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For adults with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC)1

For adults with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC)1

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OCALIVA WORKS DIFFERENTLY
BY ACTIVATING FXR1,2

OCALIVA AND UDCA CAN WORK BETTER TOGETHER1

Unlike UDCA, OCALIVA activates the farnesoid X receptor (FXR), which plays a critical role in bile acid homeostasis. Multiple metabolic processes in the liver and intestine are controlled by FXR, including1,3:

  • Anti-inflammatory effects
  • Anti-fibrotic effects
  • Anti-cholestatic effects
Hexagon shapes describing OCALIVA® (obeticholic acid) and UDCA

*How OCALIVA and UDCA work together in PBC is not entirely understood.

OCALIVA can also be used as monotherapy in patients who
cannot tolerate UDCA.1

In the pivotal trial, 7% of OCALIVA patients were intolerant to UDCA. For those patients, OCALIVA is effective as monotherapy.1

Watch the video to see how OCALIVA acts differently to take your current PBC treatment further1

VIEW TRANSCRIPT

IN 1 STUDY, OCALIVA demonstrated a 30% reduction in the amount of time hepatocytes were exposed to potentially CYTOTOXIC bile acids.5

In a single-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossovera study of 8 PBC patients with inadequate response to UDCA, 3-month treatment with OCALIVAb vs placebo showed5:

  • Uptake clearance of 11C-CSar, which stands for [N-methyl-11C]cholylsarcosine, (bile acid flow) was increased by a median of 11%5,c
  • Secretion of bile acids into the biliary canaliculi was increased by a median of 73%5,d

Study limitation: n=8 patients. No clinical conclusions should be made based on these data.

aPatients were randomized to two 3-month crossover treatment periods with placebo and OCALIVA, separated by a 1-month washout period without study treatment.5

bOCALIVA was administered at 5 mg daily for 1 month, and then increased to 10 mg daily for 2 months.5

cThe rate of bile acid transport was evaluated using a specialized technique combining PET scanning of the liver with concomitant administration of a radiolabeled bile acid tracer, 11C-CSar.5

dSecretion of bile acids was calculated using the rate constant for the secretion of 11C-CSar from the hepatocytes into the biliary canaliculi.5

11C-CSar, [N-methyl-11C]cholylsarcosine; MOA, mechanism of action; PET, positron emission tomography; UDCA, ursodeoxycholic acid.

References

  1. OCALIVA full prescribing information. Morristown, NJ: Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc; 2022.
  2. URSO full prescribing information. Bridgewater, NJ: Aptalis Pharma US, Inc; 2013.
  3. van Hooff MC, Werner E, van der Meer, AJ. Treatment in primary biliary cholangitis: beyond ursodeoxycholic acid. Eur J Inter Med. Published online February 2, 2024. doi:10.1016/j.ejim.2024.01.030
  4. Paumgartner G, Beuers U. Ursodeoxycholic acid in cholestatic liver disease: mechanisms of action and therapeutic use revisited. Hepatology. 2002;36(3):525-531. doi:10.1053/jhep.2002.36088
  5. Kjaergaard K, Frisch K, Sørensen M, et al. Obeticholic acid improves hepatic bile acid excretion in patients with primary biliary cholangitis. J Hepatol. 2021;74(1):58-65. doi:10.1016/j.jhep.2020.07.028

INDICATION AND IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNING: HEPATIC DECOMPENSATION AND FAILURE IN PRIMARY BILIARY CHOLANGITIS PATIENTS WITH CIRRHOSIS

  • Hepatic decompensation and failure, sometimes fatal or resulting in liver transplant, have been reported with OCALIVA treatment in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) patients with either compensated or decompensated cirrhosis.
  • OCALIVA is contraindicated in PBC patients with decompensated cirrhosis, a prior decompensation event, or with compensated cirrhosis who have evidence of portal hypertension.
  • Permanently discontinue OCALIVA in patients who develop laboratory or clinical evidence of hepatic decompensation; have compensated cirrhosis and develop evidence of portal hypertension; or experience clinically significant hepatic adverse reactions while on treatment.

INDICATION

OCALIVA, a farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonist, is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC)

  • without cirrhosis or
  • with compensated cirrhosis who do not have evidence of portal hypertension,

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.

Contraindications

OCALIVA is contraindicated in patients with:

  • decompensated cirrhosis (e.g., Child-Pugh Class B or C) or a prior decompensation event.
  • compensated cirrhosis who have evidence of portal hypertension (e.g., ascites, gastroesophageal varices, persistent thrombocytopenia).
  • complete biliary obstruction.

Warnings and Precautions

Hepatic Decompensation and Failure in PBC Patients with Cirrhosis

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

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.

Reduction in HDL-C

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.

Adverse Reactions

The most common adverse reactions (≥5%) are: pruritus, fatigue, abdominal pain and discomfort, rash, oropharyngeal pain, dizziness, constipation, arthralgia, thyroid function abnormality, and eczema.

Drug Interactions

  • Bile Acid Binding Resins
    Bile acid binding resins such as cholestyramine, colestipol, or colesevelam adsorb and reduce bile acid absorption and may reduce the absorption, systemic exposure, and efficacy of OCALIVA. If taking a bile acid binding resin, take OCALIVA at least 4 hours before or 4 hours after taking the bile acid binding resin, or at as great an interval as possible.
  • Warfarin
    The International Normalized Ratio (INR) decreased following coadministration of warfarin and OCALIVA. Monitor INR and adjust the dose of warfarin, as needed, to maintain the target INR range when co-administering OCALIVA and warfarin.
  • CYP1A2 Substrates with Narrow Therapeutic Index
    Obeticholic acid may increase the exposure to concomitant drugs that are CYP1A2 substrates. Therapeutic monitoring of CYP1A2 substrates with a narrow therapeutic index (e.g., theophylline and tizanidine) is recommended when co-administered with OCALIVA.
  • Inhibitors of Bile Salt Efflux Pump
    Avoid concomitant use of inhibitors of the bile salt efflux pump (BSEP) such as cyclosporine. Concomitant medications that inhibit canalicular membrane bile acid transporters such as the BSEP may exacerbate accumulation of conjugated bile salts including taurine conjugate of obeticholic acid in the liver and result in clinical symptoms. If concomitant use is deemed necessary, monitor serum transaminases and bilirubin.

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.