LCP-Tacro vs. Azathioprine for the Treatment of Autoimmune Hepatitis

An open-label, multi-center, prospective, randomized study to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of LCP-Tacro tablets given once daily vs. azathioprine for the treatment of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Patients with histologically confirmed chronic hepatitis who fulfill criteria established by the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group (IAIHG) and Inclusion and Exclusion criteria will be enrolled after having signed an informed consent document. Up to 60 patients will be randomized (1:1) to receive treatment with LCP-Tacro + prednisone vs. azathioprine (AZA) + prednisone. * LCP-Tacro will be started at 2 mg once daily (q.d.) with weekly measurement of tacrolimus whole blood trough levels and adjustment of the daily dose of LCP-Tacro to achieve target tacrolimus levels of 3 - 6 ng/mL. Patients with histological evidence of cirrhosis and a Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score ≤ 8 will commence LCP-Tacro at a fixed dose of 1 mg once daily, with subsequent dosage adjustments to maintain tacrolimus trough levels at 3 - 6 ng/mL. * AZA will be started at 50 - 100 mg (approximately 1 mg/kg) once daily (q.d.). Patients will also commence treatment with prednisone 30 mg/day for one week, then 20 mg/day for one week, then 15 mg/day for two weeks, then 10 mg/day through Month 6.