Clinical Research Directory

Unraveling the Mechanisms Underlying Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis Through a Multidisciplinary, Integrative Research Approach

Background: Primary sclerosing cholangitis is a rare chronic liver disease. It affects the bile ducts of the liver. It can result in bile duct infections, cirrhosis, cancer, and end stage liver disease. Researchers want to learn more about this disease. Objective: To understand the biological causes of primary sclerosing cholangitis. Eligibility: Adults age 18 and older who have primary sclerosing cholangitis. Design: Participants will be screened with a medical history, physical exam, and blood tests. Participants will give blood, saliva, urine, and stool samples. They will have nasal swabs. They will complete surveys. Participants will get an intravenous (IV) catheter. A plastic tube is inserted into an arm vein. Participants will have a colonoscopy. A tube with a video camera at the end is inserted into the rectum. Participants will have an upper endoscopy. A scope with a light and camera at its tip is used to look inside the upper digestive tract. Participants will have a liver biopsy, entering through the chest wall or a neck vein. Blood is drawn from a blood vessel that carries blood to the liver. A liver tissue sample is taken. Participants will have magnetic resonance imaging or spectroscopy. They will get a contrast agent through an IV. Participants may have an optional bone marrow aspiration. A large needle is inserted into the hip to withdraw marrow. Participants will have a liver ultrasound. Participants will complete a 3-day food diary. They will have a nutrition assessment. Participants may give contact details for people who live with them, to also take part in this study. Participation will last for 12 months.

A Study to Assess How Well and Safely Elafibranor Works in Adult Participants With Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis

The purpose of this study is to find out how well and safely elafibranor works compared to placebo in adult participants with Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). PSC is a rare disease that causes inflammation and scarring of the bile ducts in the liver. Over time, this can lead to liver damage and serious health problems, including the need for a liver transplant and death. In this study, about 350 participants with large duct PSC will take part. Participants will be randomized to receive either elafibranor 120 mg once daily or a placebo (a tablet with no active medicine). The study includes a screening period, an treatment period, and a post-treatment safety follow-up. During the study, participants will undergo routine clinical assessments, laboratory testing, imaging evaluations, and complete patient-reassessments to evaluate liver disease progression, symptoms, quality of life and safety. Following the end of treatment, participants will complete a safety follow-up period at approximately four weeks. Participants may withdraw from the study at any time. Each participant may be in the study for several years, as the treatment period will continue until the study reaches enough health events among participants, which is expected to take about 5 years.

A Study to Assess Safety and Effectiveness of Elafibranor in Adult Participants With Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis.

This study will evaluate the effects of elafibranor (the study drug) in participants with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC). PSC is a rare disease of the liver that leads to injury and destruction of bile ducts. Damage to bile ducts leads to buildup of bile in the liver, which then causes further damage, and leads to disease progression. This study will compare elafibranor to a placebo, a dummy treatment. The main objective of the trial will be to study the safety and side effects of the study drug. The trial will also study the study drug's effects on blood tests and other tests related to PSC disease activity.

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.

CS0159 in Chinese Patients With PSC (Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis)

A phase II Study of CS0159 in Chinese patients with PSC(Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis)

A Study of TAK-781 in Healthy Volunteers and in Participants With Non-Cirrhotic Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC)

The main aim of this study is to see if the drug TAK-781 is safe for healthy volunteers and for participants with PSC. The study will also look at how well participants can tolerate TAK-781. In addition, the study will check how the body absorbs, uses, and gets rid of TAK-781 (Pharmacokinetics \[PK\]), how the drug affects the body (Pharmacodynamics \[PD\]), and how the body's immune system reacts to TAK-781 (Immunogenicity). The study consists of two phases (Phase 1a and 1b). Phase 1a includes two parts: Part 1 (Single Ascending Dose \[SAD\]) and Part 2 (Multiple Ascending Dose \[MAD\]). In Part 1, healthy participants will receive either single dose of TAK-781 or a placebo. A placebo looks the same as TAK-781 but has no medicine in it. In Part 2, healthy participants will receive multiple doses of TAK-781 or a placebo. In Phase 1b (Part 3), participants with large duct, non-cirrhotic PSC will receive a single dose of TAK-781. Participants will be in the study for about 36 weeks.

