg administered every 2 weeks or weekly for 4 weeks in patients who had relapsed after previous IFN‐α‐based treatment. Part 2 evaluated weekly doses of PEG‐IFN‐λ ranging from 0.5 to 2.25 μg/kg in combination with ribavirin (RBV) for 4 weeks in treatment‐relapse patients. Part 3 evaluated weekly PEG‐IFN‐λ at 1.5 μg/kg in combination with RBV for 4 weeks in treatment‐naive patients. Fifty‐six patients were enrolled: 24 patients in part 1, 25 patients in part 2, and 7 patients in part 3. Antiviral activity was observed at all PEG‐IFN‐λ dose levels (from 0.5 to 3.0 μg/kg). Two of seven treatment‐naive patients (29%) achieved rapid virological response. Treatment was well tolerated with minimal flu‐like symptoms and no significant hematologic changes other than RBV‐associated decreases in hemoglobin. The most common adverse events were fatigue (29%), nausea (12%), and myalgia (11%). Six patients experienced increases in aminotransferases that met protocol‐defined criteria for dose‐limiting toxicity (DLT) or temporarily holding therapy with PEG‐IFN‐λ. Most DLT occurred in patients with high PEG‐IFN‐λ exposure. Conclusion: Weekly PEG‐IFN‐λ with or without daily RBV for 4 weeks is well tolerated with minimal adverse events and hematologic effects and is associated with clear antiviral activity across a broad range of doses in patients with chronic HCV. (HEPATOLOGY 2010;)
Homozygous ZZ alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency produces mutant AAT (Z-AAT) proteins in hepatocytes, leading to progressive liver fibrosis. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of an ...investigational RNA interference therapeutic, fazirsiran, that degrades Z-AAT mRNA, reducing deleterious protein synthesis.
This ongoing, phase 2 study randomized 40 patients to subcutaneous placebo or fazirsiran 25/100/200 mg. The primary endpoint was percentage change in serum Z-AAT concentration from baseline to Week 16. Patients with fibrosis on baseline liver biopsy received treatment on Day 1, Week 4, and then every 12 weeks, and had a second liver biopsy at or after Weeks 48, 72, or 96. Patients without fibrosis received two doses on Day 1 and Week 4.
At Week 16, least-squares mean percent declines in serum Z-AAT concentration were −61%, −83% and −94% with fazirsiran 25/100/200 mg, respectively, versus placebo (all P< .0001). Efficacy was sustained through Week 52. At post-dose liver biopsy, fazirsiran reduced median liver Z-AAT concentration by 93% compared with an increase of 26% with placebo. All fazirsiran-treated patients had histological reduction from baseline in hepatic globule burden. Portal inflammation improved in 5/12 and 0/8 patients with baseline score >0 in the fazirsiran and placebo groups, respectively. Histological METAVIR score improved by >1 point in 7/14 and 3/8 patients with fibrosis >F0 at baseline in the fazirsiran and placebo groups, respectively. No adverse events led to discontinuation and pulmonary function tests remained stable.
Fazirsiran reduced serum and liver concentrations of Z-AAT in a dose dependent manner and reduced hepatic globule burden (NCT03945292).
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Patients who are chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and who do not have a sustained virologic response after treatment with regimens containing direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) ...have limited retreatment options.
We conducted two phase 3 trials involving patients who had been previously treated with a DAA-containing regimen. In POLARIS-1, patients with HCV genotype 1 infection who had previously received a regimen containing an NS5A inhibitor were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either the nucleotide polymerase inhibitor sofosbuvir, the NS5A inhibitor velpatasvir, and the protease inhibitor voxilaprevir (150 patients) or matching placebo (150 patients) once daily for 12 weeks. Patients who were infected with HCV of other genotypes (114 patients) were enrolled in the sofosbuvir-velpatasvir-voxilaprevir group. In POLARIS-4, patients with HCV genotype 1, 2, or 3 infection who had previously received a DAA regimen but not an NS5A inhibitor were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive sofosbuvir-velpatasvir-voxilaprevir (163 patients) or sofosbuvir-velpatasvir (151 patients) for 12 weeks. An additional 19 patients with HCV genotype 4 infection were enrolled in the sofosbuvir-velpatasvir-voxilaprevir group.
In the three active-treatment groups, 46% of the patients had compensated cirrhosis. In POLARIS-1, the rate of sustained virologic response was 96% with sofosbuvir-velpatasvir-voxilaprevir, as compared with 0% with placebo. In POLARIS-4, the rate of response was 98% with sofosbuvir-velpatasvir-voxilaprevir and 90% with sofosbuvir-velpatasvir. The most common adverse events were headache, fatigue, diarrhea, and nausea. In the active-treatment groups in both trials, the percentage of patients who discontinued treatment owing to adverse events was 1% or lower.
