Could a common cholesterol drug help fight a rare liver disease?
NCT ID NCT04133792
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026
Summary
This Phase 3 trial tests whether taking 40 mg of simvastatin daily for 5 years can improve outcomes for people with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), a rare liver disease. About 560 patients will receive either simvastatin or a placebo. Researchers will track survival, need for liver transplant, bleeding, and cancer rates.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
simvastatin
What this could lead to
If it works, this could provide a simple, low-cost way to slow liver disease progression and reduce the need for transplants in PSC patients.
What could go wrong
This is a large Phase 3 trial, but simvastatin is already widely used for cholesterol—its benefit for PSC is unproven. The study may show no significant improvement in survival or complications.
Disclaimer
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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.
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.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Akademiska sjukhuset
Uppsala, 751 85, Sweden
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Danderyds sjukhus
Stockholm, 182 57, Sweden
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Karlstads centralsjukhus
Karlstad, 652 30, Sweden
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Karolinska University Hospital
Stockholm, 141 57, Sweden
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Karolinska University Hospital Solna
Stockholm, 171 64, Sweden
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Norrlands Universitetssjukhus
Umeå, Västerbotten County, 907 37, Sweden
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Sahlgrenska Universitetssjukhuset
Gothenburg, Västra Götaland County, 413 45, Sweden
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Sahlgrenska Universitetssjukhuset Östra
Gothenburg, 41685, Sweden
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Skaraborgs sjukhus
Lidköping, Sweden
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Skåne Universitetssjukhus
Malmö, Skåne County, 222 42, Sweden
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Universitetssjukhuset i Linköping
Linköping, Östergötland County, 581 85, Sweden
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Örebro Universitetssjukhus
Örebro, 701 85, Sweden