Statin Therapy in Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC): a Multi-omics Study

PSC is a liver disease that has no medical cure. Patients with PSC are at a greatly increased risk of cancer and infection. Additionally, many patients require a liver transplant. Progress towards a cure has been severely limited by an incomplete understanding of why patients develop PSC. The investigators aim to close this gap by conducting a pilot human study in patients with PSC, using statin therapy as a model

Characterization of Biliary Cell-derived Organoids From Bile of PSC and Non-PSC Patients

The purpose of this research is to create a collection of bile, bile duct brushings and medical information from people with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) and controls to learn more about changes that occur in the liver.

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).

A Study to Evaluate Efficacy and Safety of an Investigational Drug Named Volixibat in Patients With Itching Caused by Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC)

The purpose of this clinical research study is to learn more about the use of the study medicine, volixibat, for the treatment of pruritus (itching) associated with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC), and to assess the possible impact on the disease progression of PSC.

Gluten-free Diet in PSC and IBD

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a progressive disease of the biliary tree, which represents one of the most frequent indications for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTx) in developed countries. There are several lines of evidence that dietary gluten/gliadin displays chronic pro-inflammatory, LPS-like properties. Recent evidence demonstrated the protective effect of gluten- free diet (GFD) in autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, non-celiac gluten sensitivity and some neurological disorders. This study is intended to explore therapeutic effect of GFD on PSC and IBD in prospective self-controlled mono-centric intervention study. Hypothesis: Avoidance of gluten in diet will reduce progression, symptoms and intestinal inflammation in PSC and UC patients.

A Study of SIPLIZUMAB in AILD and LT Patients

There is a significant unmet need for safe and effective therapeutic approaches to prevent immune-mediated graft injury and its complications in liver transplant (LT) recipients with autoimmune liver disease (AILD) including autoimmune hepatitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis. Siplizumab is an anti-cluster of differentiation 2 (CD2) monoclonal antibody that has demonstrated a favorable safety profile of siplizumab in over 779 human subjects and has been shown to target memory T cells-a key driver in the immune processes surrounding rejection and autoimmunity post LT in AILD. The purpose of this pilot, open-label phase 1 study is to determine the safety of siplizumab for induction in patients with AILD undergoing LT. Up to eight (8) subjects will receive siplizumab 0.6 mg/kg/dose on the day of transplant (Day 0) and Day 4 post-transplant, for a total of two doses. All subjects will be followed in the study for 12 months post-LT.

Detoxification of the Liver In PSC (Dolphin)

This study is a clinical trial being done to investigate the efficacy of drug BRS201 (hydroxocobalamin) as a treatment in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis. Participation in this study will take 8 weeks long and the study is structured as a cross-over study in which participants will take the study drug for 4 weeks and a placebo drug for 4 weeks in a randomized order in the form of an oral medication. Participation may also involve receiving an IV dose of the medication. The study will require participants to attend 9 study visits, all of which will be remote. Participation will involve taking an oral medication twice daily, tracking the medication in a log, and getting blood drawn and giving a stool sample for a few lab tests throughout the study. For the lab tests, a research nurse will visit the participant in-home for the convenience of the participant.

Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis in Children

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a rare liver disease that damages the liver's bile ducts. Bile ducts are tiny tubes that carry bile from the liver to the small intestine. Bile is a liquid produced by the liver that helps us absorb and use the nutrients in the food we eat. In people with PSC, the bile backs up into the liver and will damage it, causing scarring of the liver. The purposes of this study are to: * Collect medical and other data to learn more about PSC, how it progresses, and identify factors that may cause the disease to progress more quickly. * Ask questions about how PSC symptoms affect your child's life to learn more about its impact on your child's daily functioning * Children with PSC who are seen at one of the participating clinical sites in the Childhood Liver Disease Research Network (ChiLDReN) will be asked to contribute information, DNA, and other specimens. The information and specimens will be available to investigators to carry out approved research aimed at learning more about the possible causes and long-term effects of PSC.

Effect of Simvastatin on the Prognosis of Primary Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC)

This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled multicenter study. A total of 700 patients will be included. After an updated powercalculation 560 was condidered enough The study will include patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) for daily intake of 40 mg simvastatin/placebo for 5 years. The aim is to study effect of prognosis of PSC by long term intake of simvastatin. Outcome measures are death, liver transplantation, cholangiocarcinoma or bleeding from esophageal varices. Subjects will be randomized (1:1) between Simvastatin and placebo.

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.

Vancomycin in Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis in Italy

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is chronic fibroinflammatory disease of the liver. There is still no medical therapy proven to halt the progression of PSC or prevent its serious complications. This is a Phase 2 randomized, double bind, placebo-controlled, monocentric study evaluating the safety and efficacy of two doses of oral vancomycin (i.e. 750 mg and 1500 mg/day) in subject between 15 - 70 years old with PSC.

