Clinical Research Directory

Study of Elafibranor in Patients With Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC)

The participants of this study will have confirmed Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) with inadequate response or intolerance to ursodeoxycholic acid (which is a medication used in the management and treatment of cholestatic liver disease). PBC is a slowly progressive disease characterized by damage of the bile ducts in the liver, leading to a buildup of bile acids which causes further damage. The liver damage in PBC may lead to scarring (cirrhosis). PBC may also be associated with multiple symptoms. Many patients with PBC may require liver transplant or may die if the disease progresses and a liver transplant is not done. The main aim of this study is to determine if elafibranor (the study drug) is better than placebo (a dummy treatment) at decreasing the levels of a specific blood test (alkaline phosphatase) that provides information about participant's disease. This study will also evaluate the safety of long-term treatment with elafibranor, as well as the impact on symptoms such as itchy skin (pruritus) and tiredness (fatigue). This study has two main parts: Part 1 will compare a daily dose of elafibranor to a daily dose of placebo and will last between a minimum of one year and a maximum of two years. Part 2, all participants will receive elafibranor for a period of up to 5 years or until the total treatment duration (part 1 and part 2) reaches 6 years, whichever occurs first.

Liver-gut Axis Study Through Identification of Liver Disease-specific Microbiome

In this study, we aim to identify gut microbiomes specific to patients with chronic refractory liver disease and to conduct a gut-liver axis study on the pathogenesis and disease progression.

Biobank for Cholestatic Liver Diseases.

This study is a biobank of specimens and clinical data for use in current and future research to better understand the cholestatic liver diseases primary biliary cirrhosis/cholangitis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC).

Study of Seladelpar in Participants With Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC)

An Open Label Long-Term Study to Evaluate the Safety and Tolerability of Seladelpar in Subjects with Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC)

TruGraf Liver Gene Expression Serial Test

This is an Investigator Initiated, single center, non-randomized, single arm study utilizing TruGraf liver gene expression serial testing in patients with autoimmune liver diseases (AIH, PSC, PBC) monthly for the first 6 months after transplant to help inform immunosuppression (IS) optimization. Approximately 20 patients will be enrolled in the study. Study outcomes will include 1-year graft survival, 1 year BPAR and clinically treated rejection rates, number of changes to IS based on the results of Trugraf, eGFR and immune mediated issues. TruGraf®, (Transplant Genomics, Inc., a member of Eurofins Transplant Diagnostics) is a non-invasive blood-based test to assist the clinician in lowering immunosuppression in liver transplant patients. It is the first and only blood-based test that offers biomarker guidance to aid physicians in minimizing immunosuppression in transplant recipients. Unfortunately, achieving the tight control of therapeutic levels of immunosuppression that is required to maintain the balance between "too much" and "too little" can be difficult. TruGraf liver can help clinicians confirm immune "quiescence" prior to, as well as following, immunosuppression reduction in patients with stable graft function, minimizing the risk of overt graft injury due to rejection. The clinical context of use for TruGraf is to provide reassurance to the clinician who is contemplating a preemptive reduction in IS therapy that a patient's immune status is "quiescent" thus reducing the risk of triggering acute rejection with that IS reduction. Having the ability to assess whether the patient's immune status is "quiescent" or activated when considering an increase or decrease in IS therapy allows the clinician greater confidence in decision making.

Rare Disease Patient Registry & Natural History Study - Coordination of Rare Diseases at Sanford

CoRDS, or the Coordination of Rare Diseases at Sanford, is based at Sanford Research in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It provides researchers with a centralized, international patient registry for all rare diseases. This program allows patients and researchers to connect as easily as possible to help advance treatments and cures for rare diseases. The CoRDS team works with patient advocacy groups, individuals and researchers to help in the advancement of research in over 7,000 rare diseases. The registry is free for patients to enroll and researchers to access. Visit sanfordresearch.org/CoRDS to enroll.

Bezafibrate in Patients With Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC)

Up to 40% of patients with PBC have an inadequate response to standard treatment with UDCA, hence bezafibrate, a PPAR-agonist is being introduced as add-on therapy in these patients. sCD163, fibrosis markers and bile acid composition are of special interest in PBC. In this study, the investigators will investigate how treatment with bezafibrate influence levels of macrophage activation markers and fibrosis markers as well as bile acid composition in patients offered bezafibrate as add-on therapy to UDCA.

sCD163 in PBC Patients - Assessment of Treatment Response

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is an autoimmune chronic liver disease, characterised by destruction of the small intrahepatic bile ducts. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is the first line treatment for patients with PBC. However, up to 40% of patients respond inadequate to this treatment. sCD163 is a macrophage activation marker shedded into plasma by macrophages in the liver. sMR is a soluble mannose receptor. The investigators want to investigate whether sCD163 and sMR can predict response to treatment with UDCA in newly diagnosed patients with PBC.

sCD163 in PBC Patients - Assessment of Disease Severity and Prognosis

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is an autoimmune chronic liver disease, characterised by destruction of the small intrahepatic bile ducts. sCD163 is a macrophage activation marker shedded into plasma by macrophages in the liver. sMR is a soluble mannose receptor. The investigators want to investigate whether sCD163 and sMR correlate with disease severity in patients with PBC, and whether sCD163 and sMR can predict short term disease progression, changes in quality of life and death in these patients.