Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC)Phase 2/3NCT06591468
A Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Trial of Prednisone Combined With Ursodeoxycholic Acid in the Treatment of Primary Biliary Cholangitis With Moderate to Severe Interface Hepatitis Characteristics
A Phase 2/3 study testing Prednisone and UDCA (Ursodeoxycholic acid) in people with Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC), run by Han Ying at 2 sites in China.
Trial summary
About 1/3 of patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) exhibit moderate to severe interface hepatitis, and this group of patients have poor response to UDCA treatment. However, as it is not yet sufficient to diagnose autoimmune hepatitis or overlap syndrome, it is difficult to initiate immunosuppressive therapy… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 75 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC)
- What is being tested?
- Prednisone and UDCA (Ursodeoxycholic acid)
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 244 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesChina
- Study dates
- 30 Oct 2024to 31 Dec 2027
- Phase
- Phase 2/3
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 75 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Voluntarily joining the group, able to understand and sign an informed consent form;
- 18 years old ≤ age ≤ 75 years old;
- The diagnosis of primary biliary cholangitis follows the AASLD international diagnostic and treatment guidelines (meeting two of the following three criteria: AMA or gp210, sp100 positive; Elevated serum ALP levels; Pathological manifestations include non suppurative cholangitis and destruction of the interlobular bile duct;
- Liver histology suggests moderate to severe interfacial hepatitis (moderate,\<50% portal or fibrous septa destruction, severe,\>50% portal or fibrous septa destruction) with serum ALT\<5 * ULN, serum IgG\<2 * ULN, and negative serum anti smooth muscle antibodies;
- Not receiving UDCA, hormone or other immunosuppressive therapy before enrollment;
- ALP\>1.67 * ULN.
Who cannot join
- History or presence of other concomitant liver diseases.
- ALT or AST \> 5×ULN, TBIL \> 3×ULN.
- If female: known pregnancy, or has a positive urine pregnancy test (confirmed by a positive serum pregnancy test), or lactating.
- Allergic to fenofibrate or ursodeoxycholic acid.
- Taking hepatotoxic drugs (e.g., dapsone, erythromycin, fluconazole, ketoconazole, rifampicin) for more than 2 weeks within 6 months, and long-term hormonal users.
- Recurrent variceal bleeding, poorly controlled hepatic encephalopathy or refractory ascites.
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- Patients with a history of severe cardiac, cerebrovascular, renal, respiratory disease or functional failure, and psychiatric disorders (including those due to alcohol and drug abuse).
- Creatinine >1.5×ULN and creatinine clearance <60 ml/min.
- Currently using statins (such as pravastatin, fluvastatin, and simvastatin), other fibrates (such as gemfibrozil and bezafibrate), and drugs structurally similar to fenofibrate (like ketoprofen).
- Planned to receive an organ transplant or an organ transplant recipient.
- Needing Liver transplantation within 1 year according to the Mayo Rick score.
- Any other condition(s) that would compromise the safety of the subject or compromise
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
China2 sites
Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital
Guangzhou, Guangdong
Xijing hospital
Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032
About this study
About 1/3 of patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) exhibit moderate to severe interface hepatitis, and this group of patients have poor response to UDCA treatment. However, as it is not yet sufficient to diagnose autoimmune hepatitis or overlap syndrome, it is difficult to initiate immunosuppressive therapy such as steroids according to current guidelines. The aim of this study is to explore whether PBC patients with moderate to severe interfacial inflammation can benefit from UDCA combined with prednisone therapy, and its treatment safety.
- Conditions
- Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC)
- Being tested
- Prednisone, UDCA (Ursodeoxycholic acid)
- Keywords
- Primary Biliary Cholangitis, interface hepatitis, Ursodeoxycholic Acid, Corticosteroids
- Medical subject headings
- Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
PrednisoneDrug
Prednisone 30-40 mg/day, at 7am in the morning, gradually reduced after 1 month (5mg every 7-14 days) to 5-10 mg for maintenance treatment
UDCA (Ursodeoxycholic acid)Drug
13-15 mg/kg/day
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Prednisone | Experimental | Combination therapy of UDCA (13-15 mg/kg/day) and prednisone. Prednisone 30-40 mg/day, at 7am in the morning, gradually reduced after 1 month (5mg every 7-14 days) to 5-10 mg for maintenance treatment |
| UDCA | Active comparator | UDCA (13-15 mg/kg/day) Receives: Drug: UDCA (Ursodeoxycholic acid) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Percentage of patients with biochemical response
Alkaline Phosphatase \< 1.67*ULN
Measured: 1 year
Secondary outcomes (2)
Assessment of the pruritus and fatigue
Change From Baseline in Fatigue and Pruritus as Assessed by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) Total Score for Fatigue and Pruritus. (0-10, higher scires mean a worse outcome)
Measured: 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months
Survival without transplantation and hepatic impairment
Occurrence of ascites, variceal bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy, liver-transplantation, or death.