A-LiNK: Improving Outcomes in Autoimmune Liver Disease

The Autoimmune Liver disease Network for Kids (A-LiNK) is a multi-institutional group with the mission to deliver the best care to kids with pediatric autoimmune liver disease (AILD). This study will establish a shared clinical registry and a learning health network for the participating sites focusing on collecting and transmitting clinical measurement data, information about processes, and participation in an improvement collaborative. Pediatric Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH) and Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC), represent a spectrum of AILD which present unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.A lack of accepted guidelines for disease monitoring or symptom management results in wide treatment variation with liver transplants indicated in refractory, progressive disease. The aims of A-LiNK are to: 1.) Create a learning health network focused on patient-centered outcomes research characterized by transparent sharing among centers, common priorities, and feasible plans for implementing new practices; 2) shift from traditional investigator-driven study to a patient and family-centered approach, and 3.) improve clinical outcomes and quality of life for pediatric AILD patients.

Pharmacologic Approaches to Preventing Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis Recurrence After Liver Transplantation

This study aims to determine the efficacy of 36 months once-daily fenofibrate in preventing clinically-detectable recurrence of primary sclerosing cholangitis after liver transplantation, compared with a historical control cohort that was not treated with

Oral Hymecromone to Treat Adolescents and Adults With Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis.

Primary objective: To evaluate the efficacy of hymecromone plus standard of care compared with standard of care alone in the treatment of adolescents and adults with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Secondary objectives: To evaluate the change in Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) from baseline to 6 months post-treatment following treatment with hymecromone plus standard of care compared with standard of care. To evaluate changes in biomarkers of PSC disease during hymecromone treatment, namely: (a) fibrotic effect (FibroScan); (b) inflammatory biomarkers (serum Hyaluronan (HA)); and, (c) T-cell count.

LEOPARD Training and Validation Data Collection Study

Intro: The present clinical research protocol is part of the LEOPARD European project (Grant n° 101080964 Horizon Europe) which aims to design and validate new predictive models of mortality among liver transplantation (LT) candidates. MELD based-liver graft allocation systems have become increasingly inaccurate over the last decade to predict mortality/dropout of liver transplantation (LT) candidates on the waitlist (WL). Wide disparities in mortality/dropout on the WL also exist across European countries, ranging from 5 to 30% according to transplantation indications and countries. In this setting, the European Commission- Horizon Europe funded-LEOPARD project intends to design new, 2nd generation, AI-machine learning-based predictive models of delisting in LT candidates, to better serve on time patients with the highest risk of dropout on the WL and to improve equity of access to LT across Europe. Hypothesis/Objective: The scientific justification of the LEOPARD TVDCS is therefore to collect a large set of data in liver transplantation candidates listed in Europe a) to design and b) to validate LEOPARD 2nd generation AI-based predictive models of mortality/dropout The primary objective is to develop new predictive models of mortality/drop out on the waitlist in patients with decompensated cirrhosis, or other end-stage chronic liver diseases, and in patients listed for Hepato-cellular carcinoma (HCC). Method: Longitudinal multicenter prospective health care data collection cohort study in 2 sets : Training/development set : Prospective health care data collection in 3,000 patients listed in 50 centres across 7 countries and Validation set: Prospective health care data collection in 1,500 subsequent patients listed in the same 50 centres.

Evaluation of an Oral Microbiota-based Therapeutic as a Treatment Option for PSC

This pilot clinical trial will evaluate the initial safety and feasibility of microbiota transplant therapy (MTT) inpatients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). This trial will inform development of future trials in treatment of PSC.

Disease Status in Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis by Elastography

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic liver disease that can lead to liver cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer. Assessment of disease status is important to determine optimal treatment but the diagnosis of PSC is challenging. There is a dire need of an accurate non-invasive tool for longitudinal assessment of PSC. MR Elastography (MRE) has been recently proven to estimate liver fibrosis noninvasively and accurately. Estimation of liver fibrosis by MRE along with imaging derived morphological information (MRCP) will be utilized in this study comprehensively to provide a surrogate non-invasive imaging biomarker for monitoring disease status in PSC. Successful outcomes will provide an opportunity for optimal treatment triage including liver transplantation via accurate and non-invasive estimation of true disease status in PSC.

FAecal Microbiota Transplantation in primaRy sclerosinG chOlangitis

FARGO is a randomised, phase IIa, multi-centre, placebo-controlled trial to compare Faecal Microbiota Transplant (FMT) with placebo in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and concomitant inflammatory bowel disease.