Could a cholesterol drug and a bile acid pill help reverse liver scarring?
NCT ID NCT07102979
First seen Jul 22, 2026 · Last updated Jul 23, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This pilot study tests whether simvastatin (a cholesterol-lowering drug) and ursodeoxycholic acid (a bile acid medication), taken alone or together for six months, can improve markers of liver fibrosis in adults with advanced liver scarring after viral hepatitis has been controlled. The study also examines changes in gut bacteria and immune markers. Because it is a small, exploratory trial with only 18 participants, the results are not definitive but may guide future research.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- simvastatin and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), taken orally for 6 months
- What this could lead to
- If the combination works, it could point toward a new way to slow or reverse liver fibrosis using widely available drugs.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small pilot study with only 18 participants, so results are exploratory and may not apply to broader populations. Neither drug is proven to reverse cirrhosis.
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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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Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
Kaohsiung City, Others, 833, Taiwan
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