Measured: 1 year
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted19 Sep 2024
- Study start30 Oct 2024
- Primary completion31 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC)Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 2/3
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 244 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Han Ying
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Han Ying, Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06591468
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- KY20242283
- Status last verified
- Jun 2025
- First submitted
- 7 Sep 2024
- Last updated
- 28 Nov 2025
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 28 Nov 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Trial of Prednisone Combined With Ursodeoxycholic Acid in the Treatment of Primary Biliary Cholangitis With Moderate to Severe Interface Hepatitis Characteristics
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06591468
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- KY20242283
- Conditions
- Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC)
- Keywords
- Primary Biliary Cholangitis, interface hepatitis, Ursodeoxycholic Acid, Corticosteroids
- Phase
- Phase 2/3
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Enrolling by invitation
- Enrolment
- 244 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Han YingUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 30 Oct 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 19 Sep 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
About 1/3 of patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) exhibit moderate to severe interface hepatitis, and this group of patients have poor response to UDCA treatment. However, as it is not yet sufficient to diagnose autoimmune hepatitis or overlap syndrome, it is difficult to initiate immunosuppressive therapy such as steroids according to current guidelines. The aim of this study is to explore whether PBC patients with moderate to severe interfacial inflammation can benefit from UDCA combined with prednisone therapy, and its treatment safety.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Prednisone | Experimental | –Combination therapy of UDCA (13-15 mg/kg/day) and prednisone. Prednisone 30-40 mg/day, at 7am in the morning, gradually reduced after 1 month (5mg every 7-14 days) to 5-10 mg for maintenance treatment |
| UDCA | Active comparator | Drug: UDCA (Ursodeoxycholic acid)UDCA (13-15 mg/kg/day) |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 75 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Voluntarily joining the group, able to understand and sign an informed consent form;
- 18 years old ≤ age ≤ 75 years old;
- The diagnosis of primary biliary cholangitis follows the AASLD international diagnostic and treatment guidelines (meeting two of the following three criteria: AMA or gp210, sp100 positive; Elevated serum ALP levels; Pathological manifestations include non suppurative cholangitis and destruction of the interlobular bile duct;
- Liver histology suggests moderate to severe interfacial hepatitis (moderate,\<50% portal or fibrous septa destruction, severe,\>50% portal or fibrous septa destruction) with serum ALT\<5 * ULN, serum IgG\<2 * ULN, and negative serum anti smooth muscle antibodies;
- Not receiving UDCA, hormone or other immunosuppressive therapy before enrollment;
Key exclusion criteria (12 listed)
- History or presence of other concomitant liver diseases.
- ALT or AST \> 5×ULN, TBIL \> 3×ULN.
- If female: known pregnancy, or has a positive urine pregnancy test (confirmed by a positive serum pregnancy test), or lactating.
- Allergic to fenofibrate or ursodeoxycholic acid.
- Taking hepatotoxic drugs (e.g., dapsone, erythromycin, fluconazole, ketoconazole, rifampicin) for more than 2 weeks within 6 months, and long-term hormonal users.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| PrednisonePrednisone 30-40 mg/day, at 7am in the morning, gradually reduced after 1 month (5mg every 7-14 days) to 5-10 mg for maintenance treatment | Drug | – |
| UDCA (Ursodeoxycholic acid)13-15 mg/kg/day | Drug | UDCA |
Primary outcome
Percentage of patients with biochemical response
Time frame: 1 year
Alkaline Phosphatase \< 1.67*ULN
2 secondary outcomes
Assessment of the pruritus and fatigue
Time frame: 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months
Survival without transplantation and hepatic impairment
Time frame: 1 year
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 28 Nov 2025.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 2/3 study testing Prednisone and UDCA (Ursodeoxycholic acid) in people with Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC), run by Han Ying at 2 sites in China.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 12 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: enrolling by invitation, as of the sponsor's last update on 28 Nov 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in China. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this combined phase mean?
Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.
Phase 3 studies compare the treatment with the current standard treatment or a placebo in a large group, to confirm how well it works and watch for side effects.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Percentage of patients with biochemical response (time frame: 1 year). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 28 Nov 2025; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 26 Oct 2026.