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VIDEO: Physician discusses importance of Ocaliva license in Europe

AMSTERDAM — In this exclusive video from International Liver Congress, Rick Lones, vice president, head of medical affairs for Europe, Canada and Australia at Intercept Pharmaceuticals, discusses Intercept’s novel compound Ocaliva for the treatment of primary biliary cholangitis.

“Intercept is a company that’s got a single-minded focus on treating patients with progressive nonviral liver disease and we’re incredibly excited that this year, in Europe, we now have licensed the first therapy for the treatment of primary biliary cholangitis in over 20 years,” Lones said.

Ocaliva (obeticholic acid, Intercept Pharmaceuticals) was licensed in the United States in May 2016 and achieved a license in Europe in December 2016.

Ocaliva was designed for treatment in combination with UDCA (ursodeoxycholic acid) in adults with an inadequate response to UDCA or as monotherapy in adults unable to tolerate UDCA.

“We have a very effective and well-tolerated medicine,” Lones said. “We now have access within a number of countries across Europe and [are] starting to see patients already being treated and managed for this condition. We’re really looking forward to further countries gaining reimbursement and further access over the coming months.”

Disclosure: Lones is employed by Intercept Pharmaceuticals.

Editor's note: This article was updated on Apr. 27, 2017, to reflect a correction from the presenter regarding the date of license in Europe.