New drug cocktail aims to tame rare liver disease

NCT ID NCT05239468

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tested whether adding bezafibrate to the standard drug obeticholic acid helps people with primary biliary cholangitis, a rare liver disease. 72 adults took part, and researchers measured changes in a key liver enzyme over 12 weeks. The goal is to see if the combination works better than either drug alone.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

bezafibrate and obeticholic acid

What this could lead to

If it works, this combination could offer a new way to control primary biliary cholangitis and improve liver health.

What could go wrong

This is an early Phase 2a trial with only 72 people. It may not show clear benefit, and side effects like gallbladder problems are possible.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Fibrosis primary biliary cholangitis

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • American Research Corporation at the Texas Liver Institute

    San Antonio, Texas, 78215, United States

  • Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi

    Bologna, Italy

  • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Harvard Liver Research Center

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States

  • DIM Clinical Privada

    Ramos Mejía, Buenos Aires, Argentina

  • Facey Medical Group

    Mission Hills, California, 91345, United States

  • Gastro One

    Cordova, Tennessee, 38018, United States

  • Gastrointestinal Associates of Northeast Tennessee

    Johnson City, Tennessee, 37604, United States

  • Hospital Italiano La Plata

    La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina

  • Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires

    Buenos Aires, Argentina

  • Hospital Provincial del Centenario

    Rosario, Argentina

  • Hospital Universitario Austral

    Pilar, Argentina

  • Houston Methodist Cancer Center

    Houston, Texas, 77030-2717, United States

  • Loyola University Medical Center

    Maywood, Illinois, 60459, United States

  • Methodist Clinical Research Institute (CRI)

    Dallas, Texas, 75203, United States

  • NYU Langone Medical Center

    New York, New York, 10016-6402, United States

  • Ochsner Medical Center

    New Orleans, Louisiana, 70121, United States

  • Pacific Gastroenterology Associates

    Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 2K5, Canada

  • Piedmont Atlanta Hospital

    Atlanta, Georgia, 30309, United States

  • Schiff Center for Liver Diseases / University of Miami

    Miami, Florida, 33136, United States

  • Southern California Gastrointestinal (GI) and Liver Centers (SCLC) - Coronado

    Coronado, California, 92118, United States

  • Tampa General Medical Group

    Tampa, Florida, 33606, United States

  • The Northern Alberta Clinical Trials and Research Centre

    Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 287, Canada

  • University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center

    Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, United States

  • University of Alabama at Birmingham

    Birmingham, Alabama, 35233, United States

  • University of Montreal

    Montreal, Quebec, Canada

  • Wake Endoscopy Center

    Raleigh, North Carolina, 27607, United States