VIDEO: Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis improves with use of novel agent

In a video exclusive, Lorenzo D’Antiga, MD, Pappa Giovanni XXIII Hospital, said Bylvay induced a sustained improvement in cholestasis-related parameters in patients with progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis.

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, researchers analyzed a pooled analysis of 77 patients treated with Bylvay (odevixibat, Albireo), a once-daily, non-systemic ileal bile acid transport inhibitor, to investigate its effectiveness in reducing pruritus and serum bile acids.

“Patients with progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis treated with odevixibat experienced clinically meaningful effects on serum bile acid, pruritus, growth and sleep parameters. ... These improvements were very similar to the parameters that were shown to improve after surgery,” D’Antiga concluded. “Odevixibat was well tolerated, and future analysis will provide additional information and long-term data to confirm that this drug can really improve quality of life and hopefully also prevent the development of end-stage liver disease.”