patients on obeticholic acid treatment arm and at an incidence greater than or equal to 1% higher than in the placebo treatment arm.
Description of selected adverse reactions
Pruritus
Approximately 60% of patients had a history of pruritus upon enrollment in the phase III study. Treatment-emergent pruritus generally started within the first month following the initiation of treatment.
Relative to patients who started on 10 mg once daily in the OCALIVA 10 mg arm, patients in the OCALIVA titration arm had a lower incidence of pruritus (70% and 56% respectively) and a lower discontinuation rate due to pruritus (10% and 1%, respectively).
The percentages of patients who required interventions (i.e, dosage adjustments, treatment interruptions, or initiation of antihistamines or bile acid binding resins) were 41% in the OCALIVA 10 mg arm, 34% in the OCALIVA titration group, and 19% in the placebo group.
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via Yellow Card Scheme
Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
4.9 Overdose
The highest single dose exposure of obeticholic acid in healthy volunteers has been at the 500 mg dose. Repeated doses of 250 mg have been administered for 12 consecutive days and some subjects experienced pruritus and reversible transaminase liver elevations. In PBC patients who received OCALIVA 25 mg once daily (2.5 times the highest recommended dosage) or 50 mg once daily (5 times the highest recommended dosage), a dose-dependent increase in the incidence of liver-related adverse reactions (e.g., ascites, primary biliary cholangitis flare, new onset jaundice), and transaminase and bilirubin elevations (up to greater than 3-times upper limit of normal [ULN]) were reported. In the case of overdose, patients should be carefully observed and supportive care administered, as appropriate.
5. Pharmacological properties
5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties
Pharmacotherapeutic group: Bile and liver therapy, Bile acid preparations. ATC code: A05AA04
Mechanism of action
Obeticholic acid is a selective and potent agonist for the farnesoid X receptor (FXR), a nuclear receptor expressed at high levels in the liver and intestine. FXR is thought to be a key regulator of bile acid, inflammatory, fibrotic, and metabolic pathways. FXR activation decreases the intracellular hepatocyte concentrations of bile acids by suppressing de novo synthesis from cholesterol, as well as, by increasing transport of bile acids out of the hepatocytes. These mechanisms limit the overall size of the circulating bile acid pool while promoting choleresis, thus reducing hepatic exposure to bile acids.
Pharmacodynamic effects
Clinical efficacy and safety
A phase III, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, 12-month study (POISE) eva luated the safety and efficacy of OCALIVA in 216 patients with PBC who were taking UDCA for at least 12 months (stable dose for ≥ 3 months) or who were unable to tolerate UDCA and did not receive UDCA for ≥3 months. Patients were included in the trial if the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was greater than or equal to 1.67 times upper limit of normal (ULN) and/or if total bilirubin was greater |
