Could a common cholesterol drug unlock secrets of a rare liver disease?

NCT ID NCT05912387

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

Summary

This early-phase study at Stanford University is testing whether the statin drug rosuvastatin changes bile acid levels and gut bacteria in people with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), a liver disease with no cure. Researchers will enroll 15 adults with PSC and inflammatory bowel disease, giving them a daily 20 mg statin pill. The goal is to understand the disease better, not to treat it directly.

What this could mean

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

Active substance
Rosuvastatin (a statin drug, 20 mg tablet once daily)
What this could lead to
If successful, this study could reveal how statins change bile acids and gut bacteria in PSC, pointing toward new treatment approaches for this liver disease.
What could go wrong
This is a very small, early-phase pilot study with only 15 participants. It is designed to gather information, not to test a treatment, so results may not lead to any direct benefit for patients.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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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

Locations

  • Stanford University

    RECRUITING

    Stanford, California, 94305, United States

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