Sofosbuvir-velpatasvir-voxilaprevir taken for 12 weeks provided high rates of sustained virologic response among patients across HCV genotypes in whom treatment with a DAA regimen had previously failed. (Funded by Gilead Sciences; POLARIS-1 and POLARIS-4 ClinicalTrials.gov numbers, NCT02607735 and NCT02639247 .).
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown significant efficacy in patients with various malignancies, however, they are associated with a wide range of immune-related toxicities affecting many ...organs, including the liver. Immune-mediated liver injury caused by checkpoint inhibitors (ILICI) is a distinctive form of drug induced liver injury (DILI), that differs from most DILI types in presumed underlying mechanism, incidence, and response to therapeutic interventions. Despite increased awareness of ILICI and other immune-related adverse effects of ICIs reflected by recent guidelines for their management in post marketing clinical practice, there is lack of uniform best practices to address ILICI risk during drug development. As efforts to develop safer and more effective ICIs for additional indications grow, and as combination therapies including ICIs are increasingly investigated, there is a growing need for consistent practices for ILICI in drug development. This publication summarizes current best practices to optimize the monitoring, diagnosis, assessment, and management of suspected ILICI in clinical trials using ICI as a single agent and in combination with other ICIs or other oncological agents. It is one of several publications developed by the IQ DILI Initiative in collaboration with DILI experts from academia and regulatory agencies. Recommended best practices are outlined pertaining to hepatic inclusion and exclusion criteria, monitoring of liver tests, ILICI detection, approach to a suspected ILICI signal, causality assessment, hepatic discontinuation rules and additional medical treatment.
•Immune-mediated liver injury caused by checkpoint inhibitors is a distinctive type of drug induced liver injury.•There is lack of uniform recommendations regarding the approach to this type of liver injury during drug development.•There is a growing need for consistent practices for immune-mediated liver injury in drug development.•This paper offers recommendations based on published data and consensus among experts from academia, FDA and drug industry.•These best practices optimize the detection, monitoring, and management of immune-mediated liver injury in clinical trials.
Autoimmune hepatitis is a chronic liver disease characterized by elevated aminotransferase levels, autoantibodies, increased γ-globulin or IgG levels and biopsy evidence of interface hepatitis. ...Recent advances include new practice guidelines that redefine criteria for remission to require complete biochemical and histological normalization on therapy; comparisons between the revised original and simplified diagnostic scoring systems; refined characterization of autoantibodies and their diagnostic performance parameters; proof of the safety and efficacy of combination budesonide and azathioprine therapy for non-cirrhotic patients; scrutiny of overlap syndromes; further analyses of the outcomes of orthotopic liver transplantation and the diagnosis and treatment of recurrent and de novo autoimmune hepatitis after transplantation. Anticipated consequences of the application of the new definition of therapeutic remission include a reduction in the proportion of patients achieving remission with conventional immunosuppression regimens and a corresponding increase in the need for alternative therapies.
Summary
Background
Seladelpar is a potent and selective peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐δ agonist that targets multiple cell types involved in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), leading to ...anti‐cholestatic, anti‐inflammatory and anti‐pruritic effects.
Aims
To evaluate the long‐term safety and efficacy of seladelpar in patients with PBC.
Methods
In an open‐label, international, long‐term extension study, patients with PBC completing seladelpar lead‐in studies continued treatment. Seladelpar was taken orally once daily at doses of 5 or 10 mg with dose adjustment permitted for safety or tolerability. The primary analysis was for safety and the secondary efficacy analysis examined biochemical markers of cholestasis and liver injury. The study was terminated early due to the unexpected histological findings in a concurrent study for non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis, which were subsequently found to predate treatment. Safety and efficacy data were analysed through 2 years.
Results
There were no serious treatment‐related adverse events observed among 106 patients treated with seladelpar for up to 2 years. There were four discontinuations for safety, one possibly related to seladelpar. Among 53 patients who completed 2 years of seladelpar, response rates increased from years 1 to 2 for the composite endpoint (alkaline phosphatase ALP <1.67 × ULN, ≥15% decrease in ALP, and total bilirubin ≤ULN) and ALP normalisation from 66% to 79% and from 26% to 42%, respectively. In those with elevated bilirubin at baseline, 43% achieved normalisation at year 2.
Conclusions
Seladelpar was safe, and markedly improved biochemical markers of cholestasis and liver injury in patients with PBC. These effects were maintained or improved throughout the second year. Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03301506; Clinicaltrialsregister.eu: 2017‐003910‐16.
Seladelpar two‐year safety and efficacy results.
Both covert hepatic encephalopathy (CHE) and overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE) impair the ability to operate machinery. The legal responsibilities of US physicians who diagnose and treat patients ...with hepatic encephalopathy vary among states. It is imperative that physicians know the laws regarding reporting in their state. OHE represents a neuropsychiatric impairment that meets general reporting criteria. The medical advisory boards of the states have not identified OHE as a reportable condition. In the absence of validated diagnostic guidelines, physicians are not obligated to perform tests for CHE. There is a need for explicit guidance from professional associations regarding this issue.
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