For adults with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC)1
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For adults with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC)1
5X
OCALIVA had an observed effect on 3 key stages of PBC: cholestasis, inflammation, and fibrosis.1,5
Unlike UDCA, OCALIVA activates the FXR in the liver, a receptor that plays a critical role in bile acid homeostasis.1,6
With help from Interconnect Support Services, patients can get the help they need to navigate the insurance system and specialty pharmacies. And 9 out of 10 commercially insured patients are covered for OCALIVA.8,a,b 9 out of 10 Medicare patients are covered for OCALIVA, too.8,c
99%
of eligible commercially
insured patients
PAY $0
for their OCALIVA prescription7,a
aOffer not valid for patients enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, or other federal or state healthcare programs.
bBased on 93.2% of all Commercial patients prescribed OCALIVA; data pulled in January 2022.8
cBased on 97.6% of all Medicare patients prescribed OCALIVA whose prior authorizations were approved in calendar year 2022.8
ACG/CLDF expert opinion and AASLD guidance recommend OCALIVA for patients whose PBC remains uncontrolled with UDCA alone or who cannot tolerate UDCA.9-11
Per CLDF guidance, the need for second-line treatment should be assessed at the 6-month mark—for higher-risk patients (VCTE or TE ≥ 10 kPa), compensated liver disease, and no signs of portal hypertension if their ALP is not <1.9x ULN and bilirubin is not <1.0x ULN with UDCA treatment.9,10,a
Up to
50%
aOCALIVA was FDA-approved based on a 12-month clinical trial in patients with PBC who were taking UDCA for at least 12 months.1
*46% of patients met the primary composite endpoint at 12 months vs 10% taking UDCA alone. Reduction in disease activity is defined as the primary composite endpoint: ALP <1.67x ULN, ALP decrease of ≥15%, and total bilirubin ≤ULN.1
AASLD, American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases; ACG, American College of Gastroenterology; ALP, alkaline phosphatase; CLDF, Chronic Liver Disease Foundation; FXR, farnesoid X receptor; kPa, kilopascal; TE, transient elastography; UDCA, ursodeoxycholic acid; ULN, upper limit of normal; VCTE, vibration controlled transient elastography.
WARNING: HEPATIC DECOMPENSATION AND FAILURE IN PRIMARY BILIARY CHOLANGITIS PATIENTS WITH CIRRHOSIS
WARNING: HEPATIC DECOMPENSATION AND FAILURE IN PRIMARY BILIARY CHOLANGITIS PATIENTS WITH CIRRHOSIS
OCALIVA, a farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonist, is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC)
either in combination with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) with an inadequate response to UDCA or as monotherapy in patients unable to tolerate UDCA.
This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on a reduction in alkaline phosphatase (ALP). An improvement in survival or disease-related symptoms has not been established. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.
OCALIVA is contraindicated in patients with:
Hepatic decompensation and failure, sometimes fatal or resulting in liver transplant, have been reported with OCALIVA treatment in PBC patients with cirrhosis, either compensated or decompensated. Among postmarketing cases reporting it, median time to hepatic decompensation (e.g., new onset ascites) was 4 months for patients with compensated cirrhosis; median time to a new decompensation event (e.g., hepatic encephalopathy) was 2.5 months for patients with decompensated cirrhosis. Some of these cases occurred in patients with decompensated cirrhosis when they were treated with higher than the recommended dosage for that patient population; however, cases of hepatic decompensation and failure have continued to be reported in patients with decompensated cirrhosis even when they received the recommended dosage.
Hepatotoxicity was observed in the OCALIVA clinical trials. A dose-response relationship was observed for the occurrence of hepatic adverse reactions including jaundice, worsening ascites, and primary biliary cholangitis flare with dosages of OCALIVA of 10 mg once daily to 50 mg once daily (up to 5-times the highest recommended dosage), as early as one month after starting treatment with OCALIVA in two 3-month, placebo-controlled clinical trials in patients with primarily early stage PBC.
Routinely monitor patients for progression of PBC, including hepatic adverse reactions, with laboratory and clinical assessments to determine whether drug discontinuation is needed. Closely monitor patients with compensated cirrhosis, concomitant hepatic disease (e.g., autoimmune hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease), and/or with severe intercurrent illness for new evidence of portal hypertension (e.g., ascites, gastroesophageal varices, persistent thrombocytopenia) or increases above the upper limit of normal in total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, or prothrombin time to determine whether drug discontinuation is needed. Permanently discontinue OCALIVA in patients who develop laboratory or clinical evidence of hepatic decompensation (e.g., ascites, jaundice, variceal bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy), have compensated cirrhosis and develop evidence of portal hypertension (e.g., ascites, gastroesophageal varices, persistent thrombocytopenia), experience clinically significant hepatic adverse reactions, or develop complete biliary obstruction. If severe intercurrent illness occurs, interrupt treatment with OCALIVA and monitor the patient’s liver function. After resolution of the intercurrent illness, consider the potential risks and benefits of restarting OCALIVA treatment.
Severe pruritus was reported in 23% of patients in the OCALIVA 10 mg arm, 19% of patients in the OCALIVA titration arm, and 7% of patients in the placebo arm in a 12-month double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial of 216 patients. Severe pruritus was defined as intense or widespread itching, interfering with activities of daily living, or causing severe sleep disturbance, or intolerable discomfort, and typically requiring medical interventions. Consider clinical evaluation of patients with new onset or worsening severe pruritus. Management strategies include the addition of bile acid binding resins or antihistamines, OCALIVA dosage reduction, and/or temporary interruption of OCALIVA dosing.
Patients with PBC generally exhibit hyperlipidemia characterized by a significant elevation in total cholesterol primarily due to increased levels of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C). Dose-dependent reductions from baseline in mean HDL-C levels were observed at 2 weeks in OCALIVA-treated patients, 20% and 9% in the 10 mg and titration arms, respectively, compared to 2% in the placebo arm. Monitor patients for changes in serum lipid levels during treatment. For patients who do not respond to OCALIVA after 1 year at the highest recommended dosage that can be tolerated (maximum of 10 mg once daily), and who experience a reduction in HDL-C, weigh the potential risks against the benefits of continuing treatment.
The most common adverse reactions (≥5%) are: pruritus, fatigue, abdominal pain and discomfort, rash, oropharyngeal pain, dizziness, constipation, arthralgia, thyroid function abnormality, and eczema.
Please click here for Full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNING.
To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc. at 1-844-782-ICPT or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
If you have questions or would like more information about OCALIVA, contact Intercept Medical Information.