Obeticholic Acid (OCA) in Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC)

This was a phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-finding evaluation of the efficacy and safety of OCA in participants with PSC. Approximately 75 participants who provided written informed consent and met all of the inclusion and none of the exclusion criteria were randomized to 1 of 3 treatment groups as follows: 1.5 milligrams (mg) titrating to 3 mg OCA, 5 mg titrating to 10 mg OCA, or placebo, in a 1:1:1 ratio. Participants self-administered investigational product (IP) orally, once daily for 2 consecutive 12-week periods. For the first 12 weeks, the participant's dose was 1.5 mg OCA, 5 mg OCA, or placebo. After 12 weeks, the participant's dose was titrated as follows, providing there were no limiting safety or tolerability concerns in the opinion of the Investigator, while maintaining the trial blind: the 1.5 mg OCA treatment group titrated to 3 mg, the 5 mg OCA treatment group titrated to 10 mg OCA, and the placebo group remained on placebo. Double-blind treatment continued for a further 12 weeks at that dose. Any participant whose dose was not titrated, due to safety or tolerability concerns, remained on their starting treatment (1.5 mg OCA, 5 mg OCA, or placebo) for the remainder of the DB phase to Week 24. Randomization was stratified by the presence or absence of concomitant ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) use and total bilirubin level (≤1.5x upper limit of normal \[ULN\] or \>1.5x ULN but \<2.5x ULN). Following completion of the DB phase, participants were asked to reconfirm their consent for participation in the open-label LTSE phase (planned as a further 24 months).