Intercept Hopes Statin Trial Will Lessen Ocaliva's Perceived CV Risk

22 Mar 2017

After otherwise successful Phase II NASH trial showed Ocaliva can increase a patient's LDL cholesterol levels, Intercept hopes a study in NASH patients who use atorvastatin will show this effect is manageable.

Intercept Pharmaceuticals Inc. is hoping that its ongoing Phase II CONTROL study will ameliorate a lingering concern about Ocaliva's prospects in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) by showing that co-administration of a statin can manage the LDL-elevating effect seen in some patients receiving the drug.

Ocaliva (obeticholic acid/OCA), a farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonist already approved in the US and Europe to treat primary biliary...